We are currently freezing eggs using the vitrification method at the Advanced Fertility Center of Chicago as part of an IRB approved study.
- Read more about this egg freezing by vitrification study
- Call us with questions, or to schedule an appointment with one of our doctors

Read more about egg freezing controversies and success rates on our blog

Cryopreservation of oocytes - what is egg freezing?

Human egg (oocyte) freezing, or cryopreservation, has been done since the 1980s. However, its use has become much more widespread since about 2007.

It has been utilized for young women that are about to have chemotherapy or radiation for cancer. Some of the women choose to freeze eggs so if their egg supply is destroyed by the cancer therapy - they will have a "backup" egg supply for the future.

Starting in about 2007, egg freezing has been moving more into the "mainstream" of what is being offered at fertility centers in the US. It is being marketed and utilized as a method for "preserving fertility" for women that are concerned that they are aging - but not ready to have children yet. This is controversial because:

The difficulty with accurately counseling the women as to the chance for the frozen eggs to result in viable embryos and a baby in the future
Because of the relatively low number of live births that have resulted from egg freezing, there is not yet confidence about the safety of the procedure for the resulting children born (related to any possible increased rates of birth defects, etc.)

There are currently (as of late 2009) probably only about 1,000 to 2,000 babies (worldwide) that have been born after frozen eggs were thawed, fertilized and the embryos then transferred to the mother.

Thus far, some small studies have been done to investigate whether the children born from frozen thawed eggs have increased risks of birth defects or other problems. There are not yet any published studies showing increased rates of problems in these babies. However, thousands of children over many years will need to be studied before we can be reassured that egg freezing is a "safe" technology.

The technology to successfully freeze and thaw human eggs has improved dramatically over the past 10 years. However, it is still not perfected.

Although egg freezing is still considered experimental, it is a promising development in the field of reproductive medicine.

Vitrification (ultra-rapid freezing) of eggs could be a more successful technique as compared to the older technique of "slow freezing". However, studies have not clarified which are the best techniques and protocols.

Human eggs and their surrounding cumulus cells
Eggs and their attached cumulus cells - as seen at the egg retrieval procedure
At the top, a pipette is picking up an egg
The egg is in the middle of the dark area
This picture is from a stereomicroscope

Close up egg picture
Close-up view of a human egg in cumulus cells
This picture is from an inverted microscope
More egg pictures

Babies who had our help

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