Everything You Need to Know About Egg Freezing Cyprus for Fertility Preservation

• Women with Cancer: Chemotherapy or radiation treatments can damage the ovaries and reduce fertility. Egg freezing before starting these treatments can preserve fertility.

• Women Undergoing Surgery: Certain surgeries, such as those that may involve ovary removal or other procedures affecting fertility, can make egg freezing a viable option.

• Women with Chromosomal Abnormalities: Women with conditions like Turner syndrome or fragile X syndrome may face a higher risk of early menopause or premature ovarian insufficiency, making egg freezing a proactive step.

• Women with Ovarian Diseases: Conditions that damage the ovaries, such as endometriosis, may reduce the chance of natural conception, making egg freezing an option.

• Women with Genetic Mutations: Those with genetic mutations (e.g., BRCA mutations) that may require ovary removal or increase the risk of ovarian cancer can benefit from egg freezing.

• Social or Personal Reasons: Some women may choose to freeze their eggs to delay childbearing until a more suitable time in their lives, such as later in their careers or after securing a stable relationship.

• Women at Risk of Injury or Death: Women deployed to high-risk areas (e.g., war zones) might choose egg freezing to preserve fertility in case of injury or death.

• Women Transitioning to Men: Transgender men who want to preserve fertility before starting hormone therapy or undergoing surgery may opt for egg freezing.

1. Screening and Blood Tests:

   • Before the procedure, blood tests are performed to check for any contagious diseases like HIV or hepatitis. This ensures that any eggs donated are safe from contamination.

2. IVF Preparation:

   • The IVF process typically takes about two to three weeks. This begins with hormonal medications to stimulate the ovaries, promoting the maturation of eggs.

   • For women with low ovarian reserves (low egg count), egg retrieval may be more challenging, but about 15 eggs are typically collected in most cases.

3. Egg Retrieval:

   • Eggs are retrieved through a minor outpatient procedure. Under mild sedation, an ultrasound-guided needle is used to collect the eggs from the ovaries.

4. Fertilization and Freezing:

   • The collected eggs are fertilized using sperm from the partner or a donor. If desired, genetic testing can be done at this point. After fertilization, viable embryos are frozen and stored until needed.

• Preserves Fertility for the Future: Freezing eggs at a younger age allows women to preserve high-quality eggs, ensuring better fertility outcomes later in life.

• Flexibility in Family Planning: Egg freezing allows women to delay pregnancy until a more suitable time, whether for medical, social, or personal reasons.

• Provides Security for Cancer Patients: Women undergoing cancer treatments can preserve their fertility before treatments that may damage the ovaries.

• Increased Success Rates with Younger Eggs: Eggs retrieved from younger women have a higher chance of leading to successful pregnancies.

1. Age

• Ideal Age: The best time to freeze eggs is generally between 30 and 35 years old. Egg quality tends to decline after the age of 35, so freezing eggs earlier increases the chances of success.

• After 35: While egg freezing is still an option for women over 35, the success rates tend to be lower. Egg quality declines with age, which may impact the likelihood of a successful pregnancy later.

2. Ovarian Reserve

• What is Ovarian Reserve? This refers to the quantity and quality of eggs in your ovaries. Your fertility specialist may assess ovarian reserve through tests like:

  • AMH (Anti-Müllerian Hormone) Test: Measures the level of AMH, which is an indicator of the number of eggs remaining in your ovaries.

  • Antral Follicle Count (AFC): An ultrasound to count the visible follicles in your ovaries, which are potential eggs for retrieval.

  • FSH (Follicle-Stimulating Hormone) Test: High levels of FSH may indicate lower ovarian reserve.

A fertility specialist can evaluate your ovarian reserve and guide you in deciding if egg freezing is the right option.

3. Health Status

• Overall Health: You should be in good general health before undergoing the egg freezing process. Conditions such as chronic diseases, obesity, or uncontrolled illnesses might affect the chances of a successful egg retrieval.

• Reproductive Health: If you have conditions that affect your fertility, such as endometriosis, ovarian cysts, or polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), egg freezing may still be an option, but these conditions might influence your ovarian reserve and response to fertility medications.

4. Medical or Personal Reasons

• Cancer Treatment: If you are undergoing cancer treatments (chemotherapy, radiation), egg freezing is highly recommended to preserve fertility before treatments that may damage your ovaries.

• Surgical Reasons: If you are undergoing surgery that may affect the ovaries, like ovary removal or certain gynecological procedures, egg freezing can help preserve fertility for future use.

• Social or Career Reasons: If you wish to delay childbearing for personal reasons (career, relationship, etc.), egg freezing allows you to preserve the best quality eggs for later use.

5. Emotional and Financial Preparedness

• Commitment: The egg freezing process involves time, physical preparation, and emotional commitment. It’s essential to be prepared for the process, which includes hormone treatments, egg retrieval, and possible future IVF cycles.

• Cost Considerations: Egg freezing can be expensive. Costs typically include hormone treatment, egg retrieval, storage, and possibly genetic testing. It's important to understand the financial commitment involved.

6. Fertility Evaluation

• Consult with a Fertility Specialist: A fertility specialist like Dr. Mustafa SAKALLI can help assess whether you're a good candidate for egg freezing. The specialist will perform a detailed evaluation, including hormone tests, ultrasound scans, and an overall assessment of your reproductive health.

7. Risks Involved

• Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome (OHSS): This is a condition where the ovaries become swollen and painful due to the fertility drugs used during the stimulation process. It’s relatively rare but is something your fertility specialist will monitor.

• Success Rates: Your age and ovarian reserve are key factors in determining the likelihood of success with egg freezing. The fertility specialist will discuss the risks and the likelihood of future success, depending on your unique situation.

1. Schedule a Consultation with a Fertility Specialist: The most reliable way to know if you're a good candidate for egg freezing is to consult with Dr. Mustafa SAKALLI a fertility specialist who can evaluate your ovarian reserve, overall health, and fertility potential.

2. Get Tested: Tests like AMH, AFC, and FSH will help assess your fertility potential and guide the decision.

3. Consider Your Age and Reproductive Goals: If you're in your late 20s to early 30s, it's a great time to consider egg freezing, as the eggs collected at this age have a higher chance of successful pregnancy in the future.

4. Assess Your Emotional and Financial Readiness: Be prepared for the emotional and financial aspects of egg freezing, as it can involve multiple stages and costs.

Q1: Is egg freezing painful?

A: The hormone injections can cause some temporary side effects like bloating or moodiness. The egg retrieval procedure itself is done under sedation or light anesthesia, so you shouldn't feel pain during it. You might experience some cramping or soreness afterwards, manageable with mild pain relief.

Q2: How many eggs should I aim to freeze?

A: It depends heavily on your age. Generally, for women under 35, freezing 15-20 mature eggs gives a high probability of at least one future live birth. For women 38-40, more eggs (20-30+) might be needed for a similar chance. This may require more than one freezing cycle. Your doctor will advise based on your ovarian reserve and goals.

Q3: How long can frozen eggs be stored in Cyprus?

A: Biologically, indefinitely. Legally, in the Republic of Cyprus (South Nicosia), the standard limit is 10 years, potentially extendable. In North Cyprus, there may be no strict legal limit, but clinics will have policies and annual storage fees. Confirm with your chosen clinic.

Q4: Does freezing damage the eggs?

A: Modern vitrification techniques have very high egg survival rates after thawing (often over 90%). Studies show that babies born from frozen eggs do not have higher rates of birth defects compared to those born from fresh eggs used in IVF.

Q5: What is the cost difference between egg freezing in Cyprus vs. the US/UK?

A: Egg freezing in Cyprus (around €2,500-€3,500 cycle cost + meds) is significantly cheaper than in the US (often $10,000-$15,000+ per cycle including meds) or the UK (often £5,000-£8,000+ per cycle including meds). Storage fees may also be lower in Cyprus.

Q6: Can I do the entire process in Cyprus?

A: Yes. While many international patients do the initial stimulation monitoring locally, you can choose to stay in Cyprus for the entire stimulation and monitoring phase (approx. 2-3 weeks) before the egg retrieval if you prefer.

Q7: What happens when I want to use my frozen eggs?

A: You'll contact the clinic to arrange shipping (if needed) or treatment there. The eggs will be thawed, fertilized with sperm (partner's or donor's) using ICSI, the resulting embryos cultured, and then one or two embryos transferred to your prepared uterus, similar to a Frozen Embryo Transfer (FET) cycle in IVF.