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Risks
By Mayo Clinic staffEgg freezing carries various risks, including:
- Conditions related to the use of fertility drugs. Rarely, use of injectable fertility drugs, such as human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG), to induce ovulation can cause ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome — in which your ovaries become swollen and painful soon after ovulation or egg retrieval. Signs and symptoms include mild abdominal pain, bloating, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. Even more rarely, it's possible to develop a more severe form of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome that can also cause rapid weight gain and shortness of breath.
- Egg retrieval procedure complications. Rarely, use of an aspirating needle to retrieve eggs causes bleeding, infection, or damage to the bowel, bladder or a blood vessel. Risks associated with general anesthesia — which might be used for some egg retrieval procedures — also might pose a concern.
- Emotional risks. Egg freezing can provide false hope. The procedure, coupled with in vitro fertilization, has a limited success rate.
If you use your frozen eggs to become pregnant or have a biological child, the risk of miscarriage will be primarily based on your age at the time of egg retrieval.
Limited research hasn't shown an increase in the risk of birth defects for babies born as a result of egg freezing. However, further research is needed to confirm the safety of egg freezing.
References
- Chung K, et al. Fertility preserving options for women of advancing age. http://www.uptodate.com/index. Accessed Aug. 1, 2012.
- Jensen JR, et al. Fertility preservation. Mayo Clinic Proceedings. 2011;86:45.
- Reproductive aging in women. American Society for Reproductive Medicine. http://www.asrm.org/uploadedFiles/ASRM_Content/Resources/Patient_Resources/Fact_Sheets_and_Info_Booklets/reproaging.pdf. Accessed Aug. 16, 2012.
- Practice Committee of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine and the Practice Committee of the Society for Assisted Reproductive Technology. Ovarian tissue and oocyte cryopreservation. Fertility and Sterility. 2008;90:S241.
- Lee SJ, et al. American Society of Clinical Oncology recommendations on fertility preservation in cancer patients. Journal of Clinical Oncology. 2006;24:2917.
- Noyes N, et al. Oocyte cryopreservation: Is it time to remove its experimental label? Journal of Assisted Reproduction and Genetics. 2010;27:69.
- Grifo JA, et al. Delivery rate using cryopreserved oocytes is comparable to conventional in vitro fertilization using fresh oocytes: Potential fertility preservation for female cancer patients. Fertility and Sterility. 2010;93:391.
- Tucker M, et al. Human oocyte cryopreservation: A valid alternative to embryo cryopreservation? European Journal of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Biology. 2004;113:S24.
- Rienzi L, et al. Consistent and predictable delivery rates after oocyte vitrification: An observational longitudinal cohort multicentric study. Human Reproduction. 2012;27:1606.
- Frequently asked questions. Pregnancy FAQ060. Later childbearing. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Frequently asked questions. Gynecologic problems FAQ026. Detecting and treating breast problems. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. http://www.acog.org/~/media/For%20Patients/faq026.ashx?dmc=1&ts=20111213T1052571310. Accessed. Accessed Oct. 11, 2012.
- Infertility: An overview. The American Society for Reproductive Medicine. http://www.asrm.org/uploadedFiles/ASRM_Content/Resources/Patient_Resources/Fact_Sheets_and_Info_Booklets/infertility_overview.pdf. Accessed Oct. 11, 2012.
- Frequently asked questions. Gynecologic problems FAQ137. Treating infertility. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. http://www.acog.org/~/media/For%20Patients/faq137.pdf?dmc=1&ts=20121011T1619214667. Accessed. Accessed Oct. 11, 2012.
- Fretts RC. Effect of advanced age on fertility and pregnancy in women. http://www.uptodate.com/index. Accessed Aug. 1, 2012.
- Cleary-Goldman J, et al. Impact of maternal age on obstetric outcome. Obstetrics & Gynecology. 2005;105:983.
- Assisted reproductive technologies: A guide for patients. American Society for Reproductive Medicine. http://www.asrm.org/uploadedFiles/ASRM_Content/Resources/Patient_Resources/Fact_Sheets_and_Info_Booklets/ART.pdf. Accessed Oct. 12, 2012.
- The Practice Committees of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine and the Society for Assisted Reproductive Technology. Mature oocyte cryopreservation: A guideline. Fertility and Sterility. 2012. In press. Accessed Nov. 27, 2012.
- Fauser B, et al. Overview of ovulation induction. http://www.uptodate.com/index. Accessed Oct. 15, 2012.
- Anesthesia experience. American Society of Anesthesiologists. http://www.lifelinetomodernmedicine.com/FAQs/anesthesia%20experience.aspx. Accessed Oct. 15, 2012.
- The Practice Committee of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine. Ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome. Fertility and Sterility. 2008;90:188.
- Hughes E, et al. Clomiphene citrate for unexplained subfertility in women. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. http://www.thecochranelibrary.com/view/0/index.html. Accessed Oct. 15, 2012.
- Fauser BCJM. Overview of ovulation induction. http://www.uptodate.com/index. Accessed Nov. 30, 2012.
- Jensen JR (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. Dec. 17, 2012.
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