When to Freeze Your Eggs
When to Freeze Your Eggs
The best time to freeze your eggs is before the age of 35; specifically, in your late 20s and early 30s. The younger you are, the healthier your eggs will be, making them the most likely to result in a successful (future) pregnancy.
That said, there are multiple factors involved. From lifestyle and nutrition to genetics and hormones, many components shape your fertility. Your initial assessment with Evolve can tell you more about your ovarian reserve and help you decide if egg freezing is right for you.
The Best Time to Freeze Your Eggs
Two major factors influence your fertility levels: the number and the quality of eggs you produce. Over time, both are impacted. Here’s how:
Quantity of Eggs
- As you age, your ovarian reserve (the number of eggs in your ovaries) decreases.
- During every menstrual cycle, 1 egg matures and is released during ovulation while the rest stop developing and are discarded by the body.
- By taking stimulation medication, several of the eggs that are available for that month in the ovaries will grow, allowing for many eggs to be retrieved and frozen.
- The more eggs that develop during your cycle, the greater your chances that one of them will be a candidate for conception.
- Under 35 years of age, you produce an average of 13 to 15 eggs per cycle. Unfortunately, the numbers drop once you inch closer to 40 years of age.
Quality of Eggs
- The better your egg quality, the better your chances of having a healthy baby.
- Patients who freeze their eggs in their mid-late 30s and use them later in life are twice as likely to have a baby as those who don’t freeze their eggs and attempt to conceive in their 40s (either naturally or via IVF using their own eggs).
- Patients under 35 typically have higher egg quality than those over the age of 35.
- That said, everybody is different — if you are in your late 30s, egg freezing could still be an option.
Egg Freezing Success Rates by Age
The odds of a future pregnancy will depend on many factors, such as your age at the time of freezing and the number of eggs retrieved.
We’ve created this helpful chart* to give you an idea of the success of egg freezing at different life stages.
Freezing eggs at 30 to 34 years old
- At Least 1 Child:
- 82%
- At Least 2 Children:
- 50%
- At Least 3 Children:
- 22%
Freezing eggs at 35 to 37 years old
- At Least 1 Child:
- 80%
- At Least 2 Children:
- 45%
- At Least 3 Children:
- 20%
Freezing eggs at 38 to 40 years old
- At Least 1 Child:
- 60%
- At Least 2 Children:
- 22%
- At Least 3 Children:
- 3%
Freezing eggs at 41 to 42 years old
- At Least 1 Child:
- 40%
- At Least 2 Children:
- 10%
- At Least 3 Children:
- 1%
| Age That Eggs Were Frozen | Probability of Having At Least 1 Child | Probability of Having at Least 2 Children | Probability of Having at Least 3 Children |
|---|---|---|---|
| 30 to 34 | 82% | 50% | 22% |
| 35 to 37 | 80% | 45% | 20% |
| 38 to 40 | 60% | 22% | 3% |
| 41 to 42 | 40% | 10% | 1% |
*These probabilities are taken from the results of 1 study and may not necessarily reflect your chance of having a baby. (Doyle et al. 2015).
Get Informed About Egg Freezing
Making decisions about your fertility can be overwhelming. We get it, and we want to help you make the right choices for your future. Your initial consultation and assessments at Evolve will tell you all about your fertility levels, ovarian reserve, and ideal window for egg freezing.
With Evolve, you are never alone. Our experts are ready to answer all your egg freezing questions. We’re here to support you every step of the way.
