Frequently Asked Questions

·      What is egg freezing?

Egg freezing is a fertility preservation procedure that allows women to freeze and store their eggs for future use.

·      Is egg freezing an option for you?

Many women are feeling the pressure of having to choose between a career and a family. Some are returning to school or pursuing advanced degrees and don’t know when or if they will have children. For many, it may simply be an issue of not having found the right partner. For all these women, egg freezing is revolutionary, not just in its scientific technology, but in the peace of mind it can represent for women considering pregnancy later in life.

In addition, over 50,000 reproductive-aged women are diagnosed with cancer each year in theUnited States. Surgery, chemotherapy and radiation treatments typically lead to infertility by destroying the eggs. While options vary depending on age, type of cancer and cancer-treatment plan, egg freezing can provide these women the opportunity to preserve their fertility.

Finally, egg freezing can be useful for individuals with religious or moral objections to storing frozen embryos. Frequently, in routine IVF, any excess embryos that remain are frozen for future use. However, if they are not to be used, their disposal can create a difficult ethical issue. The ability to freeze unfertilized eggs offers a positive solution for many such people.

·      Why should I choose EFC if I am considering egg freezing?

EFC specializes in egg freezing and has years of research and data to prove our experience. We are at the forefront of reproductive medicine through our dedication to research and clinical trials, furthering the science of cryobiology and fertility preservation.  We are committed to providing exceptional reproductive choices by combining innovative technology, accountability and quality personal care.

·      Who are the doctors at EFC and what expertise do they have?

EFC is headed by Dr. John Jain, a leading expert in egg freezing research with experience in all areas of fertility treatment. Dr. Jain completed his medical training at the University ofSouthern California, where he remained for nearly a decade as a tenured professor of OBGYN. He is one of only four reproductive endocrinologists to be named to the National Scientific Advisory Council of Fertility Preservation by the National Institutes of Health. Dr. Jain has international recognition as a pioneer in the field.

The laboratories at EFC are overseen by Dr. Li Meng, a world-class embryologist and molecular biologist who joins EFC from the Fertility Center at the New York University School of Medicine. The EFC facilities have been custom-built to Dr. Meng’s rigorous specifications to ensure optimum conditions for egg storage.

·      Since egg freezing is so new, how can I trust your facility?

Because egg freezing is relatively new and considered experimental by the American Society of Reproductive Medicine, all egg freezing activities at EFC and its affiliates are conducted under the oversight of a Research Ethic Board to assure patient safety. In addition, all work from EFC and its affiliates is submitted for academic peer-review and for publication in scientific journals.

·      How successful is egg freezing? Is it safe?

Over 500 babies have been born worldwide from frozen eggs, with approximately five percent of that total attributable to patients in our private clinical practice. With twenty babies born to date, EFC has one of the highest published pregnancy rates in the country.

It is significant to note, too, that overall rates of miscarriage, birth defects and chromosomal defects for babies born from frozen eggs are no higher than the rates seen with natural pregnancies in the general population.

Many women have asked if egg freezing brings on early menopause, or if the procedure taps into future egg stores. We have seen absolutely no evidence that the procedure impacts menopause in any way. Women are born with a set number of eggs (approximately two million), and each month, several hundred from this pool begin to develop. Ultimately, one egg is released and the others lost. The eggs that are retrieved for egg freezing include a portion of those eggs that would be lost that month anyway. In other words, egg freezing does not take away eggs you might have had in the future, it only makes the eggs you do have today available to you at a later time.

·      How does egg freezing work?

Unlike sperm and embryo cryopreservation, which have become routine processes in assisted reproductive technology, success with freezing eggs has historically been difficult to achieve. This is because the egg is the largest cell in the human body and contains a considerable amount of water. When eggs are frozen, ice crystals form that can destroy the cell. To prevent this, the egg must be dehydrated prior to freezing. The water is then replaced by a special “antifreeze” that inhibits the formation of ice crystals. Because the eggshell hardens when frozen, sperm must be injected with a needle in order to fertilize the egg. This is known as ICSI (intracytoplasmic sperm injection) and is a standard technique also used in IVF (in vitro fertilization).

It takes approximately four to six weeks to complete the egg freezing cycle, which follows the same protocol as IVF: Two to four weeks of self-administered hormone injections along with birth control pills to temporarily turn off natural hormones. This is followed by ten to fourteen days of hormone injections to stimulate the ovaries and ripen multiple eggs. Once the eggs have matured, they are removed using an ultrasound-guided needle. This procedure is done under intravenous sedation and is not painful. Immediately following retrieval, the eggs are frozen. When embryo transfer is desired, the eggs are thawed, injected with a single sperm to achieve fertilization, and transferred to the uterus as embryos.

·      How many eggs are usually stored to ensure pregnancy?

Our data indicate that for every ten eggs frozen, seven should be viable after thawing. Of those, we expect to fertilize four to five. And finally, three to four embryos are transferred to the uterus. We therefore recommend that at least ten eggs be stored for each pregnancy attempt. Based on our success with embryo freezing, we believe that long-term storage of frozen eggs is possible.

·      What methods of egg freezing do you use at your facility?

Eggs can be frozen using either the much studied slow-freeze method, or a newer flash-freezing process known as vitrification. In our laboratory, we use the most current versions of both methods. Vitrification requires that the eggs be plunged into tanks of liquid nitrogen, and you should be aware that tanks can harbor viruses. However, there is no risk of viral contamination at EFC, as our vitrification system uses closed containers.

·      How are the frozen eggs protected?

Our state-of-the-art laboratories and storage facilities are protected by an elaborate fingerprint entry and video surveillance system. Stored eggs are monitored by a temperature-sensitive alarm and the storage canisters are kept on rollers to limit damage during an earthquake. In addition, our entire facility is connected to an on-site diesel generator capable of providing power for over a week in the event of an outage.

·      What is the MindBodyWellness program at EFC?

Our unique MindBodyWellness program is comprised of workshops, acupuncture, massage and additional complementary therapies to promote overall health and well-being. Our program has been shown to significantly reduce insomnia, fatigue, irritability and other symptoms associated with stress, anxiety and depression. It is important for us to help you restore balance and harmony in all areas of your life so that your experience at EFC will be a successful one.

·      What do you do to continue the advancement of egg freezing?

We are at the forefront of reproductive medicine, and with our strong commitment to research, we are continually working to advance the science of egg freezing. At our nonprofit sister foundation, the Lyan Institute of Fertility Research (LIFE), we are developing innovative techniques that we can directly apply to our practice at EFC. We have also created a comprehensive fertility preservation plan with a team of cancer specialists in order to improve options for women diagnosed with cancer.

·      What are the costs?

We are aware that decisions regarding fertility preservation may be influenced by financial concerns. At EFC, there are no hidden costs. Monitoring, egg retrieval, freezing and storage for the first year are all included for the price of $8500. Fees for medication, additional storage and embryo transfer will be quoted and guaranteed at the time of egg retrieval, and you will be given a complete breakdown of all procedures involved. We also offer discounts for additional cycles. We want to emphasize our willingness to discuss these issues with you openly at any time prior to or during your procedure. Before you begin, we will explain in detail all potential charges and payment options so that you can make appropriate financial plans.

·      Where is EFC located?

We are located at 2825 Santa Monica Boulevard, Suite 100A, Santa Monica, California 90404. Out-of-town patients who wish to freeze their eggs can be initially monitored at a local fertility clinic and undergo egg retrieval and freezing at our facility. Appointments can be made with Dr. Jain by calling (886) 991-1992. Additional information can be found atwww.eggfreezingcenter.com or by emailing info@eggfreezingcenter.com.