Freezing your eggs offers a wonderful solution for those women in Beverly Hills who aren’t quite ready to have a child just yet. There are myriad reasons women may want to delay childbearing, including meeting career goals, securing financial stability, or finding a partner with whom they want to start a family. But, the question that’s top of mind most often: How old is too old to freeze my eggs? Can I freeze my eggs at 40?
Women in the Beverly Hills area already know their most fertile years are in their 20s and early 30s. After 35, your egg quantity and quality diminish with each passing year, making conception and pregnancy somewhat difficult. The closer you get to menopause, the fewer viable eggs you have. And, although egg freezing under 35 is preferable and offers greater odds for success, there is hope for successful egg freezing for women in their 40s.
How Egg Freezing Works for Women in Beverly Hills
Before you freeze your eggs, no matter what your age, you must undergo a series of tests with your fertility specialist. These tests assess the number of eggs in your ovarian reserve, as well as their quality. In many cases, younger women have a higher number of eggs in ovarian reserve, but that absolutely does not rule out women who are 40 or even older from successfully freezing their eggs.
Once your doctor confirms your ovarian reserve, you’ll begin the process of ovarian stimulation. The goal is for your ovaries to mature as many eggs as possible, so your egg retrieval results in a fair number of viable eggs. Your doctor prescribes a series of hormone-based medications, usually injectables, to stimulate your ovaries.
When the time arrives, your doctor performs your egg retrieval while you are under mild sedation. They use an ultrasound-guided needle that goes through your vagina to your ovaries and, through gentle suction, retrieves the mature eggs. The more eggs, the greater your odds for a successful outcome for future pregnancy. Women at 40 may undergo multiple egg retrievals to increase the number of viable eggs.
After retrieval, your doctor sends your eggs to the lab, where the technician examines them for viability, and your healthiest eggs go into a nitrogen solution for flash freezing. Then the lab stores your eggs until you are ready to use them. The entire process, from consultation to freezing, takes anywhere from four to six weeks.
Success Rates for Freezing Your Eggs at 40
Obviously, egg freezing in your 40s doesn’t offer as much success as freezing your eggs in your 20s or 30s. But you should not rule it out by any means. Studies point to a reasonable expectation for a healthy and successful outcome for women in their 40s. Although it may take a few cycles to acquire a healthy number of viable eggs, as you age.
What to Expect
Be prepared to accept that your eggs may not be viable as you age. Your doctor will offer more input based on your personal assessment. Women don’t remain fertile up until menopause, as some may believe. In fact, your fertility declines rapidly in the five to ten years leading up to menopause. As the average age for menopause in the US is 51, you must be realistic. However, if you receive less than positive news, you can always consider using donor eggs to grow your family.
Another thing to keep in mind is that freezing your eggs at 40 doesn’t guarantee you’ll be able to successfully carry a pregnancy when you decide the time is right. Although the uterus doesn’t necessarily decline with age, your proximity to menopause may cause diminished hormones, which may interfere with healthy lining and implantation.
When that is the case, your doctor may find ways to balance your hormones and help you create a receptive uterine environment, or they may simply suggest a gestational carrier.
Speak with Our Experts
Please reach out to LA IVF for more information. We offer opportunities for women who are exploring their options, including egg freezing to preserve fertility. It’s important to note that each patient is unique, and the decision to freeze your eggs depends on what you and your doctor determine together. It’s never too late to speak with our fertility experts. Schedule a consultation today.
