When you know you want to, but aren't quite ready.

It's scary taking the leap into parenthood. There are endless factors to consider, and there's never a perfect time. When you decide that you're finally ready though, the goal is to be fully prepared. Egg freezing offers you the chance to start a family when that time comes. Here are all the answers to the most frequently asked questions on the process.

Will taking more of my eggs now mean I will have fewer in the future?

Retrieving eggs during one cycle does not deplete the ovaries' overall supply of eggs. Instead, it "rescues" available eggs that would otherwise be lost. In a normal ovulation cycle, only one egg will end up successfully ovulating, and the rest are lost. In an egg freezing cycle, these lost eggs are stimulated and rescued.

Does the process hurt?

The egg retrieval process is a painless and brief procedure. You will be under intravenous sedation, so you are breathing on your own, but "asleep" and not experiencing any pain. The retrieval only takes about 10 minutes.

How much time will I have to take off of work for appointments?

During the egg freezing process, you can expect 5 office visits of 15-20 minutes for ultrasounds and blood tests. The only day that most women need to take off from work is the day of egg retrieval because of the anesthetic medication.

How long will it take for my body to return to normal after egg retrieval?

You can anticipate some bloating and temporary weight gain for 10–14 days after retrieval. It is not unusual to gain 2–8 pounds of fluid weight. After this time, you may have some minor lingering ovarian discomfort. Any associated weight gain will be mostly gone by the onset of the following menstrual period.

How do I know if my eggs are any good?

Age is the best predictor of egg health. Ultrasounds and blood tests can predict the approximate egg numbers expected from a cycle of stimulation. However, it is not possible through clinical tests to measure egg quality. Ultimately, a good egg is one that achieves a successful pregnancy.

Comprehensive chromosome screening (CCS) of embryos after thawing and fertilizing is used to determine chromosomally normal embryos, which is an important aspect of egg health. This technique is commonly used to improve outcomes.

How long can eggs remain frozen and still be viable?

Once properly stored in liquid nitrogen, eggs should remain viable indefinitely.

How can I get started?

Pacific Fertility Center was one of the first fertility clinics to offer egg freezing care in Northern California. The fertility physicians have an excellent track record—with more than 100 babies born from frozen eggs, including those from patients' own eggs. To set up an initial consult with a fertility physician, you can reach new patient coordinators at pacificfertilitycenter.com or by calling 415-834-3095.