What is egg freezing , who should do and when it should be done ?

Egg freezing, or mature oocyte cryopreservation, is a fertility preservation method that allows women to store their eggs and delay pregnancy for career aspirations, personal choices, or while searching for the right partner or before undergoing chemotherapy. By locking the egg's age in place, the procedure effectively pauses a woman's biological clock.

Preserving eggs is crucial because female fertility declines with age; genetically defective eggs rise from roughly 10% at age 30 to 30% at age 35, reaching nearly 50% by age 40. The ideal time to freeze eggs is during a woman's late 20s to early 30s. The treatment begins on Day 2 of the menstrual cycle with 10–12 days of hormonal injections. Once follicles reach 18–20 mm, eggs are retrieved vaginally and safely stored for 10–15 years. Unmarried women freeze unfertilized eggs, whereas married couples often choose embryo freezing for higher success rates.