The entire process of social freezing is low-risk and safe. However, side effects may occur during or after treatment.

Key Facts about egg freezing:

  • Egg freezing is considered safe and low-risk.
  • Common side effects of stimulation are bloating, mood swings or discomfort at the injection site.
  • Slight bleeding and/or pain may occur after egg retrieval.
  • The survival chances of the eggs after thawing are about 90%.
  • Long-term consequences for children born from frozen eggs are not yet known.

What to consider when freezing your eggs

Social freezing is becoming increasingly important for women who wish to postpone their desire to have children and start a family. By freezing their eggs, they can preserve their fertility and fulfil their dream of having a child of their own later on.

For women who opt for egg preservation for medical reasons, this can also help to maintain their egg reserve and protect their eggs from the harmful effects of radiation or chemotherapy, preserving their chances of pregnancy at a later date.

At the same time, however, they wonder what risks they might face with Social Egg Freezing and whether the procedure is safe at all. In this article, we would therefore like to discuss in detail the possible risks involved in the social freezing process and clarify all important questions relating to this topic.

How safe is social egg freezing?

Egg freezing is considered a safe procedure and is low-risk. Most complications are a severe ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome, which occurs in 0.1 to 2% of cycles. The risk of other acute complications such as pelvic infections, internal bleeding or ovarian torsion is extremely low (< 0.5%).

However, many women experience mild side effects - such as bloating, constipation, spotting, pain and nausea - caused by the medication and egg retrieval.

What is Social Freezing?

In social freezing, eggs are retrieved and frozen in liquid nitrogen for later family planning. This stops the ageing process and the eggs retain their quality.

What risks can occur when freezing my eggs?

Below you will find an overview of the potential risks associated with hormonal stimulation, egg retrieval and the freezing and thawing of eggs.

Risks associated with stimulation treatment

Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome (OHSS): This is a rare but potentially serious complication that can occur when the ovaries 1 overreact to hormone treatment. Symptoms may include abdominal pain, bloating, nausea and vomiting. In severe cases, fluid may accumulate in the abdomen and breathing difficulties may occur.

Side effects of injections

  • The hormone injections administered at the beginning of treatment can cause side effects similar to the symptoms of premenstrual syndrome (PMS). These include bloating, mood swings, cramps and hot flushes. In addition, redness, itching or haematomas (bruises) may occur at the injection site.
  • Ovaries do not respond sufficiently to stimulation: In some cases (approx. 5% of cycles), the ovaries do not respond optimally to stimulation. This means that not enough eggs develop for egg retrieval. At Cada, we closely monitor your hormone levels and follicle growth using blood tests and ultrasound scans. This allows us to detect early on whether your ovaries are responding well to the medication. If stimulation does not proceed as desired, we can adjust the treatment plan for future cycles.

Risks associated with egg retrieval

  • Bleeding: Slight bleeding during or after egg retrieval is relatively common at 1.4 to 18%. During follicle puncture, the ovaries are punctured to retrieve the eggs. This procedure inevitably injures the fine blood vessels on the surface of the ovaries, resulting in minimal blood loss.
  • Infections: Infections in the abdomen are very rare at 0.4 to 1.3%. Patients who developed an infection after puncture often suffered from endometriosis, adhesions in the abdomen or pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) beforehand.
  • Side effects of anaesthesia: Anaesthesia is generally very safe, but like any medical procedure it also carries certain risks. The type and extent of these risks vary from person to person and depend on your personal health situation and the type of anaesthesia. Possible but rare complications include allergic reactions, breathing problems and blood pressure fluctuations.
  • Injuries to surrounding organs: In very rare cases, injuries to the bladder, bowel or blood vessels can occur during egg retrieval. Reproductive medicine specialist Dr Jenna Rehmer comments as follows: The risk of injury to internal organs such as the bowel, bladder, uterus, cervix or a blood vessel is less than 1%.
  • No egg retrieval during follicle puncture: Unfortunately, the number of visible follicles on ultrasound does not always correspond to the number of retrievable eggs. It can happen that fewer eggs than expected are retrieved during egg retrieval or, in rare cases (approx. 0.2 to 7 % of egg retrievals), no eggs can be retrieved at all. The reasons for this are varied and not always clearly identifiable. In rare cases, no eggs can be retrieved despite many follicles

Risks associated with freezing and thawing eggs

  • Egg survival: Not all eggs survive the freezing and thawing process. However, thanks to modern techniques such as vitrification, the survival rate is over 90%.
  • Impact on egg quality: It is possible that the quality of the eggs is slightly impaired by the freezing and thawing process. This can slightly reduce the chances of success of a later pregnancy. Women who freeze their eggs at a young age have a better chance of pregnancy than older women. In Switzerland and Germany, eggs may be stored for a total of 10 years. In Austria, egg freezing is only permitted for medical reasons.

Risks when fertilising a thawed egg

  • No eggs are fertilised: When you are ready to use your frozen eggs, we perform ICSI (intracytoplasmic sperm injection). With this method - unlike in vitro fertilisation (IVF) - a sperm is injected directly into the egg. In rare cases, it can happen that none of the eggs are fertilised despite this method. This can have various causes, for example there are sometimes difficulties with the fusion of egg and sperm. In such a case, our experienced embryologists will examine the eggs and sperm closely to determine the cause and find the best possible course of action for you.

Are there any long-term consequences of cryopreservation of eggs?

The long-term consequences of cryopreservation of eggs for the children are not yet fully researched. However, current studies suggest that there are no increased risks of malformations or developmental disorders.

What can I do about the pain after egg retrieval?

These symptoms after the puncture can usually be managed with rest, painkillers and sufficient fluid intake. For cramps or pain, a hot water bottle or grain pillow can provide relief. In case of bleeding, you should use sanitary towels instead of tampons to reduce the risk of infection. Most women can resume their normal activities the next day. However, it is advisable to take it easy and rest at home for the rest of the day, with another adult present as a precaution. Warmth, rest and drinking plenty of fluids can relieve pain after the puncture

What complaints after egg retrieval should I see a doctor about?

If you experience any of the following symptoms after egg retrieval, you should contact your doctor immediately:

  • Fever over 38 °C
  • Severe abdominal pain or swelling
  • Severe nausea or vomiting
  • Heavy vaginal bleeding
  • Difficulty urinating or painful urination
  • Fainting or dizziness

Frequently Asked Questions

How can the frozen eggs be used?

When you are ready to use your frozen eggs, they are first thawed. This is followed by artificial insemination in the laboratory by means of ICSI (intracytoplasmic sperm injection). A single sperm is injected directly into an egg. The fertilised eggs (embryos) are cultivated and observed in the laboratory for a few days. Usually, an embryo is transferred into your uterus on the fifth day after egg retrieval (blastocyst). The unused embryos can be frozen again and stored for later treatment cycles.

Up to what age should I use my frozen eggs?

There is no fixed age limit for the use of frozen eggs. However, the probability of a successful pregnancy decreases with increasing age, regardless of whether fresh or frozen eggs are used. As a rule of thumb, the eggs should be used before the age of 45 in order to maximise the chances of pregnancy. Ultimately, however, the decision is an individual one and should be made in consultation with your doctor.

Do I have a higher risk of miscarriage if I use frozen eggs?

The risk of miscarriage when using frozen eggs is comparable to the risk in IVF treatment with fresh eggs. It depends primarily on the woman's age at the time of egg retrieval. Studies have shown that cryopreservation itself has no significant influence on the risk of miscarriage.

How can I influence the success of Social Freezing?

The success of egg freezing can be determined by an initial assessment of the ovarian reserve. This is done by a blood test for anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) and an ultrasound examination of the ovaries and uterus. The AMH test provides information about the number of eggs remaining, but not about their quality.

Takeaway: Complications are rare but an important factor to consider

Social freezing offers women the opportunity to plan their desire to have children flexibly in terms of time. As with any medical procedure, there are certain risks to consider with social freezing, but these are generally considered to be low. Possible side effects of hormonal stimulation are usually mild and easily treated. Egg retrieval is a minimally invasive procedure with rare complications. Thanks to modern freezing methods, the survival rate of eggs is high. Long-term studies have so far not shown any increased risks for children born from frozen eggs. However, you should be aware that social freezing does not guarantee you a later pregnancy, but it can significantly increase your chances.