Red spots on the tongue, here are the causes and how to prevent them
Egg freezing aims to store healthy and quality egg cells so they can be fertilized at a later date. This procedure can increase the chances of pregnancy in women who are no longer young. However, there are things you need to know and consider before undergoing egg freezing.
Not all women are ready to plan a pregnancy in the near future, either for career or health reasons. Suffering from certain health conditions, such as endometriosis, autoimmune disease, or cancer, can also make women delay pregnancy.
One way to maintain the chance of pregnancy in the future is to undergo egg freezing (egg freezing ). In this method, the egg cells will be frozen and stored until it is time to plan a pregnancy.
Egg Freezing Procedure
A woman's fertility level is generally between the ages of 20– 30 years, so the chance of pregnancy will be higher at this age. However, several conditions can cause delays in pregnancy at the fertile age. However, this does not mean that women cannot get pregnant if they are past their fertile age.
To maintain the quality of egg cells and the chance of pregnancy, freezing egg cells could be an option. The chance of pregnancy using the egg freezing method is quite high, namely around 60–70%.
This procedure can last for 2–3 weeks and consists of several stages. The following are the stages of the egg freezing procedure:
1. Preparation
You must first consult with a fertility specialist, reproductive endocrinologist, obstetrician. Later, the doctor will explain how the egg freezing process is carried out, what the risks are, and what the success rate is.
After the consultation, the doctor will check your health and fertility. The following are examinations carried out by doctors:
- BMI or IMT (body mass index) examination to determine nutritional status
- Reproductive hormone examination
- Blood test to determine general health conditions
- Transvaginal ultrasound to check the health condition of the reproductive organs, especially the number of egg reserves
- Check for infectious diseases, such as HIV, hepatitis B and hepatitis C
Examination of the number of egg cells is carried out so that the doctor can determine the number and quality of egg cells that will be taken. After the results of the consultation and all examinations are stated to support egg freezing, the doctor will discuss with you to schedule the next process.
2. Giving hormone injections
To increase the success of the egg freezing method, the doctor will give hormone injections to stimulate the ovaries to produce more mature egg cells that are ready to be frozen. The more mature eggs there are, the higher the chance of success of this procedure.
Hormone injections will be carried out for 10-12 consecutive days. During this process, the doctor will monitor the development of your egg cells through ultrasound and blood tests.
3. Egg retrieval
After administering the hormone injection, the doctor will take several mature eggs from your ovaries. The egg retrieval process is preceded by injecting you with an anesthetic. After that, the doctor takes the eggs using a special tool with ultrasound guidance.
4. Egg freezing
The egg cells that have been removed will be transferred to a tube and then handed over to an embryologist for examination and freezing. Egg cells can be stored for the next 10 years, or when they are ready to carry out a pregnancy program using the IVF method.
Conditions in which egg freezing is carried out
The egg freezing method can be considered for women with the following conditions:
- Suffering from cancer and about to undergo chemotherapy
- Suffering from polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)
- Suffering from endometriosis
- Diagnosed with premature menopause
- Is postponing pregnancy for an uncertain time
- Planning to start a family beyond childbearing age
Disadvantages of Egg Freezing Procedure
Just like other medical procedures, egg freezing may also cause side effects, such as stomach cramps, bloating and constipation . Spotting from the vagina may also occur during the first 24 hours after this procedure is performed.
Even though it is rare, egg freezing also carries the following risks:
- Ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) which is more likely to be experienced by women who are less than 35 years old, suffer from PCOS, and have a lower BMI
- Hormonal changes that affect mood
In addition to the possibility the emergence of side effects, there are other things that need to be considered before undergoing this procedure, such as:
- Risk of failure
- The costs are not small and not guaranteed by insurance
- Physical preparation
- Emotional changes, especially if you lack support from those closest to you
Freezing egg cells is still unknown among Indonesian people, but this method can already be done in several hospitals. However, in accordance with government regulations, frozen eggs may only be used by the owner and fertilized by their legal partner.
If you are considering freezing your eggs, or have several medical conditions that increase the chance of delaying pregnancy , consult a doctor first. This way, the doctor can provide advice that suits your condition.
Label : Health
Comments
Post a Comment