Wondering if it’s too late for egg freezing? You’re not alone

Many women come to Fertility Answers with questions about egg freezing to find out if this fertility-preserving procedure is right for them. One of the most common questions is, “Am I too old for egg freezing?” Find out from our Lafayette and Baton Rouge fertility specialists.

Egg freezing tends to work best for younger women

You might know that female fertility declines with age, but did you know that it ends five to 10 years before menopause? The reason why is simple. The quality and quantity of your eggs decrease over time.

• You’re most fertile when you’re in your 20s. This is when you have the most – and highest quality – eggs.
• Your fertility slowly begins to decline throughout your 30s, especially after the age of 35.
• By age 40, your fertility decreases even further. At age 30, you have a 20% chance of getting pregnant each month. In contrast, you have a less than 5% chance of getting pregnant at age 40.

Our Lafayette and Baton Rouge fertility specialists want to stress that some women may experience an age-related decline in fertility earlier than others. This is especially true if you’re a smoker or if you have a family history of premature menopause.

You may still be able to freeze your eggs at age 40

Although our Lafayette and Baton Rouge fertility specialists recommend egg freezing for women in their 20s and 30s, you could still be a candidate in your 40s. The best way to find out is through a conversation with your physician and ovarian reserve testing. If testing reveals that you have a good ovarian reserve, your fertility specialist may recommend moving forward.

Keep in mind that women who freeze their eggs at a younger age have higher rates of pregnancy success. As such, a woman who freezes her eggs in her 30s is more likely to get pregnant than a woman who does so in her 40s. The same is true for a woman who freezes her eggs at age 40 versus age 45.

For women who wish to carry a pregnancy, but no longer have viable eggs, donor egg IVF using eggs from a younger woman has a very good success rate.

If you have more questions about egg freezing at Fertility Answers, please contact us today. Our dedicated team of fertility specialists is here to help you take control of your reproductive future.