Earlier this year, The Observer reported on the experiences of women going through egg freezing. We need greater transparency from fertility clinics around payment pricing and better support and protection in place for people going through the process. This was one of the driving factors in starting Fertifa and a huge part of the reason our clinical team vet our partner clinics so thoroughly.

When we meet with clinics to see if we want to work with them as one of our clinic partners, we look for things like transparency on success rates, patient experience, and patient support. And we always ensure there's transparent pricing for each of our patients, from the very start of the process.

As we say to all of our patients at Fertifa, the process of egg freezing differs from person to person. Some people find they go through it without any difficulties whereas some people will find it emotionally and physically exhausting. But what everyone needs is the best support in place, free of aggressive marketing, opaque success rates or vague pricing structures, to ensure their process is as clear and smooth as it possibly can be.

Our Clinical Consultant Dr Jane Ding has put together a list of questions you should ask at your first egg freezing consultation

Dr Jane is a consultant in obstetrics and gynaecology.  She has a PhD from Cambridge University on breast cancer and completed her medical training at Oxford University.  She has spent the last 10 years working as a specialist in obstetrics and gynaecology in NHS posts, most recently at Whittington Hospital.  She has significant experience in all parts of fertility treatment, hormone health and women's health.

Egg freezing is currently the fastest growing form of fertility treatment. It's something our patients at Fertifa ask about a lot. Your fertility clinic should be giving you this information anyway; these questions are the main focus of all of our egg freezing consultations at Fertifa.

We know that it can be confusing, with lots of medical language to get through. Hopefully these questions will make the process a little clearer and easier to navigate:

1. Based on my ovarian reserve test result, what are my chances of pregnancy from one round of egg freezing?  Or, based on my medical history and menstrual cycle, what are my current chances of success in achieving a pregnancy?

2. How many cycles of egg freezing will I need for a higher chance of success? Or, how many treatment cycles do you typically recommend for patients undergoing embryo transfers? What factors contribute to the decision of whether to proceed with multiple cycles?

2. What is the total cost of egg freezing for a single cycle - including medications, monitoring investigations, the admin fee and storage cost? Are there any additional costs?

3. What are the risks of egg freezing - including Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome (OHSS), surgical risks, Intrauterine Insemination (IUI) risks, Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI) risks and side effects from the medication?

4. What happens on the day of the egg retrieval procedure, both before and after it?

5. How long can I keep my eggs in storage? Do I need to renew my consent to storage?

6. Do I need to take time off work for the appointments and egg collection procedure, and if so, how much?

7. What should I ask my workplace for in terms of appointments and time off?

8. What does a 'successful outcome' look like?

9. If I return to use the eggs in a few years, what is the cost of the next part?

10. Can you explain the steps involved in the egg retrieval process? How long does it typically take, and what should I expect in terms of discomfort or recovery time?

11. In your experience, what factors contribute to a successful pregnancy after undergoing assisted reproductive techniques, such as egg retrieval?

14. Could you walk me through the thawing process for frozen embryos? What is the success rate associated with thawed embryos compared to fresh ones?

15. What information and medical records should I bring to the initial consultation to ensure a thorough assessment of my fertility situation and the development of an appropriate treatment plan?

16. I am currently using hormonal birth control. How long do I need to discontinue it before proceeding with a frozen embryo transfer?

17. Are there any additional fertility testing or evaluations that need to be done before proceeding with my treatment options?

18. Will I be required to administer daily injections as part of the frozen embryo transfer process? If so, what can I expect in terms of the injection routine, duration, and potential side effects? What fertility medications are used during this process?

19. I have been diagnosed with uterine fibroids. How might this condition impact my success during the medical procedure, and what steps can be taken to mitigate any potential risks or complications?

20. What impact would my partner's sperm count and quality have, if any, on the success of my treatment?

21. What is the risk of an ectopic pregnancy following a frozen embryo transfer?

If you're a patient of Fertifa and thinking about freezing your eggs or fertility preservation, you can speak to one of our Patient Advisors via the Fertifa app. Our Patient Advisors are experts in fertility and reproductive health and will be there with you through egg freezing every step of the way 💜