Search Results (5)

Background: Oocyte cryopreservation has emerged as a viable fertility preservation method, gaining popularity among women delaying motherhood for non-medical reasons. This study examines the awareness, perceptions, and social factors influencing young women’s decisions regarding elective oocyte cryopreservation (EOC), intending to identify key demographic and psychosocial determinants. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted using an online survey distributed via digital platforms between November 2024 and February 2025. A structured questionnaire comprising 31 multiple-choice questions assessed participants’ sociodemographic characteristics, reproductive health history, lifestyle factors, and perceptions of fertility and EOC. Statistical analyses included Chi-square tests, t-tests, and binary logistic regression to identify factors associated with willingness to undergo EOC. Results: A total of 390 women (mean age 22.57 ± 1.41 years) participated. Awareness of oocyte cryopreservation was remarkably high (93.1%). Significant predictors for the intention to undergo EOC included higher educational attainment (Master’s level) (OR = 4.27, 95% CI: 1.10–16.48) and living in a student dormitory (OR = 15.39, 95% CI: 4.86–48.71). Conversely, living with a partner showed a non-significant downward trend in interest (OR = 0.07, 95% CI: 0.01–1.43). Psychological factors, specifically anxiety about future fertility (OR = 0.23, 95% CI: 0.08–0.62 for moderate vs. high anxiety) and a strong desire for future parenthood (OR = 21.75, 95% CI: 1.45–32.99), also emerged as primary drivers of women’s reproductive decisions. Conclusions: Despite high awareness, the willingness to undergo elective oocyte cryopreservation remains limited. Targeted fertility education and supportive policies are needed to address misconceptions, financial barriers, and psychological concerns influencing reproductive decision-making. Further research should explore longitudinal trends in women’s attitudes toward EOC. Full article

This paper uses a SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats) analysis to overview the option of fertility preservation in women with genetic diseases, who would later use preimplantation genetic testing for monogenic disorders, in order to not transmit their condition. Strengths associated with elective oocyte freezing are ethical considerations, overall maternal and fetal safety, and effectiveness, if performed at <35 years of age. Weaknesses are related to costs and rare but present (<1–3%) risks of maternal complications. Counselling on fertility management aimed at preventing infertility offers a valuable opportunity, the same as it has been in oncological patients’ care. The potentially high percentage of women with genetic conditions who would return to use their frozen oocytes also represents an opportunity together with the minimization of the need for egg donation, which has higher obstetrical risks compared to the use of autologous oocytes. Finally, a threat is represented by the potential psychological distress to young women who could never attempt to become pregnant through preimplantation genetic testing, or do it before any decline in their fertility. Potential unknown future long-term health risks for children conceived after egg vitrification/thawing are also a threat, but current knowledge is reassuring. Altogether, early counselling on the option of fertility preservation should thus be incorporated into standard care of all patients with any genetic condition. Full article

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the live birth outcome following oocyte thaw in women who underwent social egg freezing at Guy’s Hospital, alongside a detailed published literature review to compare published results with the current study. A retrospective cohort study was conducted between January 2016 and March 2022 for all women who underwent egg freezing during this period. Overall, 167 women had 184 social egg freezing cycles. The mean age at freeze was 37.1 years and an average of 9.5 eggs were frozen per retrieval. In total, 16% of the women returned to use their frozen eggs. The mean egg thaw survival rate post egg thaw was 74%. The mean egg fertilisation rate was 67%. The pregnancy rate achieved per embryo transfer was 48% and the live birth rate per embryo transfer was 35%. We also noted that irrespective of age at freezing, a significantly high live birth rate was achieved when the number of eggs frozen per patient was 15 or more. Despite the rapid increase in social egg freezing cycles, the utilisation rate remains low. Pregnancy and live birth rate post thaw are encouraging if eggs are frozen at a younger age and if 15 eggs or more were frozen per patient. Full article

Oocyte cryopreservation (OC) is the process in which ovarian follicles are stimulated, the follicular fluid is retrieved, and mature oocytes are isolated and vitrified. Since the first successful pregnancy utilizing previously cryopreserved oocytes in 1986, OC has become increasingly utilized as an option for future biologic children in patients facing gonadotoxic therapies, such as for the treatment of cancer. Planned OC, also termed elective OC, is growing in popularity as a means to circumvent age-related fertility decline. In this narrative review, we describe both medically indicated and planned OC, focusing on the physiology of ovarian follicular loss, OC technique and risks, timing of when OC should be performed, associated financial considerations, and outcomes. Full article

Increasing numbers of women are undergoing oocyte or tissue cryopreservation for medical or social reasons to increase their chances of having genetic children. Social egg freezing (SEF) allows women to preserve their fertility in anticipation of age-related fertility decline and ineffective fertility treatments at older ages. The purpose of this study was to summarize recent findings focusing on the challenges of elective egg freezing. We performed a systematic literature review on social egg freezing published during the last ten years. From the systematically screened literature, we identified and analyzed five main topics of interest during the last decade: (a) different fertility preservation techniques, (b) safety of freezing, (c) usage rate of frozen oocytes, (d) ethical considerations, and (e) cost-effectiveness of SEF. Fertility can be preserved for non-medical reasons through oocyte, embryos, or ovarian tissue cryopreservation, with oocyte vitrification being a new and optimal approach. Elective oocyte cryopreservation is better accepted, supports social gender equality, and enhances women’s reproductive autonomy. Despite controversies, planned oocyte cryopreservation appears as a chosen strategy against age-related infertility and may allow women to feel that they are more socially, psychologically, and financially stable before motherhood. Full article