Egg banking

Egg banking is a method of preserving a woman's ability to reproduce by freezing and storing her eggs for future use. This process is often used by women who wish to delay childbearing due to medical or personal reasons.

Overview

Egg banking involves several steps. First, a woman undergoes ovarian stimulation to produce multiple eggs. These eggs are then retrieved from the ovaries in a minor surgical procedure. The eggs are then frozen and stored in a laboratory for future use. When the woman is ready to conceive, the eggs are thawed, fertilized with sperm in a laboratory, and the resulting embryos are transferred to the woman's uterus.

Indications

Egg banking is often used by women who wish to delay childbearing due to medical or personal reasons. For example, women who are undergoing treatment for cancer may choose to freeze their eggs before starting chemotherapy or radiation therapy, which can damage the ovaries and reduce fertility. Women who are not yet ready to start a family but are concerned about their future fertility may also choose to freeze their eggs.

Risks and Considerations

While egg banking can provide a way for women to preserve their fertility, it is not without risks. The process of ovarian stimulation and egg retrieval can be physically and emotionally demanding. There is also a risk of complications from the egg retrieval procedure, including infection and bleeding. In addition, not all eggs will survive the freezing and thawing process, and not all of the surviving eggs will result in a successful pregnancy.

See Also

• Ovarian stimulation
• In vitro fertilization
• Fertility preservation
• Cancer and fertility

References

Egg banking Resources
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