Senior Consultant Obstetrician & Gynaecologist
Medical Director & Clinical Governance Officer (CGO) of Monash IVF Singapore
Medical Director of Health & Fertility Centre for Women
What is Egg Freezing?
Egg freezing, also known as oocyte cryopreservation, is a fertility preservation option that involves collecting, freezing, and storing eggs for potential future use. It may be considered by women who wish to preserve their fertility due to medical reasons or personal family planning goals, allowing them to keep future reproductive options open.
Why Do Women Consider Egg Freezing?
Egg freezing may be considered by women with medical conditions or treatment plans that could affect fertility, including:
- Cancer treatment such as chemotherapy or radiotherapy, which may damage ovarian function and egg quality
- Endometriosis, particularly when ovarian cysts or surgery may affect ovarian reserve
- Autoimmune conditions that may increase the risk of reduced fertility or premature ovarian insufficiency
- Premature ovarian insufficiency (POI), where ovarian function declines earlier than expected
Some women may choose to freeze their eggs because they are not yet ready to start a family but would like to preserve future fertility options. This may be related to personal, educational, career, relationship, or family planning considerations.
While egg freezing cannot guarantee a future pregnancy, it allows women to preserve eggs at a younger age when egg quality is generally higher.
Is Egg Freezing Right for You?
Not everyone will have the same potential benefit from egg freezing. Before proceeding, a fertility assessment is typically performed to evaluate:
- Ovarian reserve through hormone testing and ultrasound assessment
- Age-related factors that may affect egg quality
- Medical conditions that could impact fertility
- Overall reproductive health and fertility goals
A consultation with a fertility specialist can help determine whether egg freezing is suitable for your individual circumstances and discuss the factors that may influence treatment outcomes.
Whether you are considering egg freezing for medical or personal reasons,
a consultation can help you better understand your fertility profile, treatment options, and the factors that may influence your decision.
Get in touch 6235 5066
The Egg Freezing Process at a Glance
While each treatment plan is tailored to the individual, the process generally includes:
- Fertility assessment and testing to evaluate ovarian reserve and reproductive health
- Ovarian stimulation using hormone medication to encourage the development of multiple eggs
- Monitoring through ultrasound scans and blood tests to track follicle growth
- Egg retrieval under sedation or anaesthesia
- Freezing and storage of mature eggs using specialised cryopreservation techniques
The egg freezing process typically takes around two weeks, although the exact timeline may vary depending on your treatment plan and response to medication.
What to Expect During Egg Freezing
Before treatment begins, fertility testing is typically performed to assess ovarian reserve and reproductive health. This may include hormone testing, ultrasound assessment, and infectious disease screening to help guide treatment planning and determine the most appropriate medication protocol.
Hormone injections are prescribed to stimulate the ovaries to produce multiple mature eggs within a single cycle. The medication schedule is personalised based on your fertility assessment and treatment goals and is typically administered over 10 to 14 days.
Regular ultrasound scans and blood tests are performed throughout treatment to monitor follicle development and hormone levels. These assessments help determine how the ovaries are responding to medication and the optimal timing for egg retrieval.
Once the follicles have reached an appropriate stage of maturity, a trigger injection is administered before egg retrieval. The eggs are collected through a minimally invasive transvaginal procedure performed under sedation or anaesthesia.
Following retrieval, the eggs are assessed for maturity before being frozen using vitrification, a rapid freezing technique designed to preserve egg quality. The frozen eggs are then securely stored for potential future use.
A fertility assessment can help you understand your ovarian reserve,
reproductive health, and whether egg freezing may be an appropriate option based on your individual circumstances and future family planning goals.
Get in touch 6235 5066
What Are the Possible Risks and Side Effects of Egg Freezing?
As with any medical procedure, egg freezing may be associated with certain side effects and risks. Most side effects are temporary and related to the hormone medications used during ovarian stimulation or the egg retrieval procedure itself.
Possible side effects may include:
- Mild bruising or soreness at injection sites
- Bloating or abdominal discomfort
- Nausea
- Fatigue
- Mood changes related to hormonal fluctuations
- Constipation following egg retrieval
A less common but more significant risk is ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS), which occurs when the ovaries respond excessively to fertility medication. Careful monitoring throughout treatment helps reduce the likelihood of this complication.
When Should You See a Doctor?
- Severe abdominal pain
- Significant or worsening bloating
- Persistent vomiting
- Shortness of breath
- Heavy vaginal bleeding
- Fever
- Symptoms that are worsening rather than improving
Your fertility specialist will discuss the potential risks and side effects of treatment and monitor your response throughout the egg freezing process.
Your fertility specialist will discuss the potential risks and side effects of treatment and monitor your response throughout the egg freezing process.
Important Considerations Before Egg Freezing
Egg freezing is a personal decision that should be made after careful consideration of your reproductive goals, expectations, and individual circumstances. Before proceeding, it is important to understand both the potential benefits and limitations of fertility preservation.
Egg freezing can be both physically and emotionally demanding. The process involves regular appointments, self-administered hormone injections, and waiting for treatment outcomes, which may cause stress or anxiety for some individuals.
While egg freezing can help preserve future fertility options, it does not guarantee a future pregnancy or live birth. Success depends on factors such as age at the time of egg freezing, egg quality, the number of mature eggs frozen, and future fertility treatment outcomes.
The overall cost of egg freezing may include consultations, fertility assessments, medications, egg retrieval, freezing procedures, and ongoing storage fees. Understanding the financial commitment involved can help you make a more informed decision.
A consultation with a fertility specialist can help you evaluate your fertility profile,
discuss your future family planning goals, and determine whether egg freezing is appropriate for your individual circumstances.
Get in touch 6235 5066
Is Egg Freezing Legal in Singapore?
Elective egg freezing is legal in Singapore for women aged 21 to 37, regardless of marital status. This allows women to preserve their eggs for future fertility planning, even if they are not currently ready to start a family.
Egg freezing may also be performed for medical reasons, such as before treatments that could affect fertility.
The use of frozen eggs is subject to prevailing regulations in Singapore. During your consultation, your fertility specialist can explain the current eligibility requirements and how they may apply to your individual circumstances.
Preserving Your Fertility with Dr Kelly Loi
Egg freezing is a fertility preservation option that allows women to store their eggs for potential future use. Whether you are considering egg freezing for medical reasons or personal family planning goals, understanding your fertility profile and available options can help you make informed decisions about your reproductive future.
At Health & Fertility Centre for Women, fertility preservation plans are tailored to each individual's reproductive health, ovarian reserve, and future family planning goals. A comprehensive fertility assessment can help determine whether egg freezing is appropriate based on your unique circumstances.
As a senior consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist, Dr Kelly Loi provides personalised fertility care, including fertility preservation, egg freezing, IVF and IUI. She works closely with patients to develop treatment plans that align with their reproductive needs and long-term goals.
If you would like to learn more about egg freezing or discuss your fertility preservation options, contact us to schedule a consultation and receive personalised guidance on your reproductive health.
Dr Kelly Loi
Medical Director
BMBCh (Oxford), FRCOG (UK), FAMS (Singapore)
Dr Kelly Loi is the Medical Director of Health & Fertility Centre for Women and Monash IVF Singapore. She is known for her work in fertility and women’s health, with a focus on providing personalised and evidence-based care for women at different stages of their reproductive journey.
Dr Loi’s clinical interests include fertility, gynaecology, obstetrics, as well as minimally invasive laparoscopic and hysteroscopic surgery. She supports women through a wide range of gynaecological concerns and reproductive treatments, including egg freezing and ovarian reserve assessment.
She has also completed clinical attachments at internationally recognised institutions including Johns Hopkins Hospital and Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, further deepening her experience in fertility care and reproductive medicine.
Gynaecology Services We Provide
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Thank you for considering our clinic. For further information, feel free to contact us at 6235 5066 or submit your enquiry using the form below. We will get back to you promptly.
3 Mount Elizabeth, #15-16, Mount Elizabeth Medical Centre, Singapore 228510
Tel: (65) 6235 5066Fax: (65) 6235 6455 Answering Service: (65) 6535 8833Email: info@healthfertility.com.sg
