Dr Maree Lee guides you through the egg freezing process, so you can decide what suits your plans and timeline.
Not being ready to have a child now doesn’t mean you can’t do it later. Life doesn’t always roll out the way we planned, and sometimes, though you know you want to have a family, you might be waiting to meet the right person, investing in your career, or pausing until it feels like the best time.
Egg freezing along with fertility testing gives you the chance to wait. It is a seamless process that starts with an assessment of your ovarian reserve, followed by a short course of hormone injections, before eggs are collected and stored. One cycle usually takes up to two weeks.
If you’re thinking about fertility preservation, Dr Maree will talk you through what to expect and help protect your future possibilities.
Egg freezing insights
The process used to freeze eggs has changed significantly since vitrification was introduced in the early 2000s. Evidence shows thawing after vitrification, a fast freezing approach that avoids ice crystal formation inside the egg, gives results closely matching those of fresh eggs.
Age and the number of eggs frozen remain the two factors that most influence future success. A widely cited predictive model estimates that a 34 year old with 20 mature eggs frozen has around a 90% likelihood of at least one successful pregnancy, compared to around 75% for a 37 year old, and 37% for a 42 year old with the same number of eggs. These are modelled estimates and individual outcomes still vary considerably.
The egg freezing process involves a short course of hormone injections, usually nine to twelve days, before the eggs are collected with the patient under light sedation. Eggs are frozen the same day using vitrification.
Although frozen eggs can theoretically be stored indefinitely as their quality does not materially degrade over time, under the NSW Assisted Reproductive Technology Act, eggs can generally only be stored for a set period before a formal extension is required.
Many people freeze eggs because they want to keep that door open later, not because anything is wrong.
Visit The Waiting Room to learn more.
Vitrification enables ~90% egg survival after thawing.
Average EGG FREEZING cycle length IS around 2 weeks, FROM injections to collection.
The first successful pregnancy from a frozen egg was in 1986.
The typical yield is 8 to 15 eggs per cycle.
The NSW EGG storage limit is up to 10 years, WITH POSSIBLE EXTENSIONS.
Are you considering egg freezing in Sydney? Knowing how it works and what to expect at each step can help you feel more comfortable and confident, as you move forward.
A good initial conversation is the foundation for more personalised medical care. Dr Maree will listen as you share your reasons for considering egg freezing, your timeline, and what you’re hoping to achieve, helping you make an informed decision.
Bloodwork and an ultrasound give Dr Maree a sense of how your body is likely to respond, which helps set realistic expectations from the beginning.
You’ll have a short course of hormone injections, with regular monitoring appointments to track how your eggs are developing.
Eggs are collected under light sedation in a quick procedure, then frozen the same day using vitrification.
You can initially freeze your eggs for up to 10 years. If questions come up during that time, about your eggs or any other fertility or gynaecological concern, Dr Maree remains available to you.
Egg freezing lets you take the pressure off now. Preserve your fertility today and make decisions about having a child when the time feels right.
Egg freezing can come with a lot of questions, and at Dr Maree’s practice, we are all about delivering the answers. Here are some of the most common queries we receive.
No. Egg freezing is an elective choice you can book directly, with no referral or prior diagnosis needed, just a conversation to get started. A referral can, however, support Medicare rebate claims if you have one.
There’s no single right age, but research consistently shows that freezing earlier, particularly before your mid-thirties, tends to offer better odds for the future. That said, age is only one part of the picture, and Dr Maree will talk you through what makes sense for you.
This depends on your age and your goals, and there’s no universal number. Some people need one cycle, others choose more than one to collect a higher number, and Dr Maree will give you a realistic estimate based on your own results and circumstances.
No, and Dr Maree will always be upfront about this. It significantly improves your chance of having a successful pregnancy compared to not freezing at all, but it isn’t a guarantee, and outcomes still depend on factors like age and the number of eggs collected, among others.
Eggs can be stored for many years without a meaningful decline in quality, since they’re essentially paused in time from the point they’re frozen. In NSW specifically, eggs can be stored for 10 years before a formal extension is required.
Most people describe mild discomfort rather than significant pain, and it’s performed under light sedation. Recovery is usually quick, with most people back to normal activities within a day or two.
The Waiting Room is the perfect place to take a few minutes and read through the latest research, emerging practices, and insights shared by Dr Maree. The more you know, the more effectively you can consider and discuss your choices and make informed decisions that are right for you.
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Age is information, not a verdict. Dr Maree Lee explains what fertility decline after 35 really means, why AMH doesn’t tell the whole story, and when to investigate.
An evidence-based guide to elective egg freezing by fertility specialist Dr Maree Lee: what it preserves, success rates by age, the process and the Australian rules.
A complete picture of your reproductive health, so you understand your options before you start trying.
Comprehensive, evidence-based treatments, tailored to your history and your goals.
Specialist investigation and treatment for the female factors that can affect conception.
Freezing your eggs in Sydney starts with a conversation, not a commitment. Book a consultation with Dr Maree and find out what your options are and how you can get started.
