Freezing Eggs at 38: Is It the Right Choice for You?

As women get older, the ability to conceive naturally reduces; however, modern reproductive technologies can preserve their fertility through egg freezing. Freezing eggs at 38 is quite doable for many women who wish to delay childbearing or retain fertility for future use.

At 38, most women experience a decline in both the quantity and quality of their eggs, which can further impact their future conception possibilities. Through egg freezing, on the other hand, women have the option to “pause” their fertility by preserving healthy eggs for future IVF procedures. Freezing eggs at 38 does, however, require much consideration on a number of factors touching on the success rate of the procedure at this age and challenges that may crop up.

In this blog, we’ll discuss the possibility of freezing eggs at 38, risks associated with it, success rates, and how to improve egg quality to maximize your chances of success. Renowned IVF specialist Dr. Hrishikesh Pai of Mumbai has helped scores of women navigate fertility preservation, and we share insights into how he advises women through this key life decision.

As women approach their late 30s, many start considering egg freezing as a fertility preservation option. Freezing eggs at 38 is indeed possible, but it’s important to understand that fertility naturally declines with age. While the process can still offer a viable option for future pregnancy, the success rates at 38 are lower compared to younger ages due to a decline in both egg quantity and quality.

Dr. Hrishikesh Pai, one of the best IVF doctors in Mumbai, has years of experience guiding women through egg freezing and other fertility preservation methods. If you’re contemplating freezing your eggs at 38, understanding the challenges and outcomes is vital.

At 38 years, a woman usually has fewer eggs, which are not as healthy as those from younger women. The egg can even be genetically abnormal with advancing age, adding to difficulties in fertility and pregnancy outcome. However, many women freeze eggs successfully at the age of 38 years, especially when the eggs are still of good quality.

Lifestyle, general health, and genetic predisposition also influence the quality of eggs around this age. Accordingly, Dr. Pai stresses that fertility evaluation before freezing eggs is an important step to estimate the health of your eggs and the viability of the procedure itself.

Freezing eggs involves stimulating the ovaries to produce multiple eggs, followed by retrieval and freezing for future use. At 38, when freezing eggs, it can be a bit more difficult to retrieve eggs because the ovarian reserve is lower. You might have to go through more cycles or need higher medication dosages for the stimulation of egg production.

Success rates for egg freezing at 38 are usually lower compared to women of younger ages; however, the success rate for women in their late 30s has gone up with advanced IVF technology. Dr. Pai uses state-of-the-art technology that increases the chances of successful retrieval and preservation of the eggs.

While egg quality naturally declines with age, there are steps you can take to enhance egg health before freezing. Improving egg quality at 38 may involve lifestyle changes, medical interventions, and specific fertility treatments. Some strategies to improve egg quality include:

Reference Links:

1. Thalassemia and Pregnancy – American Pregnancy Association
   
2. Thalassemia: A Guide for Women – Thalassemia International Federation