More than a quarter of women who freeze their eggs start using them again, according to a recent study conducted by the Maastricht University Medical Center+ (Maastricht UMC+). The research, which analyzed more than 1,100 women, provides new information on the results of fertility preservation procedures.

The study found that 25.5 percent of women who froze their eggs or embryos ultimately returned to undergo fertility treatments. On average, women waited 3.5 years before using their frozen eggs. Of those who returned, almost half had a positive pregnancy test and 34.6 percent gave birth to a child.

“This research sheds light on real success rates in fertility preservation,” said researcher Elena ter Welle-Butalid, who led the study. “This can help women make informed decisions about whether this treatment is right for them.” We also see that these women often choose to play it safe when it comes to preserving their fertility.

The study, carried out at 10 in vitro fertilization (IVF) centers in the Netherlands, analyzed data from women who underwent egg or embryo freezing between 2004 and 2019. Fertility preservation, often used to safeguard a woman’s ability to conceive in the future, is growing. in popularity.

Two-thirds of women in the study chose to freeze their eggs or embryos because future cancer treatments threatened their fertility. The other women chose this procedure for personal reasons, such as delaying pregnancy.

“Women who are at high risk of losing fertility, such as those undergoing cancer treatment, are prime candidates for fertility preservation,” ter Welle-Butalid explained. “But others, often single women, decide to freeze their eggs to avoid future problems conceiving as they age.”

Whether 25.5 percent of women returning home is considered a high or low figure depends on one’s point of view, ter Welle-Butalid noted. “For women with a strong desire to have children, this percentage may seem promising enough to try,” she said. “However, women who are unsure of their future plans might consider this figure too low and choose not to pursue it.”

The study found that returning women underwent an average of two embryo transfers, underscoring the likelihood that multiple attempts may be required to be successful.

The process of freezing eggs or embryos is expensive: several thousand euros. In the Netherlands, costs are only covered in cases of medical necessity, such as fertility risks associated with cancer treatments. Women who freeze their eggs for non-medical reasons must pay out of pocket.

Ter Welle-Butalid highlighted the challenges of access, particularly for women without medical indications. “We see this debate becoming more and more important as more women turn to fertility preservation,” she said.

For the study, standard storage conditions were agreed for frozen eggs or embryos, although these may vary. Typically, eggs remain frozen until women decide they no longer need them, after which they are destroyed. “This also happens in cases of death or when women become too old to consider pregnancy,” ter Welle-Butalid added.