The option for people to increase their fertility window with egg freezing is becoming more accessible, and more popular. Embryo freezing, which is also a fertility preserving technique, is the same as the first half of the IVF process, and advice about this can be found elsewhere. In this article we’ll be covering egg-freezing specifically.

So what exactly are the advantages of this process? And how might you try to increase the quality of the eggs retrieved? Read on..

Why freeze?

Women’s fertility peaks in the early to mid twenties after which both the number and quality of eggs decrease, with an accelerating rate decline after the age of 35. This decrease in fertility is due to aging ova, but the ability for the uterus to carry a pregnancy to term is not affected by age. This means if ova are preserved at a younger age, then at a later age the chances of carrying a pregnancy to term, and having a baby with the preserved ova, is increased.
“Egg-freezing” offers an opportunity to preserve ova at a younger age, to be used, if needed at an older age. That is, if conceiving naturally, or with assisted reproductive technology using “fresh” ova is not resulting in a pregnancy or live birth. It can be thought of as a back-up plan to increase the chances of pregnancy down the road… it is not a guarantee!

Women may choose freeze their eggs for a variety of reasons, including:

Not ready to have a child yet
A known risk of going through premature menopause, such as having certain auto-immune diseases
Undergoing medical procedures that may damage the ovaries, such as removal of endometriosis around the ovaries, chemotherapy etc

Note that if egg-freezing is needed for a medical reason, that it is rebatable through Medicare in Australia.

How many eggs? How many cycles?

The number of eggs retrieved each with each stimulated cycle generally decreases with age. As the quality of the eggs decreases, the more eggs will need to be preserved to provide a reasonable chance of having a baby from this process. So, according to Better Health Victoria, to give somebody a reasonable chance of having a baby (a 70% chance), for eggs frozen

before 35 years of age, it is estimated that 10 eggs will need to be preserved.
at 38 years of age, it is estimated that 20 eggs may need to be preserved.
at 40 years of age, it is estimated that 35 eggs may need to be preserved.

A person undergoing this procedure should consider their desired family size also, which may multiply the estimate of how many eggs to freeze, and how many egg retrieval cycles may be needed.

What is integrative healthcare?

Integrative Medicine (IM), is a term that has evolved as the scientific evidence for what was once termed alternative and complementary medicine, has built, while the scope of conventional medicine has broadened. Integrative Medicine makes available all evidence-based conventional and complementary approaches to attaining health, and preventing & treating disease. You can read more about this model of healthcare here.

Integrative healthcare strategies for fertility preservation

Lifestyle Factors

Lifestyle is key in any integrative healthcare approach. You can adopt these strategies that may help with the quality of eggs during their 120-day maturation time … and beyond:

Reduce toxins and oxidative stress which can damage ova and the DNA within them:

Stop smoking ... and yes this includes vaping!!
Stop recreational drug use
Avoid alcohol
Minimise environmental hazards
- reduce exposure to pesticides
- Reduce exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals which can be found in plastics, lined cans (contain BPA and similar chemicals), and most makeup and skin care.

2. Maintain healthy blood sugar levels by:

monitoring food and drink consumption

exercise
healthy weight management.

High and unstable blood sugar levels

increase oxidative stress & inflammation
disrupt hormonal balance, including insulin and sex hormones
impairs mitochondrial function which fuels the maturation process of the ova

Acupuncture

Acupuncture may be helpful in the lead-up to fertility preservation. Acupuncture has been demonstrated to:

Increase blood flow to the ovaries, potentially improving the delivery of IVF drugs and growth factors.

Regulate hormone levels.
Increase the number of mature eggs retrieved in women over 37 years old.
Reduce the attrition rate of eggs collected from consecutive stimulated cycles

Our acupuncturist, Christine Guirguis, recommends treatments twice a week for eight weeks prior to the egg freezing process, and also between days 6 and 8 of the stimulated cycle.

Does acupuncture have any side effects?

Most people experience positive side effects with acupuncture, such as relaxation, calmness, and increased energy. Some may experience less positive side effects like pain or itching at the needle site, bruising, dizziness, or headache. Acupuncture is generally considered one of the safest interventions available.

Naturopathy

Naturopathic care aims to optimise health. In preparation of fertility preservation, our Naturopath, Lauren Lee, suggests that priority is given to:

Decreasing Inflammation by:

addressing any digestive issues, food sensitivities, or microbial imbalances.
strategies to ensure sleep quality.

Supporting hormonal balance:

Evaluating the regularity and pain-free nature of your periods, and monitoring regular ovulation.
Stabilising blood sugar and insulin levels.
Addressing diagnosed conditions such PCOS, thyroid issues etc

Mimising Toxic Exposure

Transitioning off oral contraceptives and assessing polypharmacy effects.
Addressing addictions

Increasing nutrients available to maturing ovarian follicles:

Prioritising: oily fish, protein (vegetable and animal sources), and wholefoods.
Considering supplementation of key nutrients such as B vitamins, zinc, iron, vitamin D, coenzyme Q10, omega-3 fatty acids, iodine, and choline.
Avoiding: high methylmercury fish, refined sugars, caffeine, alcohol, and trans fatty acids.

Blood tests, stool tests, hair tests, urine tests and vaginal swabs may be used to assess health status and monitor progress during this time.

Mental Healthcare

Managing stress is crucial in managing oxidative stress, hormonal balance and energy levels. Daily techniques like yoga and mediation can be very helpful.

Professional mental healthcare

Fertility, partnership & family-building are fundamental issues of our humanity - and the fertility journey, including fertility preservation can bring to the surface troubling and sometimes painful issues. Sessions with a mental healthcare professional can be so valuable, to help you cope, and grow, at this time. We work with many professionals in the community and can make recommendations according to your needs.

Ready to Learn More?

If you're considering egg freezing, and want to explore how an integrative approach can benefit you, contact Papaya Clinic today. We're here to support you every step of the way!