USING YOUR FROZEN EGGS
Ready To Use Your Frozen Eggs?
Are you ready for Part 2 of your egg freezing journey? Mazel tov! Most women who bank their eggs are laser focused on Part 1, retrieval and freezing. The mechanics of Part 2, actually using your frozen eggs to conceive, can be overwhelming to contemplate — and may not happen when and how you envisioned.
Whether you have decided to become a single mother, found the partner of your dreams or are finally prepared to expand your family, fasten your seat belts! You are now entering the wild world of IVF – and putting your frozen eggs to the ultimate test.
Getting Pregnant With Frozen Eggs
Step 1: Clinic Consultation
Schedule an appointment with your clinic mid-cycle (day 5-13). Make sure you have your medical records ready including recent pap smear and mammogram results.
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Baseline ultrasound
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To check your antral, or resting, follicle count
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Blood work
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TSH/FT4, CBC, Vitamin D, CMV, Communicable testing (HIV, HepB, HepC, RPR)
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Psychologist appointment
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There is no mandatory rule, but many clinics require that you see a psychologist prior to starting IVF. If you already see one, save some money and get your current Doctor to write and evaluation based on the clinic’s criteria.
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You’ll have to do a battery of tests so get a head start and ask your clinic for a pre-work up checklist (and price list) so you know what to expect. Most clinics will require:
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Hysteroscopy
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Your doctor may perform a hysteroscopy (HSC) and/or hysterosalpingogram (HSG)
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What’s the difference between and HSC & HSG:
- HSC assesses the health your womb. While under mild sedation, your Doctor will use a fiber-optic telescope to examine your uterus and remove, if necessary, any irregularities such as fibroids, polyps or scar tissues.
- HSG assesses the health of your fallopian tubes. First, a radiopaque dye is inserted into your uterine cavity followed by an x-ray to determine a) if your fallopian tubes are blocked and b) pinpoint the location of the blockage.
A Note on Sperm Source
If you have you have a partner or recruited a sperm donor, then you are good to go. Otherwise, its time to start sperm shopping. There are many factors to consider — everything from race and genetics to height and eye color — so do not rush this decision.
First, you need to find a sperm bank that provides the level of service you need. Some women are comfortable choosing their sperm donors online (eerily similar to a Match.com search), while others will opt for a more hands-on personalized service. Once you have selected your donor, the sperm bank will ship the frozen sample directly to your clinic.
Step 2: Preparing Your Body
When your Doctor gives you the green light, its time to start preparing your body for your transfer. The protocol for a fresh transfer (i.e., not refrozen while genetic testing is done) and FET (frozen embryo transfer) is typically 6 weeks (almost 3x egg freezing sim cycle)!
You’ll start by taking estrogen (orally) and progesterone (vaginally or via injections) to prepare your uterine lining (endometrium) for the embryo transfer. During this period, you will be monitored via blood draws to assess the development of your endometrium. Based on your blood work, your doctor will perform a final ultrasound to ensure your lining is 8 mm or above and ready for the embryo transfer. If your body did not responded well to the medication and you’re lining is not at minimum thickness, the cycle will be cancel.
It’s critical that your body and mind are as healthy as possible!
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Acupuncture has been proven to help increase blood flow and reduce stress.
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Yoga is also another great tool to prepare for your transfer
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Eat well (dark leafy vegetables and lean protein)
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Take your prenatal vitamins (including Folic Acid and DHA) and low dose aspirin (80 mg)
