Feasibility and Usability of Egg-freezing Technique

The huge success in technological advancement has brought great enhancement and convenience in work and productivity, not to mention health and medication. Scientists carried out laboratory experiments and statistical analysis to ensure the accuracy and feasibility of egg-freezing. Young women in the twenty-first century are more independent and possess huge potentials in career development; they are eager to attempt egg-freezing as an insurance plan for delay child-bearing. However, the effectiveness of egg-freezing procedure is still uncertain, regarding to the low fertility rate, potential medical risks of treatment and procedures, and ineffective planning for delayed child-bearing.

Media highlights the survival rate of the frozen egg and deceptively pay little attention to the low successful fertility rate. The most advanced egg-frozen design, vitrication, claimed the egg survived up to 97%. The lifetime of a frozen egg can survive for at most 5 to 10 years. Yet, some research revealed that the cell structure might be damaged over a several years of storage; it hindered the effectiveness of In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) and lost the purpose of egg-preservation. In addition, the possibility of frozen egg for IVF is less compromising than a freshly extracted egg. A freshly extracted egg is efficient in cell division which increase the multiplication of embryo formation, making it easier to have higher chance of IVF. The egg preserving technique is undoubtedly surprising, still the success of livebirth remains low. Apart from the low fertility rate, the medical risks and complications of fertility drug and a sequential egg-retrieval procedure outweigh the actual prestige comes alone with egg-freezing. Before the egg-harvesting procedure, female patients are suggested to take follicle-growth-stimulating hormonal medication according to the ovarian stimulation protocols for IVF, which can induce mild to severe ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome, whom might experience ovary swelling, continuous abdominal pain, nausea or even shortness of breath. Moreover, complications might result from the medical procedures. As a needle is inserted into ovary for retrieving the ovum, discomfort feeling and pain are often seen in patients; there are risks in causing ovary, intestinal or bladder bleeding, and puncture site infection; there are female patients suffered from infertility because of procedural leading reproductive tract infection. Egg-freezing is not suitable on all females, which they should consult doctors for medical advice before reaching a consensus with their partners.

Furthermore, the egg-freezing approach together with IVF does not compromise with the delayed marriage age, which is not an ultimate insurance source for family planning. Personal achievement and accomplishment are being advocated and respected in nowadays society; both male and female characters strive for status and reputation in a competitive society, which generates a trend in involuntarily delayed marriages. Female reproductive functioning gradually reduces along ageing, which makes it even more challenging for fertility. The emerge of egg-freezing approach postpones pregnancy and falsely shapes a delusion of the preservation for female reproductive functioning. The IVF rate declines with advanced age; female aged under 35 has 40% of success while those aged above 40 has less than 10% of successful cases. Pregnancy at an advanced age resulted in irreversible effects on maternal physical health, like suffering from gestational diabetes and preterm delivery. Besides, preterm delivery leads to abnormal congenital foetal illness in organ formation and body structuring; for severe illness case requires a lifelong medical support.

To conclude, egg-freezing technique is originally an alternative approach for women with medical reasons to setback their motherhood. Yet, such technique has been increasing abused by general public as an excuse in pursuing a perfect life plan. An earlier planning of natural pregnancy comes less costly and more promising than relying on laboratory experiment.