One in four women return to use their frozen eggs, study finds

More than a quarter of women who freeze their eggs return to use them, according to a recent study conducted by Maastricht University Medical Center+ (Maastricht UMC+). The research, which analyzed over 1,100 women, provides new insights into the outcomes of fertility preservation procedures.

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

“This research sheds light on the real-world success rates of fertility preservation,” said researcher Elena ter Welle-Butalid, who led the study. “It 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, conducted across 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 the women in the study opted to freeze their eggs or embryos due to upcoming cancer treatments that threatened their fertility. The remaining women chose the procedure for personal reasons, such as delaying childbearing.

“Women who face a high likelihood of losing their fertility, such as those undergoing cancer treatments, are the primary candidates for fertility preservation,” explained ter Welle-Butalid. “But others, often single women, decide to freeze their eggs to avoid future challenges in conceiving as they age.”

Whether 25.5 percent of women returning is seen as a high or low figure depends on perspective, 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 about their future plans might view the figure as too low and choose not to proceed.”

The study revealed that women who returned underwent an average of two embryo transfers, underscoring the likelihood that several attempts may be needed for success.

The process of freezing eggs or embryos is expensive, costing several thousand euros. In the Netherlands, the costs are covered only when there is a medical necessity, such as fertility risks associated with cancer treatments. Women freezing 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 becoming an increasingly important discussion as more women turn to fertility preservation,” she said.

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