Fertility preservation options

Fertility preservation refers to the process of freezing your eggs, sperm, or other tissues and storing them with the intention to use later to start or expand your family. Both men and women consider fertility preservations for a wide range of reasons. Some of these reasons are a medical necessity, while for others, egg or sperm freezing may be considered for personal reasons to avoid the detrimental effects of age on fertility.

Fertility preservation for women

Female fertility preservation can involve freezing your eggs (also known as oocyte vitrification), ovarian tissue freezing, or freezing an embryo created through IVF.

Common reasons for female fertility preservation include:

Not being ready for motherhood just yet
Being unsure if you ever want to have a baby but wanting to have the option later in life
Preparing for medical treatment such as cancer therapy, that may result in subfertility or infertility
Having an increased risk of fertility issues, such as a family history of early menopause or premature ovarian insufficiency
Preparing to undergo gender-affirming therapy

Egg freezing involves undergoing ovarian stimulation with hormone medications.

This encourages your ovaries to produce multiple eggs, which we then retrieve through a minor procedure. These unfertilised eggs are frozen through a specific process known as vitrification, and then stored. When you’re ready to use them, the eggs are thawed and then can be used for IVF.

Embryo freezing will take you through the IVF process.

This procedure involves ovarian stimulation, egg collection, and fertilisation with your partner’s sperm or donor sperm. The embryos created are then frozen and stored. Once you’re ready to grow your family, these thawed embryos can be transferred into your uterus for pregnancy.

Ovarian tissue freezing may be appropriate for some circumstances.

Ovarian tissue freezing involves surgically removing a small portion of ovarian tissue, which is then frozen and stored for future use. Unlike egg freezing, this procedure does not require ovarian stimulation or egg collection, making it a potential option for women who need to begin medical treatment urgently, such as cancer therapy. It may also be the preferred method of fertility preservation for girls who have not yet reached puberty and started ovulating. When you are ready to try for a pregnancy, the tissue may be reimplanted to help restore ovarian function and fertility.

Fertility preservation for men

While men don’t experience as significant a decline in their fertility with age compared to women, there are still reasons why a man may choose to undergo sperm freezing.

Common reasons for male fertility preservation include:

Preparing to undergo a medical treatment with risk to your fertility, including cancer therapies
Having a vasectomy but wanting to keep your options open for biological children in the future
Preparing to undergo gender-affirming therapy
Being regularly exposed to hazardous situations, such as toxic environments or a vocation with a high risk of injury

Sperm freezing involves providing a semen sample.

Prior to providing this sample, we recommend you abstain from ejaculation for 3-5 days. A private room at the Genea facilities means that your sperm sample can be processed and frozen in the lab as soon as possible. If you prefer to produce the sample at home, we can organise a home collection kit and instructions for transport to the lab. When you’re ready to grow your family, the sperm is thawed and can be used for either IVF or IUI.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does sperm/egg/embryo freezing cost?

The final out-of-pocket costs will depend on whether you have private health insurance or are eligible for a Medicare contribution, as well as how long you keep your frozen eggs/sperm/embryos in storage. The current treatment costs with Genea can be found here.

Does fertility preservation guarantee a successful pregnancy and healthy baby?

No fertility preservation technique or assisted reproductive technology is able to promise success. However, your chances of being able to have a baby later in life are greater if you are proactive with fertility preservation earlier on compared to if you leave it to chance.

How long can these cells stay frozen in storage?

Eggs, sperm and embryos can be safely stored for many years using modern cryopreservation techniques. When frozen and maintained under carefully controlled conditions, they remain in a suspended state that preserves their viability over time. The advanced cryostorage facilities at Genea are designed to provide a stable, secure environment, giving you confidence that your reproductive material will be carefully protected until you’re ready to use it.