Egg freezing, also known as oocyte cryopreservation, allows individuals to preserve fertility for future use. This process often brings forth questions regarding its impact on the body, particularly the menstrual cycle. A common misconception is that freezing eggs permanently stops periods, which is not the case.
Does Egg Freezing Stop Periods?
Egg freezing does not permanently stop menstrual periods. The procedure involves a temporary disruption to the natural cycle, due to hormonal medications administered during ovarian stimulation. These medications, including synthetic FSH and LH, encourage the ovaries to produce multiple eggs, rather than the single egg typically matured.
These hormones can temporarily delay a period during the two-week process. However, once stimulation is complete and eggs are retrieved, your body clears these hormones. Periods generally resume their regular pattern within a few weeks to one or two months. The procedure collects eggs that would have naturally matured and been lost, so it does not alter the long-term function of the ovaries.
The Egg Freezing Process
The process begins with a consultation and fertility evaluation to assess ovarian reserve and health. This includes blood tests (AMH, FSH) and an ultrasound to count egg follicles. These tests determine medication dosages for ovarian stimulation.
Following evaluation, ovarian stimulation is the primary stage, involving daily self-administered hormonal injections for approximately 10 to 14 days. These stimulate the ovaries to mature multiple eggs. Regular monitoring, with blood tests and ultrasounds, tracks hormone levels and follicle growth, allowing for medication adjustments.
Once follicles reach adequate size, a “trigger shot” is administered, typically 35-36 hours before egg retrieval, to induce final maturation. Egg retrieval is a brief outpatient procedure, usually 20 to 30 minutes, performed under light sedation or anesthesia. A transvaginal ultrasound guides a thin needle into ovarian follicles to suction out mature eggs. After retrieval, mature eggs are immediately flash-frozen using vitrification, which rapidly cools them to -196°C with liquid nitrogen to prevent ice crystal formation. Frozen eggs are then stored for future use.
What to Expect for Your Body
Following the egg retrieval procedure, most individuals experience temporary side effects. Common experiences in the first 24 hours include cramping, bloating, constipation, and mild vaginal spotting, similar to menstrual discomfort. Over-the-counter pain relievers and heating pads can help manage these symptoms, which typically subside within a few days.
While most side effects are mild and short-lived, some individuals may experience hormonal symptoms like headaches, mood swings, breast tenderness, or fatigue. These generally resolve once medication is complete. A less common, but more serious, risk is Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome (OHSS), where ovaries become swollen and painful due to an over-response to fertility drugs, sometimes leading to fluid retention. Severe OHSS is rare, occurring in approximately 0.1% to 2% of cycles. Egg freezing does not reduce the chances of natural pregnancy later or increase the risk of cancer.