For years, doctors have frozen embryos and sperm to help prospective parents preserve them for future use. Eggs, however, could not be frozen and used with more than a minor chance of success. That may be changing. Japanese researchers have announced a new technique that gives frozen, then thawed eggs the same pregnancy-success rate as fresh ones.
The scientists see their work as most useful for cancer patients who wish to freeze their eggs before treatments that could ruin their fertility. They recognize the technique may also attract women who simply want to delay having children, but then use young eggs. They warn that women should not delay too long, however, for risk of hitting menopause first.
I can see applications for lesbian moms, too, say, if one woman was getting older and wanted to save some eggs for a future attempt with a different donor (rather than freezing embryos that would lock her into the same donor). It’s hard enough finding one good donor, so I don’t think a lot of women will go this route, but you never know. Might be one way to have donors that reflect both your ethnic backgrounds, for example. If you’re young, of course, you can do this without needing to freeze your eggs.
No word yet on when the technique will be widely available, or on its cost relative to current options.