More women today are choosing to delay maternity due to various factors, including career, education or personal reasons. But with this change in the plan of life, there is a need to understand how fertility works with age.

A medical option that is becoming increasingly popular, is a process called egg freezing, which allows women to preserve their eggs at an early age and later use them when they are ready to become parents.

While the idea of cold eggs seems promising, doctors say that it is important to be informed well before and soon.

Age factor

If you are thinking about freezing your eggs, reproductive experts agree that age has a role in the process.

Nova IVF in Pune, a reproductive specialist in IVF fertility, Dr. Rashmi Nifkar says that the best time to freeze eggs is between 25 and 35 years of age. During this time, the number and quality of eggs is at their peak, which gives women the highest possibility of a successful pregnancy in the future.

After 35, the amount of eggs start decreasing, and the eggs cannot be so healthy. This, in turn, reduces the possibility of conception and can sometimes affect pregnancy health.

Dr. Prachi Benara, a reproductive specialist in Birla Fertility and IVF in Gurugram, says the ideal window is between 28 and 35 years. “Women are born with a certain number of eggs, and as they are age, both count and quality naturally fall. This not only makes it difficult to be pregnant, but can also increase the risk of miscarriage and other complications,” she says.

According to him, cold eggs at an early age give women more flexibility and peace of mind when talking about family planning later in life.

Egg cold process

When it comes to who should consider egg cold, doctors insist on that it is not just for women with health problems. This can be an important option for women who are postponing maternity to focus on other areas of life, including career or education.

It is also suitable for women who are undergoing medical treatment such as chemotherapy, or who have family history of early menopause. In some cases, women with conditions such as endometriosis or autoimmune diseases may also benefit from freezing their eggs quickly.

Lifestyle options and factors such as smoking, stress, poor sleep and irregular periods can affect fertility, and in such situations, an initial consultation with a reproductive physician can help.

Cost of egg cold

In India, the cost of egg cold varies depending on the clinic and the medical condition of the individual.

Dr. Benara states that a single cycle of egg cold – which includes medications, scans and egg recovery process – usually costs between Rs 1 lakh and Rs. 1.2 lakh. Annual storage fees typically ranges from Rs 10,000 to Rs 25,000, and if a woman chooses to use her eggs later through IVF, it can range from Rs 1.5 to Rs 2.5 lakh per cycle per cycle. Some clinics, such as, offer bundle packages that include storage for a few years.

Dr. Nifarkkar says that pricing depends a lot on factors such as age and the number of eggs, so there is not a certain amount that applies to all.

Busting myth, misunderstanding

Despite increasing awareness, there are still a lot of misconceptions around the cold of the egg. A common myth, Dr. Niddkar says, it is believed that the cold eggs later guarantee a child.

She makes it clear that while the process increases the possibility of pregnancy, it does not come with 100% success rate. The result still depends on the quality of the egg at the time of cold, and how the body reacts to IVF later.

Another mistake women make, she says, assuming that they can wait until their 40s. But by that time, egg quality has already declined. Dr. Benara agrees that women often believe that they can wait for a very long time, when in fact, it is more effective to freeze in advance.

Physically, egg cold is usually safe, but it is not completely without discomfort.

Women may experience swelling, mood, and mild side effects, which are caused by hormone injections used to stimulate ovaries.

Both doctors mentioned that this part of the process takes about 10 to 14 days. In rare cases, ovarian hyperstimulation may be at risk of syndrome (when the ovaries are swollen and liquids are leaked in the stomach and chest area from blood vessels).

Emotionally, women may feel worried, especially if they are undergoing process alone or are worried about whether they are making the right choice.

At the same time, many women feel a sense of empowerment even after controlling their breeding plans.

Doctors encourage women to see the eggs as a guarantee, but as a supporting option to keep the doors open for the future.

With correct medical guidance and emotional support, the process can be smooth, meaningful and well -considering for those who want to preserve their fertility.