Egg freezing at 37

[SilverQuill]

I keep bouncing backwards and forwards on this so hoping to glean some other perspectives...

I'm 37, DH is 40 and we have one DS, 1, conceived naturally when I was 35 after a long time (on/off ttc for around 3 years - we'd actually given up and thought we would have to go down the IVF route, got a puppy when I found out I was pregnant). During fertility testing trying for DS, it was found I had an endometrial polyp which was still showing on ultrasound scan 2 months after he was born. No other issues, but seems likely that the polyp was interfering with conception.

I had quite severe PMD after having DS but life is feeling much more manageable now. All being well, I'm due to start a graduate training scheme for a v exciting albeit challenging new career in July - DS will start nursery full-time in September. This will combine study with on the job training and is likely to be intense - all being well, I'll finish September 2026, the month I turn 40 and DS is due to start primary school. So I'm not really in a position to try for another baby now, even if the time felt right - which it doesn't - DH and I are still on the fence as to whether we want another DC or not, but I'm painfully aware that time is running out, particularly for me, fertility-wise.

So my quandry is, I'm considering freezing eggs sometime in the spring, before I start my course. I'm aware that the success rate is somewhat better with frozen embryos as they are more robust, but this feels a step too far for both me and DH. Personally, I feel I would struggle to discard/destroy frozen embryos. My logic in freezing eggs is to potentially buy myself a couple more years, so we could make a final decision on trying for a second DC after my programme has finished and we're hopefully in a more secure position - re finances, career and mental health. Some days, it seems like a no-brainer and other days it feels like a crazy expensive gamble and I should lay to rest any thoughts of a second child and a sibling for DS.

I would love to know what others think!

i‘d go all the way and freeze eggs. Your chances at a healthy baby would be better too, not just the success rate. I get not wanting to discard fertilized eggs, but it’s unreasonable if you think about it. You can still decide against using them, no moral problem if you ask me..
it‘ll give you peace of mind.

I'm not sure others can help you here. I had my eggs frozen about 10 years ago (due to commencing cancer treatment), and now have 3 DC all born from those same eggs, but our paths are clearly different.
Defo check you AMH levels (guide to how many eggs you have), and might be worth testing your DHs sperm. Also, why are you so against freezing embryos? Aside from the increased chances of it all working, men have declining quality of sperm as they age, with an increase in autism and other things, and your DH is not super young. You might get more help in one of the infertility sections of Mumsnet. Clearly whatever you decide, YANBU.

It’s great to hear a positive egg freezing story - I keep hearing about the low odds and reasons not to do it.

Can I ask how old you were when you froze your eggs and how many eggs you collected/froze?

Thanks!

I was 31 when they were frozen; I got 24 eggs in one cycle. Please remember unlike most people I did not have fertility issues (my fertility is probably extremely good). Of the 24 eggs, 9 are still eggs and 15 became 6 five day blasts.....of which the first three are my 3DC. The odds on eggs are small but there's lots of eggs and you only need one eg you could say that only 3/24 ie 1 in 8 of mine worked, but that would be a bit misleading I think.

The clinic I had my ivf through won’t do egg freezing for anyone over 35. You’d need to check because it’s not a blanket service offered at all clinics for this reason!

Sorry I’ve just seen this reply. 24 eggs from one cycle is a phenomenal result! I am just starting treatment now, and my goal is 15 eggs (this is how many the doctor said was good to freeze at my age). I also would only want one DC so I hope 15 eggs gives me a good shot at that. It’s all a bit of a mind fuck at this stage, as I have never given my fertility a moment’s thought before embarking on this journey. Thanks again for sharing your experience.

@Crushed23 24 is phenomenal as you say, however I did not have fertility issues and was younger than many who did this. They actually stopped giving me drugs 2 days before the eggs were extracted and there was a chance they needed to cancel it as I was at risk of hyper ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome. All a bit stressful at the time, but that's history. The Docs did tell me there was a theory that fewer eggs meant higher quality ones. Best of luck. If you get 15 eggs you would be very unlikely not to be a mum one day x