Egg freezing (also called oocyte cryopreservation) is an option for women who are not ready to start a family yet, but want to preserve the possibility of having children later. It works by freezing eggs at a time when they are typically healthier, helping to keep future options open.

“Egg freezing is about giving yourself more choice for your future so you can build your life today, while keeping the option of having a family for later,” says Bernice Colton, Patient Coordinator at Hope Fertility & IVF. “My advice is simple: do not wait to start the conversation. Even learning more about your fertility can be empowering.”

Female fertility naturally changes with age, largely because both the number and quality of eggs decline over time. Medical guidance recognizes that this decline becomes more pronounced as women enter their late 30s and beyond, which is why early awareness and informed planning can be valuable.

Regulatory guidance and clinical evidence consistently show that age at the time of freezing is one of the biggest drivers of later success, and that freezing eggs before 35 generally improves the likelihood of success compared with freezing later.