KATHMANDU, Aug 20: Two weeks ago, a 32-year-old woman from Kathmandu visited Creator’s IVF Centre in Lalitpur. She went there to have her own eggs retrieved and preserved for future use. The married woman chose to freeze her eggs because she does not want to have a child at present. She is currently consulting with doctors.
Another 35-year-old woman from Kathmandu had her eggs retrieved and frozen at the same centre a year ago. She is unmarried and lives abroad. She chose egg freezing so that she could have the option of having children if she marries later.
Two other women have also frozen their eggs at the centre. So far, seven women have frozen their eggs at Indira IVF in Kathmandu. Across all centres, an estimated 100 women have undergone egg freezing.
The IVF centre at Grande Hospital began freezing eggs 12 years ago, although the hospital does not have exact data on how many women have used the service. Dr Padam Raj Pant, a gynaecology and IVF specialist at the hospital, says Grande stopped egg freezing after the Supreme Court barred the retrieval of eggs from women under 20. However, eggs can be frozen for adult women, including single and divorced women, he says.
Dr Jwala Thapa, a fertility specialist at the IVF centre of Paropakar Maternity and Women’s Hospital, says unmarried and single women have increasingly been seeking information about egg freezing. Four women have so far approached the hospital to inquire about the procedure, although it does not currently offer egg freezing to unmarried women.
A married woman had her eggs frozen several years ago. At Teaching Hospital, which began IVF services two years ago, no young women have yet come for egg freezing. However, the hospital freezes eggs for women undergoing cancer treatment because chemotherapy can damage the ovaries.
What is egg freezing?
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Egg freezing is the process of retrieving a woman’s eggs and preserving them for future use when she does not want to become a mother immediately or when circumstances are not suitable for pregnancy. Properly preserved eggs can remain viable for a long time. When the woman later marries or decides the time is right, the frozen eggs can be fertilised with sperm in a laboratory.
Once an embryo is formed, it is transferred into the uterus to achieve pregnancy. Eggs are frozen and preserved using specialised technology, controlled temperatures and chemicals to maintain their quality. Women can later use the stored eggs to attempt pregnancy. Doctors say the technology and chemicals involved are expensive, making the procedure inaccessible to many.
Why are women choosing to freeze their eggs?
Doctors say most women seeking egg freezing are over 30, although some as old as 48 have also shown interest. Many are focused on academic studies, building financial independence or are in relationships without certainty about marriage. Some women who have divorced, or believe a marriage may not last, also consider freezing their eggs, says Dr Sanu Maiya Shrestha, a gynecologist and IVF specialist at Creator IVF.
“Women living abroad who want to marry later also seek egg freezing,” Shrestha said. Delayed marriage and delayed childbearing have become increasingly common in urban society.
Dr Neha Homagai, a fertility specialist at Indira IVF Centre, says women who have gone abroad for education or employment are also seeking the procedure. Those who freeze their eggs generally have a better understanding of reproductive health and the process of having a healthy baby.
They want to preserve the possibility of becoming mothers even if they marry later. They also understand that egg quality declines with age and that the number of available eggs can decrease.
Dr Poonam Sharma of Teaching Hospital Maharajgunj says urban women are increasingly marrying and having children later. “Young women today do not want to take on all the burdens associated with marriage. Society has changed,” she said.
Egg numbers decline after 35
Women are born with a limited number of eggs, and both their quantity and quality decline with age. Doctors say the decline becomes more pronounced after 35. In some women, the number of eggs may fall significantly after 38.
Women who understand this process are choosing to freeze their eggs at a younger age to preserve their chances of having children later.
Dr Pant says properly frozen eggs can be preserved for a long time. If viable eggs are available, pregnancy can be attempted later, provided the uterus and other health conditions are suitable.
How appropriate is egg freezing?
Doctors say both egg and uterine quality decline with age. Conditions such as fibroids and endometriosis can also make embryo implantation and pregnancy more difficult.
The success of using frozen eggs varies according to age, egg quality and overall health. Dr Pant says the success rate after egg freezing can be around 70 percent, although it declines with increasing age and the passage of time.
Doctors caution that pregnancy through IVF at an advanced age can involve challenges related to uterine health and other factors. They therefore recommend natural pregnancy at an appropriate age whenever possible.
Egg freezing also carries some health risks, making medical consultation essential. “The hormones given before egg retrieval can cause various problems in the body,” Dr Pant said.
