Ovarian Stimulation and Egg Freezing

Ovarian stimulation is an important step in the egg freezing process

In order to achieve the best results during the egg retrieval process, our Southern California fertility doctor uses medications to stimulate a patient’s ovaries to increase the chances for a woman developing multiple viable eggs during her menstrual cycle. Ovarian stimulation is a vital part of the egg freezing process for women who have irregular menstrual cycles because it can induce ovulation.

Medications for ovarian stimulation

Our Southern California fertility doctors create an individualized medication protocol based on a number of relevant factors determined during the initial testing and diagnostic phase of treatment. Our center  has performed in-vitro fertilization, IVF, procedures for over 30 years. As a result, our  knowledge and experience allow us to tailor every cycle to each patient to achieve maximum success.

Ovarian stimulation begins with the injection of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH). These hormones are responsible for developing an egg(s) for ovulation. Our Southern California fertility doctors will also determine which medication to use to prevent premature ovulation of the egg(s) during the cycle. Generally, women who have a larger number of eggs receive Lupron. We give Cetrotide® or Ganirelix Accetate® to women who have an average or below average number of eggs.

Another important step in the ovarian stimulation process while preparing for egg freezing occurs during the monitoring phase. Patients receive monitoring with ultrasounds and blood draws every one to three days during ovarian stimulation. This allows us to assess how they are responding to the medications. Our doctors can make adjustments, if necessary, based on the findings during monitoring visits.

Egg retrieval after ovarian stimulation

After ovarian stimulation has been completed for egg freezing, a woman comes to our Newport Beach Surgery Center for the egg retrieval procedure. The ultrasound-guided transvaginal aspiration occurs while the patient is under anesthesia. After the egg retrieval, the egg freezing process can begin.

Our Southern California fertility doctor is experienced and knowledgeable about ovarian stimulation and egg freezing

Egg freezing and the vitrification process successfully preserves eggs for future fertility. Our state-of-the-art IVF lab and laboratory staff represent one of the premier facilities in the United States, and our team has extensive experience and training in the vitrification process. If you want to learn more about egg freezing, contact us.

Find Out if You are a Candidate for Egg Freezing

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MicroSecure Vitrification

Our Southern California fertility center conducted a laboratory study that compared our MicroSecure Vitrification with the slow freezing method for egg freezing.  The study was performed by SCIRS (now Ovation® Fertility).  Results showed that our vitrification method yielded a survival rate of 90% for egg survival after thawing.  Subsequent to thawing, those eggs had an 81% rate of fertilization. After transferring an average of just over two embryos per patient, we achieved a 39% implantation rate, and a 47% rate of live births, resulting in healthy births and babies who exhibited normal patterns of childhood development at their 1-year physical examinations.

Read more about the study here.