When it comes to egg health, younger is better. We know that women in their mid-30s will have a significant and measurable decline in both the quantity and the quality of their eggs, and egg freezing is all about preserving the healthy eggs you have now for use in the future. But we also know that women in their early 20s–at the peak of their fertility—aren’t necessarily able to predict whether or not they’ll actually need frozen eggs later on.
The sweet spot: 27-34
Source: Extend Fertility
Egg Quality
That’s why we say the best age to consider egg freezing is between 27 and 34. At that point, your fertility will still be highly intact, and what you’re able to preserve is highly likely to work for you in the future. According to a study our research team at CFRE recently presented, women under 35 have a 60% chance of freezing enough eggs in one cycle for a high chance at pregnancy later; that drops to 40% for women 35–37 and 9% for women 38–40.
35 or over? You may need multiple cycles
If you’re 35 or older, it doesn’t mean egg freezing isn’t something you should learn about and potentially consider. It just means that it might take you more than one cycle to preserve enough eggs so you’ll feel confident in your ability to get pregnant with those eggs in the future.
Under 27? Consider fertility testing
And, if you’re younger than 27, it doesn’t mean you shouldn’t consider fertility testing, even if you’re not ready to get pregnant or freeze your eggs right now. A fertility assessment could reveal a low ovarian reserve, a higher chance of early menopause, or other fertility problems that you can more easily and effectively manage if you’re younger.
Dr. Joshua Klein is an accomplished board-certified reproductive endocrinologist and assistant professor of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Science at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. He earned his medical degree at Harvard University, completing his residency in Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Biology at Massachusetts General and Brigham & Women’s Hospitals, and his fellowship in Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility at Columbia University. He is passionate about helping women understand their fertility and make smart, informed, and individualized decisions about their options for planning a family.
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