If you’re considering egg freezing, one of the first questions you might have is: How does this process line up with my menstrual cycle? While there is a typical timeline, it’s more flexible than you might think.
In most cases, ovarian stimulation begins at the start of your period. This phase usually lasts about two weeks, during which you’ll take hormone injections to help your ovaries produce multiple eggs. Your fertility clinic will monitor your progress with ultrasounds and blood tests, and once your eggs are ready, they’ll be retrieved in a short outpatient procedure.
What if my ideal timing for a retrieval doesn’t line up with my period?
Life doesn’t always follow a perfect calendar and thankfully, neither does egg freezing. If you have travel plans, a busy work schedule, or just need a little more time to prepare, your cycle can be adjusted using medications like birth control pills.
Patients will typically take these pills for a short period of time (often less than a month), then stop them when they’re ready for the stimulation phase. It’s quite predictable that a patient will get their period within a few days of stopping, allowing for better control of when the process begins. In other words, birth control shifts your cycle to fit your schedule.
Can this be done without birth control pills?
Estrogen alone or progesterone alone can also be used for scheduling purposes, There’s also a lesser-known option called a random start protocol, which allows stimulation to begin at any point in your cycle, not just during your period. This approach was originally developed for patients who needed to preserve fertility quickly before starting treatments like chemotherapy. Today, it’s used for anyone who needs a more flexible timeline. Random start protocols may involve slightly longer stimulation periods or higher doses of medications, but they’re completely safe. Studies have shown that random start protocols can yield results just as good as traditional timing.
Are there any downsides to a random start protocol?
While outcomes are comparable to standard protocols, there’s one key consideration: timing for an embryo transfer. Eggs (and embryos, if chosen) retrieved from random start cycles are generally frozen rather than transferred immediately. The lining of the uterus is not necessarily synchronized for implantation at this point. When you’re ready to pursue pregnancy, your doctor can time the transfer to ensure the uterine lining is optimized for implantation and pregnancy success.
The bottom line
Whether you’re planning ahead or facing a time-sensitive situation, egg freezing can be personalized for your schedule. Your fertility team will work with you to choose the best protocol based on your health, goals, and timing needs.
Egg freezing is a big decision but understanding how it fits into your cycle can make it feel a little more manageable. With options like birth control scheduling and random start protocols, you don’t have to wait for the “perfect” moment because the process can be tailored to meet you where you are.
Dr. Ido Feferkorn is a reproductive endocrinologist at Reproductive Medicine Group in Tampa. He specializes in treating patients with infertility, PCOS, endometriosis and recurrent pregnancy loss. He also has a special interest in fertility preservation. Dr. Feferkorn’s research has been presented in international conferences such as the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) and European Society for Human Reproduction and Embryology (ESHRE). Dr. Feferkorn loves spending his free time with his wife and three kids. He chose REI because of the magic in seeing life created and accompanying the journey to parenthood.
Learn more about Reproductive Medicine Group’s egg freezing practice on Freeze.
