Oocyte cryopreservation, commonly known as egg freezing, has been an available procedure for decades. It stopped being classified as experimental in 2012, leading to a subsequent increase in elective egg freezing.
The process is often presented as a safeguard against fertility decline due to age or illness, but it can be both costly and complex. Figures vary, but research indicates that the majority of people who undergo egg freezing never access their stored eggs. For those who do use them, results are mixed.
Long-term storage of eggs also presents its own financial implications and questions.