Abstract
Increasing numbers of women are undergoing oocyte or tissue cryopreservation for medical or social reasons to increase their chances of having genetic children. Social egg freezing (SEF) allows women to preserve their fertility in anticipation of age-related fertility decline and ineffective fertility treatments at older ages. The purpose of this study was to summarize recent findings focusing on the challenges of elective egg freezing. We performed a systematic literature review on social egg freezing published during the last ten years. From the systematically screened literature, we identified and analyzed five main topics of interest during the last decade: (a) different fertility preservation techniques, (b) safety of freezing, (c) usage rate of frozen oocytes, (d) ethical considerations, and (e) cost-effectiveness of SEF. Fertility can be preserved for non-medical reasons through oocyte, embryos, or ovarian tissue cryopreservation, with oocyte vitrification being a new and optimal approach. Elective oocyte cryopreservation is better accepted, supports social gender equality, and enhances women’s reproductive autonomy. Despite controversies, planned oocyte cryopreservation appears as a chosen strategy against age-related infertility and may allow women to feel that they are more socially, psychologically, and financially stable before motherhood.
Highlights
Introduction iationsThe fertility preservation field has developed over the last two decades, but data regarding its results are limited
We restricted searching for articles written in English for the prior ten-year period using the specific keywords “social egg freezing”, OR “elective egg freezing”, OR “oocyte cryopreservation”, OR “fertility preservation”, OR “age-related infertility” AND “Romania”
The search refined to Romania retrieved four results; no research was conducted in Romania during the study period (Figure 2)
Summary
The fertility preservation field has developed over the last two decades, but data regarding its results are limited. An increasing number of women choose to delay the conception of a child for various social reasons. Social egg freezing (SEF) allows women to preserve their fertility in anticipation of agerelated fertility decline and ineffective fertility treatments at older ages. “Social freezing” is the term used when eggs or ovarian tissue are frozen for non-medical causes and used later in life. “Elective egg freezing” is the term preferred by most women. “Social egg freezing” highlights the fact that women’s reproductive choices are socially embedded. We often encounter the term “non-medical egg freezing” or “egg freezing for non-medical reasons”. The decision to cryopreserve oocytes to protect women against age-related fertility decline should be considered a preventive medical
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