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Not ready to take the plunge right away or still waiting for Prince Charming? By vitrifying our gametes (oocytes), we can delay the maturity of pregnancy, without impacting our fertility rate, since the chances of being pregnant will then be the same as at the time of vitrification. However, Dr François Olivennes, gynecologist-obstetrician, specialist in reproduction and author of the book “Pour la PMA” (ed. J.-C. Lattès) recommends “limiting their use to 45 years because of the associated risks. late pregnancies ”.
Vitrification, instructions for use
The process starts with ovarian stimulation, a ten-day treatment based on daily injections to be performed by yourself or by a home nurse. ” This stimulation is accompanied by regular medical visits to monitor the response of the ovaries to treatment and determine the ideal time to perform the procedure. oocyte puncture depending on follicle size and hormone levels », Specifies Dr Olivennes. Follows a brief surgery – under local anesthesia or light general anesthesia – during which the doctor takes a maximum of oocytes.
Egg freezing in practice
Since July 1, 2021, France has authorized, like many European countries including our Belgian and Spanish neighbors, the freezing of oocytes. If the last practical points of this authorization in France will be fixed later by decree, it would seem that stimulation and puncture are reimbursed by Social Security, but not the conservation of oocytes – an estimated cost of 40 euros per year. However, in order to perform IVF afterwards, waiting lists in French hospitals may be long. To have access to a assisted reproduction in France in July 2021, there is on average one year of waiting.
Doctor Michaël Grynberg therefore warns in the pages of the daily Le Monde Yes expanding access to assisted reproduction for single women and female couples is a great step forward, the increase in demand for assisted reproduction in France, linked to the change in the donor anonymity regime, risks considerably lengthening the waiting lists. Some may then prefer to continue to look to our European neighbors.
How long does it cost elsewhere?
In Spain and Belgium, the budget is estimated between € 2 and € 000. This price includes ovarian stimulation, egg retrieval and vitrification. To subsequently benefit from devitrification and proceed with IVF (in vitro fertilization), approximately € 1 will have to be added. Not to mention the costs of accommodation and transport.
At what age should you consider it?
It is recommended to do it between 25 and 35 years because after the number and the quality of oocytes decline and the interest of freezing is less. Gold, ” it is mainly women aged 35-40 who request it because they realize that their biological clock is ticking and it is often too late », Observes the obstetrician. His advice: think about it when you haven’t thought about it yet!
Is it the assurance of having a baby?
An additional chance yes, but Dr Olivennes recalls that ” egg freezing is never a certainty of having a child and even less several »And that the success rate of IVF – which should be done during devitrification – is around 30 to 40%.
Myriam Levain is a journalist and author of “And you where do you get started?”, Ed. Flammarion
“At 35, I was not in a position to have a child, in particular because I had no partner, but I knew that it is a“ pivotal age ”in terms of oocyte reserve. I preferred to go to Spain to practice self-preservation, because egg donation in France then did not allow enough eggs to be stored for oneself. The treatment is not trivial, between the bites and trips to the Spanish clinic. Doctors punctured 13 oocytes. What I showed in my investigation on the subject is that there are still a lot of taboos with this approach. Most of the women who do it don’t dare talk about it. Yet it’s just a way to give yourself the chance to make your motherhood wish come true later… ”