Fertility freezing options:
What are your options?
Why would someone freeze their eggs, sperm or embryos?
There are lots of reasons you might want to freeze your eggs, sperm or embryos. Maybe you’re not ready to have a baby right now but want to keep your options open for the future. Maybe you’re starting medical treatment, like chemotherapy, that could affect your fertility. Or maybe you’ve just reached a point in life where you want to press pause and give yourself more time.
Whatever the reason, freezing is a way to plan ahead. It’s not about guarantees, but it can give you choices later on.
Egg freezing Perth
Freezing eggs
Egg freezing means collecting some of your eggs and storing them for later. It’s most common in people who want to have children one day but aren’t ready just yet, or who need to preserve their fertility before cancer treatment (like chemotherapy).
How it works:
- Hormone medication helps your ovaries grow more eggs than usual.
- The eggs are collected in a short procedure done under general anaestetic or deep sedation.
- They’re then frozen and stored until you’re ready to use them.
If you’d like more detail about how this process works, steps 2 and 3 on the IVF page explain the hormone phase and egg collection. Even if you’re not starting IVF now, those steps also give you an idea of what’s involved later on if you choose to use your frozen eggs in the future.
Why people choose this:
- To delay pregnancy for personal or medical reasons
- Before cancer treatment
- In case of early menopause or other fertility concerns
Freezing doesn’t mean you’ll definitely fall pregnant later, but it gives you a chance to try using your own eggs in the future.
Sperm freezing Perth
Freezing sperm
Sperm freezing is quick and easy. It’s a good option if you’re about to start medical treatment, have a health condition that might affect fertility, or just want to plan ahead.
How it works:
- A sample of sperm is collected.
- It’s checked in the lab, then frozen and stored for later use in treatments like IVF or IUI.
This is often done in just a day or two if time is tight.
Embryo freezing Perth
Freezing embryos
Embryo freezing is similar to egg freezing, but instead of freezing eggs, the eggs are fertilised with sperm first, and the resulting embryos are frozen.
How it works:
Eggs are collected the same way as in egg freezing.
They’re fertilised in the lab with sperm (from a partner or donor).
The embryos that grow are frozen and stored.
Fertility preservation in cancer patients
Ovarian tissue freezing (for some cancer patients)
Ovarian tissue freezing is not a routine fertility option. It’s usually considered only in very specific cases, mainly when cancer treatment needs to start urgently and there’s no time to go through a full egg collection cycle.
aInstead of collecting eggs, a small piece of ovarian tissue is removed through keyhole surgery. This tissue contains tiny, immature eggs and is frozen for potential use in the future.
This option is sometimes offered when:
Cancer treatment must begin right away, and egg freezing isn’t possible in time
The person is a child or young teenager and hasn’t started ovulating yet
There are medical reasons why egg collection isn’t suitable or safe
Later on, the frozen tissue may be reimplanted in the hope that it will start working again, producing hormones and possibly even eggs. While this approach is still considered experimental, there have been successful pregnancies in Australia and overseas.
This is a highly specialised and emerging area of fertility preservation. If it’s something your medical team is considering, you’ll be referred quickly to a fertility specialist who can explain what’s involved and whether it’s appropriate in your situation.
Cryopreservation Perth
Testicular tissue preservation (for young boys)
Testicular tissue preservation is an experimental option that may be considered for young boys who haven’t started puberty and are about to begin cancer treatment that could affect their future fertility.
In older boys and adults, sperm freezing is the usual method for fertility preservation. But before puberty, the testicles haven’t begun making mature sperm so traditional sperm freezing isn’t possible yet.
This option might be explored when:
- A child is about to have chemotherapy or radiation that is likely to damage the testicles
- They haven’t started puberty and are not yet producing sperm
- There’s a desire to preserve the chance of having biological children in the future
In these cases, a small piece of testicular tissue is removed and frozen. This tissue contains early sperm-producing cells, but it can’t be used right away. The idea is that, in the future, scientists may be able to mature these cells into usable sperm. Research is still ongoing.
When should you think about freezing?
There’s no perfect time; it depends on your life, health and goals. You might want to consider freezing if:
- You’re not ready for kids now but want the option later
- You’re having cancer treatment
- You have a medical condition that could affect fertility
Fertility specialist Perth
What people often say
Here are a few things people have shared with me about their experience:
- “I didn’t know if I wanted kids yet. Freezing my eggs gave me peace of mind.”
- “I felt better knowing we’d frozen embryos before starting treatment.”
- “It wasn’t about a guarantee—it just gave me options.”
Dr Tamara Hunter
What now?
If you’re thinking about freezing, here’s what you can do next:
- Talk to your GP. Let them know it’s something you want to explore. They can refer you to a fertility specialist.
- Book a consult. I can walk you through your options and help figure out what might suit you best. I offer appointments at The Woom (West Perth) or Monash IVF (West Leederville). Fertility treatments, when needed, are done at Monash IVF West Leederville.
- Start tracking your cycle. If you’re still getting periods, it helps to write down when they happen and how your body feels. As the founder of charli.health, I’ve helped create a simple, free tracker you can use to bring along to appointments. It’s a great starting point for these conversations.