Egg Freezing: What to Expect Before, During, and After the Procedure

More women today are choosing egg freezing not out of fear, but out of freedom. Whether you’re growing your career, waiting for the right partner, or simply aren’t ready yet, this option gives you time, space, and choice. At Paul’s Hospital, we see egg freezing not just as a procedure, but as a promise: your fertility doesn’t expire the moment society thinks it should.

Why Women Choose Egg Freezing Today

Let’s get one thing straight: egg freezing isn’t only for celebrities or women in their late 30s. It’s a valid option for anyone who wants to preserve their fertility because life doesn’t always follow a tidy timeline.

Some of the common reasons include:

• Facing health conditions such as endometriosis or undergoing treatments (for example, chemotherapy) that may affect fertility.

• Delaying pregnancy for personal or professional reasons, simply because now is not the right moment.

• Wanting reproductive autonomy before the natural decline in egg quality sets in.

Whatever your reason, it’s valid. And yes, it’s okay to plan your future on your terms.

What to Expect Before the Procedure

The journey begins with a consultation. At Paul’s Hospital, we take time to understand your medical history, your hopes, your questions, and your timeline. Here’s what usually happens:

• Hormonal tests and an ultrasound to check your ovarian reserve (the number and health of your eggs). 

• Personalised planning: age, health profile, and your goals are all factored in.

• Once ready, you’ll begin hormone injections to stimulate egg production. This generally lasts about 10–12 days. You may experience bloating, mood swings, or other mild side effects; this is normal. We walk you through it, step by step.

What Happens During the Procedure

The key steps of the egg-freezing cycle are familiar to anyone undergoing fertility care, though here it’s about storage rather than immediate conception. At Paul’s Hospital, the process is handled with care, precision, and empathy.

• Under light anaesthesia, a short outpatient procedure (typically 20–30 minutes) is performed to retrieve eggs via a needle guided by ultrasound. 

• The retrieved eggs are then rapidly frozen using a technique called vitrification and stored in cryogenic conditions. 

While science is advanced, we keep our language simple, our environment caring, and your questions welcome.

What Happens Afterwards

Once the retrieval is complete, recovery is usually swift. Most women are back to normal activity the next day, though we always emphasise rest, warmth, and self-care.

At Paul’s Hospital, we provide:

• A detailed report of how many eggs were retrieved and frozen.

• Guidance on future use: when and how to use them, what to expect.

• Emotional support and fertility counselling because this isn’t just clinical, it’s deeply personal.

Egg freezing isn’t “the end” of a story; it’s the opening chapter of a plan that’s finally on your terms.

It’s Not Just About Science. It’s About You.

So if you’re thinking about egg freezing, think about what you want from the experience. Support. Safety. Understanding.

At Paul’s Hospital, we offer all three and a quiet reassurance: your timeline matters just as much as your dreams.

If you’d like to explore your path, get in touch. Let’s talk about how we can walk this journey together.