The facility of “social freezing” (which has nothing to do with social media), now a common phenomenon in developed countries, is now available in Vijayawada.
Social freezing, also called “social egg freezing”, is an elective procedure to preserve a woman’s eggs (oocytes) to postpone their maternity until their personal situation is suitable to form a family. Whether the availability of this facility is a bane or boon to the women in the city is another matter.
Invitro Fertility (IVF) specialist at the Nova IVI Fertility Vijayawada Centre Y Swapna said that Oocyte Cryopresevation — in layman’s words egg freezing — could never be like natural conception. The facility was available only for those who had to under go chemo- or radio-therapy.
Dr. Swapna, who trained in the United Kingdom, said that more and more women were going for delaying pregnancy until they were well into their 30s or older to help them cope with their work, travel and financial needs. What was more important was their fertility which reduced with age. Giving figures, she said that women were born with a limited number of eggs and that there quantity and quality reduced and deteriorated with age.
While the best age for pregnancy was between 20 and 30, the earlier the better, all women who want to delay their pregnancy could take an anti-Mullerian Hormone test to determine their fertility potential. This hormone was secreted by the cells in the egg developing sacs, also called follicles, and were a marker for ovarian reserve, scientific jargon for female fertility. The level of AMH in the woman’s blood gave insight into her ovarian reserve and knowing the number of eggs and the number of fertile years.
There were no treatments that are supported by good quality evidence to improve ovarian reserve. Treatments like intra-ovarian injection of platelet rich plasma (PRP) and Enriched/Enhanced platelet activating factor (ENPLAF) were being studied in research settings with some benefit, but their use was not recommended for routine treatment till supported by larger studies. It was therefore best to plan a pregnancy after consultation.
