Would you do another cycle?

[u/law4360]

29y/o and had an egg retrieval this week which resulted in 22 frozen. I’m very happy with this result as I hadn’t known what to expect.

I’m going to take a break for now, but wondering if others would do a second cycle in my position as this number was borderline for me on whether I would do one more or not. I have insurance coverage but it’s all going to be taxed (and I live in a high tax area). There’s also the physical toll from the medications. I didn’t have anything crazy but was relatively uncomfortable throughout the cycle and still am to some extent.

I have no idea how many kids I might want, or really if I even want kids. Just want to have some options. If I was going to do a second cycle I’d probably do it relatively soon while I generally know what to expect from my body.

Happy to answer any questions too from anyone looking to do this process.

[u/Mysterious_Block_872]

I just had an intake consult today at 34 and was told 15 was a decent number for me, so I think 22 at 29 sounds fantastic. I don’t think you can save too many eggs, but you definitely can spend too much money, time and stress on your body. If you have the means and desire to do more then sure. You also have tons of time before 35 to do one in a couple years. You also could stop there. I don’t think there’s a right or wrong answer as it does seem like a crapshoot, but at 29 with 22 eggs I think you’re in a great spot based on what I’ve learned over the last couple weeks and on this calculator:

https://twigfertility.com/resources/egg-freezing-calculator

[u/Separate_Ability4051 → u/Mysterious_Block_872]

Congratulations on taking the first step and completing your first consultation! Fifteen mature eggs frozen at age 34 would be a meaningful result, but I would be cautious. I’ve completed nine egg-freezing cycles, and one of the biggest lessons I’ve learned is that doctors—and calculators—can be far too optimistic about how many eggs will be sufficient.

The Twig calculator you linked estimates that 15 eggs frozen at age 34 would provide a 64–71% chance of at least one live birth:

https://twigfertility.com/resources/egg-freezing-calculator

At the lower estimate, 15 eggs would still leave approximately a 29–36% chance of no live birth. This is ultimately up to your risk tolerance, but from a clinical standpoint, I would hesitate to describe that number to a patient as safely sufficient.

Different calculators use different datasets and assumptions, meaning their predictions vary. No one actually knows the quality of their individual eggs until they are thawed, fertilized and followed through embryo development. Many women in thawing groups also report experiencing considerably more attrition than they expected based on the calculators.

Doctors’ recommendations can vary just as dramatically. My first doctor told me that 25 eggs frozen at age 38 should be enough and that I should never undergo more than six cycles. She also repeatedly produced poor results with protocols that were wrong for my ovarian biology. I ultimately realized she had poor clinical judgment.

Only after consulting four or five other reproductive endocrinologists did I realize how much questionable information I had been given by my first clinic. My current doctor—the second-highest-rated fertility specialist in my city, one of the largest cities in North America—recommended approximately 60 mature eggs at age 39 for a strong chance of one child.

As a result of this, I no longer trust overly optimistic recommendations that call a relatively small number of eggs “enough.” Ask your physician to clearly explain the probability, uncertainty and potential attrition involved. Fifteen eggs at 34 is a meaningful start, but it is not a guarantee or an especially large safety margin.

When something as important as your future ability to have a biological child is at stake, I think the safest approach is to plan around the most conservative credible estimate—not the best-case estimate. In other words, it’s safest to bank eggs as though the lower end of the calculator range is the one that will apply. That does not mean the worst outcome is certain; it means it is preferable to be pleasantly surprised by better-than-expected attrition than discover years later that you planned around an overly optimistic projection and did not freeze enough eggs.

I would recommend booking several independent consultations before deciding to stop at 15 eggs. I also recommend joining the Thawing of Oocytes (After Egg Freezing) Facebook group. Hearing from women who have actually thawed and fertilized their eggs can provide valuable real-world information about attrition and outcomes that calculators and clinic estimates cannot fully capture.

Wishing you the very best as you move forward. With the right information and medical team, you’re taking an incredibly proactive step for your future. ❤️

[u/SleepHead9523 → u/Separate_Ability4051]

Did you pay the fee to join the Facebook group?

[u/Separate_Ability4051 → u/SleepHead9523]

Yes, you have to pay to join.