Social oocyte freezing

This chapter includes clinical cases, background, evidence-based practical management options, preventive measures and key-point summaries of social oocyte freezing. Oocyte developmental competence, which has been described as the ability of the female gamete to mature sufficiently to facilitate fertilization and support embryo development, is dependent on the oocyte quality. Gender equality, greater opportunities for women, together with improving success rates associated with social oocyte freezing meant some women took the opportunity to delay pregnancy and childbirth. A slightly increased risk of miscarriage has been observed in in-vitro fertilization cycles using frozen thawed oocytes with additional considerations being medical complications manifesting during pregnancy in women of advancing reproductive age. Reproductive medicine specialists should implement a thorough fertility assessment and provide realistic expectations of success, whilst presenting the risks and costs involved, and thereby facilitating fully informed decision-making.