Medical Freezing: Preserving Fertility When Medical Treatment Changes Everything

Medical freezing offers women a realistic fertility perspective in the face of serious illness.

A serious medical diagnosis can abruptly reshape life plans. When cancer, autoimmune disease or another condition requires urgent treatment, medical decisions often take priority. At the same time, many women are confronted with a deeply personal question: What does this mean for my fertility and the possibility of having a child in the future?

Medical freezing provides a medically established way to preserve fertility when upcoming treatment threatens ovarian function. It refers to the cryopreservation of eggs, fertilized eggs or ovarian tissue for medical reasons, before therapies such as chemotherapy or radiation begin.

What Is Medical Freezing?

Medical freezing describes the cryopreservation of reproductive material due to a medical indication. Unlike social egg freezing, which is chosen for personal or life-planning reasons, medical freezing is performed because a disease or its treatment poses a significant risk to future fertility.

Typical medical indications include:

• Surgical removal of the gonads
• Radiation therapy with an expected risk of damage to the gonads
• Potentially fertility-damaging medication, such as chemotherapy

The aim is to safeguard the possibility of a genetically related pregnancy later in life.

Why Medical Freezing Is Medically Important

Many cancer therapies and immunosuppressive treatments do not distinguish between diseased and healthy cells. Ovarian tissue is particularly sensitive, as women are born with a finite number of eggs.

Chemotherapy and radiation may:

• significantly reduce the number of viable eggs
• damage egg quality
• trigger premature menopause

Studies show that, depending on the medication used and the dosage, the risk of permanent infertility can be significant. Medical freezing therefore takes place before treatment begins, at a time when the eggs are still undamaged..

Indications for Medical Freezing at a glance

Medical freezing may be appropriate for women who face a foreseeable risk to fertility due to illness or treatment. It is commonly considered in patients with:

• breast cancer
• lymphoma or leukemia
• gynecological cancers
• severe autoimmune diseases

Importantly, women do not need to have an immediate desire to have children. Medical freezing preserves future reproductive options regardless of current life circumstances.

Forms of Medical Freezing

Medical egg freezing

Medical egg freezing is the most frequently used method. Mature eggs are retrieved after controlled ovarian stimulation and frozen using modern vitrification techniques.

This option is particularly suitable for women without a long-term partner. Frozen eggs can later be used in ICSI treatment.

Cryopreservation of fertilized eggs

If a stable partnership exists and both partners consent, fertilized eggs can be frozen. Fertilized eggs are generally more resilient during freezing and thawing.

The decision between freezing unfertilized or fertilized eggs is highly individual and is carefully discussed with you during your consultation.

Ovarian tissue cryopreservation

When there is insufficient time for hormonal stimulation or when stimulation is contraindicated, ovarian tissue can be surgically removed and frozen.

• This approach is especially relevant for aggressive cancers requiring immediate treatment. After therapy, the tissue may be reimplanted to restore hormonal activity or enable spontaneous pregnancy.

Medical Freezing at Kinderwunschzentrum Dresden: The Process

The process begins with a comprehensive consultation. Medical findings, treatment timelines and personal concerns are discussed in detail. Close coordination with oncologists or other treating specialists is essential to ensure that fertility preservation does not delay necessary medical care.

Ovarian stimulation and egg retrieval

For medical egg freezing, ovarian stimulation typically lasts 10–12 days. Eggs are then retrieved in a brief, minimally invasive procedure.

Collected eggs are immediately frozen and stored long-term. Modern vitrification ensures high survival rates after thawing.

Success Rates and Realistic Expectations

Success depends on several factors, particularly age at the time of freezing and the number of eggs preserved.

Registry data indicate:

• high survival rates of thawed eggs
• pregnancy rates comparable to fresh eggs in ICSI
• better outcomes when freezing occurs at a younger age

Medical freezing is not a guarantee, but it offers a meaningful, evidence-based opportunity to preserve fertility.

Medical Freezing and Health Insurance

In Germany, medical freezing is generally covered by statutory health insurance when a medical indication exists. Coverage typically includes:

• hormonal stimulation
• egg retrieval
• cryopreservation
• storage for a defined period

Kinderwunschzentrum Dresden actively supports patients with documentation and communication with insurance providers.

Emotional Aspects of Medical Freezing

Serious illness often brings a sense of loss of control. Medical freezing can restore a degree of autonomy and future orientation. Many women describe emotional relief in knowing that their fertility has been safeguarded.

At the same time, mixed emotions are common. Hope, fear and uncertainty may coexist. Compassionate medical counseling is therefore a core part of care at Kinderwunschzentrum Dresden.

Frequently Asked Questions About Medical Freezing

What is the difference between medical freezing and social egg freezing?

Medical freezing is performed due to a medical necessity and is usually covered by insurance. Social egg freezing is elective and self-funded.

How quickly can medical freezing be performed?

Often within days. Treatment schedules are adapted to medical urgency.

How long can eggs be frozen?

For many years without loss of quality. Storage duration is individually defined.

Does health insurance cover all costs?

When there is a medical indication, health insurance in Germany usually covers the costs.

 The exact details depend on the individual case.

Can spontaneous pregnancy still occur after medical freezing?

Yes. Medical freezing does not prevent natural conception later on.

Learn more about medical freezing and schedule your personal consultation

Medical freezing is more than a medical procedure. It is a way to protect future possibilities when illness disrupts life plans. Individual counseling helps clarify options and set realistic expectations.

Book your consultation via Doctolib at Kinderwunschzentrum Dresden and take the next step with clarity and confidence.