Cryopreservation of Oocytes: Ethical and medical perspectives

Oocyte cryopreservation, also known as egg freezing, is a new and developing field of reproductive medicine that enables women to freeze their eggs for future use and, thus, addresses the problems of delayed childbearing, fertility preservation during certain treatments, and elective fertility preservation. The process starts with collecting eggs from a woman’s ovaries, freezing the eggs and then keeping them in the bank for the future, which is usually accompanied by in vitro fertilization. Oocyte cryopreservation was first used mainly for medical purposes, for instance, during the treatment of cancer, which is known to cause infertility. Oocyte cryopreservation has become a popular option for women who want to freeze their eggs and postpone pregnancy for personal, career or social reasons due to the development of vitrification (fast freezing) in reproductive medicine. The success rates of egg freezing depend on age, the number of eggs harvested and the quality of the eggs. However, there are some potential side-effects, including OHSS, psychological problems, and the risks that are involved in the egg retrieval process. Although oocyte cryopreservation has its medical advantages, there are many ethical issues connected with it. These are issues on reproductive freedom, the commodification of fertility, the ease of access to the procedure and the possible effects of the society on women. The high costs of the egg-freezing and -storage methods also raise equity concerns, since they are unfeasible for people who cannot afford them. Also, ethical issues include legal issues on the ownership and use of frozen eggs and embryos such as issues of consent, destruction of the embryos, and possible sexual exploitation of women. This review will explain in detail the medical and ethical aspects of oocyte cryopreservation, the advantages and disadvantages of the method and the social implications of the technology in the contemporary world with emphasis on the need to have the right attitude towards the new reproductive technologies.