Egg Freezing 101: What Dr. Licciardi Wants NYC Women to Know
Egg freezing has moved from the margins of reproductive medicine to the mainstream — and with that shift comes a flood of questions. Dr. Frederick Licciardi, a reproductive endocrinologist at NYU Langone Fertility Center, recently sat down with NY1 to cut through the noise and give women the clear, clinical picture they deserve. Watch the segment below, then read on for a deeper look at what he covered.
Who Is a Candidate for Egg Freezing?
Egg freezing is appropriate for a wide range of women, including those who wish to preserve fertility before cancer treatment, those who are not yet ready to conceive, and those who simply want to expand their reproductive options. Dr. Licciardi emphasizes that age is one of the most important variables to consider. "The younger a woman is when she freezes her eggs, the better the quality of those eggs tends to be," he notes. "Women in their late twenties and early thirties are often in an ideal position to benefit from this technology." That said, each patient's ovarian reserve and individual circumstances must be evaluated before any recommendation is made.
What Does the Egg Freezing Process Actually Involve?
The process begins with a thorough evaluation, including bloodwork and an ultrasound to assess ovarian reserve. If a patient proceeds, they will self-administer injectable hormonal medications over approximately ten to fourteen days to stimulate the ovaries to produce multiple eggs. Those eggs are then retrieved during a brief, minimally invasive procedure performed under light sedation. The retrieved eggs are vitrified — a rapid-freezing technique that has significantly improved survival rates compared to earlier slow-freeze methods — and stored for future use.
Common Misconceptions Dr. Licciardi Addresses
One of the most persistent myths is that egg freezing guarantees a future pregnancy. It does not. It preserves the possibility of using those eggs at a later date, but outcomes depend on multiple factors, including the number and quality of eggs retrieved and the patient's age at the time of freezing. Dr. Licciardi also clarifies that the process does not accelerate menopause or deplete a woman's egg supply beyond what would naturally be lost during that cycle.
Egg freezing is a deeply personal medical decision, and the right time to explore it is before the question becomes urgent. To speak with a specialist at NYU Langone Fertility Center and determine whether egg freezing is right for you, schedule a consultation today.
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The NYU Langone Fertility Center Blog
At NYU Langone Fertility Center, our first job is to support our patients as they become educated about their reproductive health and fertility treatment options. Our blog connects patients with the most up-to-date information, technologies, and insights into fertility care. From egg freezing to IVF to third-party reproduction options, we explore every facet of assisted reproductive technology and empower patients with the knowledge they need to navigate their family building journeys.