Sunday 22 June 2008

Good news on egg freezing

Anyone who is considering delaying motherhood, whether for medical or social reasons, will be pleased to hear that new research from Canada suggests that the latest methods of egg freezing are perfectly safe, and do not have any health implications for babies.

Many women who have cancer freeze eggs or ovarian tissue, as cancer treatments often destroy fertility, and this gives some hope of having a family in the future. It is also an option for those who want to delay having children for social reasons, often because they haven't met the right person to start a family with. Up until now, egg freezing has not been particularly successful, but the latest freezing technique, known as vitrification, ensures that far more eggs survive the process.

The new research followed up the children born as a result of this technique, and found they had no greater risk of health problems than others. It was carried out by a team from McGill University in Montreal, and you can read more in The Times online at www.timesonline.co.uk

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