The Three “A” Factors for Successful Egg Freezing and IVF Treatment
In recent years, more and more women are marrying and having children later.
With the growing awareness of reproductive autonomy, many women have added egg freezing to their life plans, while others may need to seek IVF treatment.
Yun-I nursing consultant Guan-Ru Chen summarizes three “A” factors:
AGE, AMH, and AFC.
These are shared with women who are considering egg freezing or IVF treatment, helping them better understand the three key “A” factors that affect the success of egg freezing and IVF treatment.
AGE: The ideal age
A woman’s age at the time of egg freezing is an important factor in whether a live birth can be achieved in the future.
As age increases, egg quality declines, and the rate of chromosomal abnormalities in embryos rises. As a result, the live birth rate decreases.
According to research literature from European and American reproductive medicine societies, if 20 mature eggs are frozen at different age groups, the estimated live birth rates after thawing are:
・Under 35 years old: 80–90%
・36–37 years old: 70%
・40–41 years old: 40%
・Over 44 years old: 10%
Anti-Mullerian Hormone, AMH: Ovarian reserve index
AMH is secreted by small follicles in the ovaries and can be used to assess ovarian follicle reserve.
A higher value indicates better ovarian reserve. After ovarian stimulation injections, more eggs may be retrieved.
AMH ng/ml reference values:
・1.7–5: Normal value for women under 35.
・Below 1.2: May indicate a risk of diminished ovarian reserve or premature ovarian insufficiency, with poorer ovarian response during treatment.
・Above 5: May suggest polycystic ovary syndrome and may be associated with irregular menstruation.
Antral Follicle Count, AFC: Adequate number of antral follicles
A transvaginal ultrasound examination is performed on day 2 or day 3 of the menstrual cycle to count the number of antral follicles.
This can help predict the possible number of eggs that may be retrieved during that treatment cycle.
Therefore, having an adequate number of antral follicles may help improve pregnancy rates.
According to research statistics, to reach a 75% chance of having one live-born baby, the recommended number of frozen eggs is generally:
・Under 35 years old: 10–15 eggs
・35–39 years old: 15–20 eggs
・40–41 years old: 30–40 eggs
・Over 42 years old: 61 eggs
The above data show that the younger a woman is when freezing eggs, the fewer frozen eggs are needed to achieve a successful live birth.
The three “A” factors are important determinants of egg freezing success.
At Yun-I Fertility Center, women undergoing egg freezing are not all given the same medication and dosage.
Instead, treatment is personalized according to each patient’s AGE, AMH, and AFC, with counseling provided to determine the type and dosage of ovarian stimulation injections, as well as the precise timing of the trigger shot.
During egg retrieval, we also routinely use a double lumen egg retrieval needle.
Through repeated flushing and aspiration, we aim to avoid missing even one precious egg.
Our goal is to retrieve the maximum possible number of mature eggs in a single procedure for freezing, completing the process efficiently and reducing the significant cost of repeated egg retrieval procedures.
You are welcome to consult Yun-I Fertility Center, where we can arrange a personalized egg freezing treatment plan for you.
Reference: Taiwan Society for Reproductive Medicine Guidelines for Oocyte Cryopreservation, 2018
Yun-I wishes your dreams come true!