When you're considering egg freezing you hear a lot of things like Egg freezing can stop your period or egg freezing leads to early menopause. Suddenly, what felt like an empowering choice now feels terrifying.
If you're dealing with this fear right now, you are not alone, and more importantly, these worries are based on myths that have been circulating for way too long.
At Proactive, we've had hundreds of one-on-one conversations with women who came to us with this exact same concern. They were scared, confused, and honestly a little frustrated that they couldn't find straight answers anywhere else. So let's clear this up once and for all: egg freezing does not stop your periods or make you infertile.
The Real Story Behind Egg Freezing
Let's start with what actually happens when you freeze your eggs, because understanding the process makes everything else click into place.
Egg freezing involves three main steps.
1. Hormonal injections
First, you take hormone medications for about 10-14 days to stimulate your ovaries to produce multiple eggs in one cycle (instead of the usual single egg).
2. Egg retrieval
Then, your doctor retrieves those mature eggs through a quick outpatient procedure.
3.Freezing the eggs
Finally, those eggs are frozen and stored for future use.
Here's the key point: this entire process is designed to collect eggs that were already going to be released that month anyway. Your body naturally starts developing multiple eggs each cycle, but usually only one becomes dominant while the others are absorbed back into your body. The medications simply rescue those eggs that would have been lost.
Think of it like this: imagine your ovaries are like apple trees that drop fruit every month. Egg freezing is like catching some of those apples before they hit the ground, not chopping down the tree or stopping it from growing more apples.
What Actually Happens to Your Hormones
Now, let's talk about those hormone injections, because this is where a lot of the confusion comes from.
During your egg freezing cycle, you'll be taking medications that temporarily boost your hormone levels. These are the same hormones your body already makes naturally, just in higher amounts for a short period. It's like turning up the volume on your body's existing system rather than installing completely new speakers.
Some women do notice changes in their periods during this time. You might skip a period or have it come later than usual for a month or two after the procedure. This happens because your body is responding to the temporary hormone surge and recovering from the procedure itself.
But here's what's important to understand: these changes are temporary. Your hormone system doesn't get permanently rewired. Within a few weeks, your ovaries go right back to their normal monthly routine of developing and releasing eggs.
It's kind of like how you might feel off after traveling across time zones. Your internal clock gets temporarily confused, but it naturally resets itself without any lasting effects.
Your Periods Will Continue (Really!)
This is the big question everyone wants answered: will your periods stop after egg freezing?
The answer is no. Egg freezing does not stop your natural menstrual cycle. Your ovaries will keep doing what they've always done, releasing eggs and triggering periods every month.
Think about it this way: we're only retrieving maybe 10-20 eggs during one cycle, but your ovaries contain hundreds of thousands of eggs. Taking a small number doesn't suddenly shut down the entire system. It's like withdrawing 500 rupees from a bank account with thousands of rupees in it.
The only things that would actually stop your periods are natural menopause (which happens when your egg supply is naturally depleted over time) or taking specific medications designed to suppress ovulation, like certain types of birth control. Egg freezing itself doesn't do either of these things.
Understanding Your Egg Supply
Let's clear up another common misconception. Many women worry that using up eggs for freezing will somehow fast-track them toward menopause or affect their long-term fertility.
Your ovarian reserve (basically, how many eggs you have left) does determine how long you'll continue having periods and when you'll go through menopause naturally. But egg freezing doesn't actually reduce your overall egg count in any meaningful way.
Remember, every month your body naturally develops multiple eggs but only releases one. The rest are naturally absorbed and lost. Egg freezing simply captures some of those eggs that were going to be lost anyway. You're not borrowing from future months or depleting your reserve any faster than normal.
If you've had AMH testing (a blood test that gives us insight into your egg quantity), those results help us understand your current fertility status and plan for the future. But they don't predict when your periods will stop, and they certainly don't change because you've frozen eggs.
The Safety Question Everyone Asks
It's completely natural to wonder about the long-term safety of fertility treatments. Are you exposing yourself to too many hormones? Could this affect your reproductive organs down the line?
The good news is that egg freezing has been extensively studied and is endorsed by major reproductive medicine organizations like the American Society for Reproductive Medicine. The hormone medications used are the same ones that have been safely used in fertility treatments for decades.
The procedure itself is minimally invasive and performed as an outpatient procedure. Most women go back to their normal activities within a day or two.
At Proactive, we believe in complete transparency about what you're signing up for. Before you make any decisions, we walk through every aspect of the process, potential side effects, and what to expect. We want you to feel informed and confident, not anxious and uncertain.
Real Stories from Real Women
Let me tell you about Valentina, one of our patients who came to us with the same fears you might be having. She'd read online that egg freezing could cause early menopause and was terrified she'd somehow damage her fertility by trying to preserve it.
We spent time going through the science together, addressing each of her concerns. She decided to move forward with freezing her eggs at 32. Six months later, her periods were completely regular, and she felt empowered knowing she had options for the future.
"I wish I hadn't spent so much time worrying about myths," she told us during a follow-up appointment. "The actual experience was so much less scary than what I'd built up in my head."
Stories like Valentina's are exactly why we wanted to write this post. Too many women are making decisions based on fear rather than facts.
Add CTA: egg freezing guide
Why did we come up with the guide?
We realised there are 100s of posts and 1000s of blogs but most have half of the information. Too much unnecessary information can lead to confusion. hence , we came up with a comprehensive guide that provides the exact information you need for egg freezing. And bonus it is written not from a doctor's perspective rather from Valentina (who froze her eggs with us).
Your Body, Your Choice, Your Timeline
Add: About egg freezing party - celebrating timelines with pictures
We as a brand believe that if every milestone of our lives are celebrated then why not something that is so important and helping our clients take control of their timelines, therefore we celebrated an egg freezing party where women across Bangalore came together to discuss their timelines and their plans about egg freezing with fertility experts and know someone's experience who has frozen her eggs. This gave women a platform to clear all their doubts and questions regarding the process
Here's what we want you to take away from all of this: your menstrual cycle is your body's natural rhythm, and egg freezing doesn't disrupt that rhythm in any permanent way.
Your periods will continue. Your fertility won't be harmed. And you'll have the peace of mind that comes with knowing you've given yourself more options for the future.
The decision to freeze your eggs should be based on your personal goals and timeline, not on myths and misinformation. Whether you're 25 and focused on your career, 30 and haven't met the right partner yet, or 35 and want to ensure you have options later, egg freezing can be a powerful tool for taking control of your reproductive future.
The most important thing is that you're making an informed decision with accurate information and the support of medical professionals who prioritize your health and well-being above all else.
If you have anymore questions regarding egg freezing do join our weekly webinar
FAQ
Will egg freezing stop my periods?
No, egg freezing will not stop your periods. Your ovaries will continue their normal monthly cycle of releasing eggs and triggering menstruation. The procedure only retrieves eggs that were already going to be naturally lost that cycle, so it doesn't disrupt your body's ongoing reproductive rhythm.
Can egg freezing cause early menopause?
No, egg freezing does not cause early menopause. Menopause occurs when your ovaries naturally run out of eggs over time. Since egg freezing only captures eggs that would have been lost anyway during that specific cycle, it doesn't accelerate the depletion of your overall egg supply or bring on menopause any sooner.
Will my periods be different after egg freezing?
Most women return to their normal menstrual pattern within a few weeks after egg freezing. However, some may experience one irregular cycle immediately following the procedure—your period might be late, early, or skipped entirely. This is temporary and due to the hormone medications and your body recovering from the procedure.
How long do the hormone effects last?
The hormone medications used during egg freezing are cleared from your system within days of stopping them. Any effects on your menstrual cycle typically resolve within 1-2 cycles, meaning your periods should return to normal within 4-8 weeks after the procedure.
Will I still ovulate normally after egg freezing?
Yes, you'll continue to ovulate normally after egg freezing. Your ovaries will go back to their regular routine of developing and releasing one egg per month. The temporary hormone stimulation doesn't permanently change how your ovaries function.
Can I get pregnant naturally after freezing my eggs?
Absolutely. Egg freezing does not affect your ability to conceive naturally. Your remaining eggs continue to mature and be released monthly, so your natural fertility remains unchanged. Many women go on to have natural pregnancies after freezing eggs.
Does egg freezing affect my hormone levels long-term?
No, egg freezing does not cause long-term changes to your hormone levels. The medications used during the cycle temporarily boost certain hormones, but your body returns to its natural hormone production patterns once the medications are stopped.
Will I have fewer eggs available for natural pregnancy after freezing?
No, you won't have meaningfully fewer eggs available for natural conception. Each month, your body naturally develops multiple eggs but only releases one—the rest are naturally lost. Egg freezing simply captures some of those eggs that would have been lost anyway, so it doesn't reduce your future egg supply.
How many cycles does it take for periods to normalize?
Most women see their periods return to their normal pattern within 1-2 cycles after egg freezing. In rare cases, it might take up to 3 cycles, but this is usually in women who already had irregular periods before the procedure.
Can I track my cycle normally after egg freezing?
Yes, once your periods return to normal (usually within 1-2 months), you can resume tracking your cycle just as you did before. Your cycle length, flow, and other characteristics should return to your personal baseline.
Will birth control work the same way after egg freezing?
Yes, hormonal birth control will work exactly the same way after egg freezing. The procedure doesn't change how your body responds to birth control hormones, so you can start or continue any contraceptive method as planned.
Does the number of eggs retrieved affect my future periods?
No, the number of eggs retrieved during your cycle doesn't impact your future menstrual cycles. Whether we retrieve 8 eggs or 25 eggs, your periods will return to normal because we're only taking eggs that were already going to be lost that month.
Will I still have PMS symptoms after egg freezing?
Yes, if you experienced PMS symptoms before egg freezing, you'll likely continue to have them afterward. Since your natural hormone fluctuations resume their normal pattern, any pre-existing PMS symptoms typically return as well.
Can egg freezing help with painful periods?
Egg freezing is not a treatment for painful periods. While some women report temporary relief during the medication phase due to suppressed ovulation, this is temporary. If you have consistently painful periods, it's important to address this separately with your healthcare provider.
What if my periods don't return to normal?
If your periods haven't returned to their normal pattern after 3 months, it's important to follow up with your healthcare provider. While this is uncommon, there could be other factors affecting your cycle that need to be investigated.
Will my AMH levels change after egg freezing?
Your AMH (Anti-Müllerian Hormone) levels may temporarily drop immediately after egg freezing, but they typically return to baseline within a few months. AMH reflects your ovarian reserve, and since egg freezing doesn't meaningfully reduce your overall egg count, long-term AMH levels shouldn't be significantly affected.
Can I do multiple egg freezing cycles?
Yes, many women choose to do multiple egg freezing cycles to store more eggs. Each cycle operates independently, so having multiple cycles doesn't compound any effects on your menstrual cycle. Your periods will normalize between cycles just as they would after a single cycle.
Will my fertility doctor monitor my periods after egg freezing?
Most fertility clinics, including Proactive, recommend a follow-up appointment about 6-8 weeks after your egg freezing cycle to ensure everything is returning to normal. We'll check in about your menstrual cycle and address any concerns you might have.
Is it normal to worry about these changes?
Absolutely. It's completely normal to have concerns about how any medical procedure might affect your body. These are important questions, and we encourage all our patients to discuss any worries with their healthcare team. Getting accurate information helps you make confident decisions about your reproductive he