According to a study conducted by Extend Fertility, a fertility services company based in New York City, women are freezing their eggs at younger ages and seeing better results for pregnancies and live births. The eight-year comprehensive study on egg freezing and fertility preservation offers new findings for women seeking to take control of their reproductive futures.

The study, conducted by clinical physicians Nataki Douglas, MD, Ph.D., and Joshua U. Klein, MD, followed 3,100 patients who undertook 4,600 cryopreservation cycles (egg freezing) between 2016 and 2023. Here are the study’s three key findings.

Finding #1: Shifting Demographics in Cryopreservation

First, Dr. Douglas and Dr. Klein noted that the patients’ average age shifted between 2016 and 2023. In 2016, the average age of a participant in the study was 37; eight years later, that average age had dropped to 35. The shift documents a trend toward earlier fertility preservation as more women take proactive steps at a younger age to protect their future reproductive options. 

It also indicates a growing acceptance of IVF and decreased skepticism about egg freezing.

The study also noted the age at which patients returned for their first thawed egg transfer. The mean age was 40.

Finding #2: Most Eggs Survive Thawing

The second finding is good news for women interested in IVF. Of over 4,000 thawed eggs, 90% survived the thawing process. The average patient age when eggs were frozen was 36 years, but the survival rate did not vary across ages. Using genetic testing, Dr. Douglas and Dr. Klein found that 50% of the embryos created from thawed eggs during the study were normal. That percentage reveals that in IVF, frozen-thawed eggs produce the same likelihood of viable embryos as fresh, unfrozen eggs.

“Despite skepticism around egg freezing,” Dr. Douglas notes, “this study proves it’s a reliable, science-backed option. It’s not for everyone, but for many, it’s life-changing and offers real outcomes.” 

Cryopreservation extends the options available to women who are concerned about their future fertility.

Finding #3: More Successful Pregnancies and Live Births

Perhaps the study’s most promising finding was its pregnancy success rate, which Dr. Douglas and Dr. Klein defined as the number of live births or (at the time of the study’s conclusion) pregnancies viable past twelve weeks. That rate was over 55%, a finding validating this approach’s effectiveness in fertility preservation. 

By comparison, the most recent data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for women at 40 years of age who conceive through IVF using fresh (40-year-old) eggs shows a live birth rate of only 31% per transfer.

In short, younger eggs—even just four years younger (36-year-old eggs versus 40-year-old eggs)—are likelier to result in a pregnancy that lasts at least twelve weeks and in a live birth, and cryopreservation is an effective way to preserve these eggs because nine out of ten frozen eggs survive the thawing.

A Positive Outlook

For the physicians at Extend Fertility, these findings after the laboratory study were cause for celebration. 

“These findings highlight our practice’s expertise and our commitment to delivering the best in fertility care,” said Dr. Douglas. 

Dr. Klein added, “We want our patients to make empowered decisions about their fertility. Egg freezing can change lives, and we’re committed to making it accessible and understandable for all.”