Getting Pregnant

Freezing Eggs or Embryos

Freezing eggs or embryos is an excellent option if you’re not planning to have children for several years but want to have a backup plan in case you have trouble when you start trying to conceive. Remember that age is the greatest risk factor for reduced fertility in all women regardless of IBD, so preserving younger eggs or embryos can be helpful later on. It is safe for women with IBD to undergo cryopreservation; the medications that you take when preparing for an egg retrieval do not increase your risk of IBD flare. You should continue your IBD medication during egg retrieval unless you are on a medicine that is not safe for pregnancy, in which case you should have a risk/benefit discussion with both your reproductive endocrinologist and an MFM, in concert with your IBD doctor, to determine next steps.