Egg Bank

Clinic Program

Egg Bank

Social Egg Freezing

Social egg freezing is a medical procedure in which a woman’s eggs are frozen and preserved to help improve future chances of pregnancy. As more women pursue careers and delay marriage, the average age of childbirth has increased, making fertility preservation more important than ever.
A woman’s fertility naturally declines with age, with a more significant decrease after the age of 35. For those who plan to conceive later in life, reduced ovarian function can lower the chances of pregnancy. Social egg freezing allows women to preserve healthier eggs at a younger age, helping to improve the likelihood of pregnancy in the future.

Candidates for the Procedure

Women at risk of premature ovarian insufficiency due to genetic or other factors
Women delaying marriage or childbirth (early 30s to early 40s) or those who wish to preserve eggs while healthy for future pregnancy
Cancer patients at risk of ovarian damage from chemotherapy or other treatments
Women requiring surgical removal of the ovaries
Cases where sperm collection is not possible on the day of egg retrieval

Social Egg Freezing Procedure

Ovarian stimulation injections are administered for about 6–9 days starting shortly after the onset of menstruation. Approximately 2 days after the final injection, eggs are retrieved and then frozen for future use.

Egg Retrieval Egg retrieval is performed under transvaginal ultrasound guidance, using a fine needle to collect eggs from the ovaries. The procedure is done under sedation, so there is little to no pain, and it typically takes about 10 minutes.

Egg Freezing & Thawing (Advanced Vitrification Technology)

Advantages of CHA Egg Banking

Egg freezing system using vitrification with Slush Nitrogen (SN₂)

No ice crystals form within the cells, and the ultra-rapid freezing process minimizes potential damage to the eggs.

Advanced long-term storage system Equipped with an automatic refill system and 24/7 monitoring using state-of-the-art technology.
Top-level cryopreservation technology and strong pregnancy outcomes using frozen eggs

The first case in Korea of a female leukemia patient successfully giving birth using previously frozen eggs through CHA’s egg banking program.
This case also represents one of the longest intervals between egg freezing and successful use.

Diagnosed with chronic myelogenous leukemia at age 22 in 2001
Seven eggs were frozen prior to chemotherapy
Underwent radiation therapy and bone marrow transplantation
Received hormone therapy to preserve uterine function after menopause
Declared fully recovered in 2006; married in 2009
In 2010, frozen eggs were thawed and fertilized through assisted reproduction
Two embryos were developed and transferred to the uterus
Gave birth to a son in July 2011

Awards & Achievements in Egg Cryopreservation – CHA 2005 Best Video Presentation Award, 61st Annual Meeting of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) & Canadian Fertility and Andrology Society (CFAS)
"Development of a Novel Oocyte Cryopreservation Method Using Slush Nitrogen" 2005 Best Video Presentation Award, 56th Annual Meeting of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM)
"Introduction of Vitrification Using a Metal Grid in Oocyte Cryopreservation and the World’s First Successful Pregnancy and Live Birth" 1998 Best Poster Award, 54th Annual Meeting of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) and the 16th World Congress on Fertility and Sterility
"Fertilization and Blastocyst Formation from Cryopreserved Oocytes Using Vitrification"