The Science of Egg Freezing: Increasing Access to Knowledge with Dr. Anate Brauer

Are you curious about egg freezing? In this episode of “Quiet the Clock,” I interview Dr. Anate Brauer, a reproductive endocrinologist and fertility specialist.

Dr. Brauer explains the basis of everything they do in egg freezing, which is what happens in a woman’s natural cycle. She emphasizes the importance of understanding what they are doing in egg freezing, as it can help alleviate concerns about injecting hormones.

Dr. Brauer and I discuss the importance of increasing access to knowledge about fertility. She notes that while the conversation around fertility has evolved into a mainstream topic in recent years, there is still room for improvement in terms of discussing it more openly and frequently. We also discuss the potential impact of the fertility industry on society and the financial barriers to accessing egg freezing.

Dr. Brauer discusses the number of eggs needed to have a good chance of having a baby through egg freezing. She explains that for 30 to 34-year-olds, having 20 mature eggs in the freezer gives an 85-90% chance of having the first baby from those eggs and a 50-60% chance of having the second. The older the woman, the more eggs she needs. Dr. Brauer emphasizes the importance of having open conversations with patients about their goals and what they need to feel complete.

Finally, we discuss the importance of choosing the right lab and technology when it comes to freezing eggs. Dr. Brauer emphasizes that not all technology is created equal and that it’s crucial to have a good doctor and lab. She warns against choosing significantly less expensive options, as there is usually a reason for the lower cost.

Dr. Brauer concludes by emphasizing the importance of the emotional component of fertility and promising to discuss it further in the next episode. Join us for a fascinating conversation about egg freezing!

Quotes:

• “No one’s gonna turn into a pumpkin when they’re 35.”
• “I’m a doctor of moderation…nobody knows who’s really right and who’s wrong.”
• “And I think things like that are so great to ease the emotional stress or the uncertainty of will this work, will this not work? And that did not exist when I was going through.”
• “My view on that is I still believe that technology is not created equal. You have to be very careful with that. It’s not actually you have to have a good doctor, right? You don’t want a doctor that’s gonna misdose you or not know how to do an egg retrieval, you know what I mean?”

Key Points:

• Understanding the Natural Cycle [00:00:00] Dr. Anate Brauer  explains the natural cycle of a woman’s body and how it relates to egg freezing.
• Connecting with Dr. Anate Brauer [00:02:02] Beth Gulotta shares how she connected with Dr. Anate Brauer and introduces her to the podcast.
• Importance of Understanding egg freezing [00:05:19] Dr. Anate Brauer emphasizes the importance of understanding the basis of egg freezing and how they work to help women make informed decisions.
• The Evolution of Fertility Conversation [00:07:57] Dr. Anate Brauer discusses how the conversation around fertility has evolved into a mainstream topic from 2013 to now.
• Increasing Access to Fertility Knowledge [00:09:24] Dr. Anate Brauer talks about the importance of increasing access to fertility knowledge, especially for young women, and shares her experience speaking at a college event.
• Age and Egg Quality [00:13:06] Dr. Anate Brauer explains how age affects egg quality and the decline in pregnancy rates with IVF population at 34, emphasizing the importance of considering egg freezing earlier.
• How many eggs do you need to freeze for a good chance of having a baby? [00:15:45] Dr. Anate Brauer explains the number of eggs needed to freeze for a good chance of having a baby based on age and shares data from her clinic.
• Balancing the number of eggs to freeze with personal goals [00:17:14] Dr. Anate Brauer discusses the importance of balancing the number of eggs to freeze with personal goals and having open conversations with patients.
• The challenge of advising patients on when it’s too late to freeze eggs [00:20:12] Dr. Anate Brauer shares the challenge of advising patients on when it’s too late to freeze eggs and the potential harm of misleading patients with low success rates.
• Concerns about the fertility industry [00:23:53] Dr. Anate Brauer discusses the potential for the fertility industry to change society and the responsibility that comes with it.
• Rules and lifestyle during egg freezing [00:26:09] Dr. Anate Brauer talks about the different beliefs and convictions in the industry regarding lifestyle choices during egg freezing, including diet, alcohol, caffeine, and exercise.
• Finances and coverage for egg freezing [00:30:04] Dr. Anate Brauer discusses the financial barriers to egg freezing and the increasing options for coverage, including employer benefits and third-party fertility benefits.
• Financing and Egg Freezing Programs [00:31:56-00:35:37] Dr. Anate Brauer discusses financing and egg freezing programs, including the Ashore program and shared risk program, as well as programs for female physicians and cancer patients.
• Importance of Freezing Eggs for Cancer Patients [00:37:31-00:38:19] Dr. Anate Brauer emphasizes the importance of freezing eggs for cancer patients undergoing chemo, and the need for more education on the topic.
• Egg Freezing Abroad [00:38:41-00:39:43] Dr. Anate Brauer shares her thoughts on egg freezing abroad due to cost, and mentions her involvement in a musical about egg freezing.
• The Importance of Choosing the Right Lab [00:39:43] Dr. Anate Brauer emphasizes the importance of choosing the right lab for egg freezing and warns against choosing a lab solely based on cost. She also discusses the importance of finding a lab with thaw data and the risks of freezing eggs internationally.
• Accepting Eggs from Other Centers [00:41:49] Dr. Anate Brauer discusses the process of accepting eggs from other centers and the rigorous risk management process that SGF has in place. She also explains the reason why most labs in the US will not accept eggs coming from outside the US.
• Freezing Eggs Internationally [00:43:19] Dr. Anate Brauer advises against freezing eggs internationally due to the risks involved in transporting them and the importance of ensuring the technology is sound. She emphasizes the need to be able to thaw the eggs and make babies from them in the US.