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Irish Examiner
19 hours ago
- Health
- Irish Examiner
Egg freezing — how it works and who's opting for this procedure
A third of women would consider freezing their eggs, they said in the Irish Examiner National Women's Health Survey, conducted by Ipsos B&A. Egg freezing used to be an option provided to women who, for medical reasons — such as cancer treatment or a family history of early menopause — faced risks to their fertility and to ensure the capacity to conceive. Increasingly, the option is available to women who can afford it, who may not be in a couple, or who may not be ready to start trying for a baby, but who want to preserve the chance. This procedure is called 'social egg freezing' — or the more technical term, elective oocyte cryopreservation. According to the latest figures from the Health Products Regulatory Authority, the number of eggs frozen for future use in fertility treatments has increased almost fivefold, from 2,590 in 2019 to 12,890 in 2024. The number of eggs a woman has drops off significantly from the age of 30. Retrieving 10-20 eggs is considered optimal, and, for some women, achieving this amount may require multiple cycles. Health authorities and clinics caution that no number of eggs will guarantee a baby, but freezing is a way women can improve their chances, particularly if they are under the age of 35. Lauren Murphy, a senior fertility midwife at the Thérapie Clinic in Limerick. Lauren Murphy, a senior fertility midwife at the Thérapie Clinic in Limerick, and working for a decade in the field, says: 'In the last five years or so, there's definitely more women looking at fertility preservation and also single motherhood by choice.' Even when people come to the clinic as part of a couple, Murphy says they would advise egg freezing in addition to embryo freezing. Where a couple freezes embryos and the relationship doesn't work out, any frozen embryos would require the consent of the former partner for the embryos to be used. Frozen eggs are the sole ownership of the woman. After initial consultation, the subsequent steps are assessments with scans and blood testing. The medical team uses the test results to determine the number of egg-retrieval cycles that may be necessary. Murphy says: 'There is no diagnostic test on the market to assess the quality of eggs, so, at initial testing, we're really focusing on a test to identify the quantity. That [quantity] will also influence the drug dosages that we need to give to stimulate the ovaries.' A blood test for AMH (anti-mullerian hormone) levels indicates a woman's ovarian reserve or egg numbers. Murphy says they would also recommend a trans vaginal ultrasound scan. It can be done on any cycle date and takes about 15 minutes. The ovaries are measured, and all the individual anterior follicles (sacs containing immature eggs) are counted. The information provides the medical team with a better understanding of how many eggs can be retrieved from a single egg-freezing cycle. Egg decline after 30 Three years ago, at the age of 34, Tara Logan Buckley (pictured right) decided to freeze her eggs. She is a chartered clinical psychologist and wanted to get to a senior level in her career before motherhood. She was in a relationship, but did not see a future and a family with that person. Housing was another factor. She wanted to have the security of a home before starting a family: 'I was living in Dublin, I had been a student for quite a long time, there were a lot of debts that needed to be repaid, and I just didn't have my own property. "As you know, housing market prices have dramatically increased, and they're rising all the time. I didn't want to be living in a house that I couldn't afford and couldn't give a child the quality of life they needed or give myself a quality of life and then be financially stressed.' Outside of these social and environmental factors, Buckley was compelled by the science: 'I got absolutely no education on fertility when I was young, I got nothing in school or college. I come from a clinical psychology background, where there is a lot of science. I didn't know the number of eggs dramatically declines after 30.' 'When I started, it was more like 'Will I, won't I?' When I did the research, I was like 'Wow, this is frightening.' Every woman should be told this, and every woman should be given the opportunity in their early 20s to do this. 'When I went to the consultant, he said to me 'Look, you're doing it as an insurance.' I may choose never to have a child, unless circumstances change. There is also a silver lining to that, where another woman might use them in the future if I don't use them, but also the fact that I could use all of them, but none of them might work.' Tara Logan Buckley: "You need to be prepared to be really, really regimental with your routine. Having people around you for support, as well. I felt OK until I got to those last 48 hours, where I couldn't wait to go in and get [the eggs] out.' When Logan Buckley was undergoing egg freezing, there was an initial delay, due to a cyst on one of her ovaries: 'That was a bit of a blow, because it was meant to take six weeks and mine went on to three months.' Despite this initial obstacle, she did not experience side effects from the medications or hormones. The most challenging part was leading up to the egg collection: 'Coming close to the date that they are due to be extracted, it's extremely, extremely uncomfortable; you want to burst. It's so full, because you normally wouldn't have that many eggs. 'The medications are timed to the last minute, especially that last activating one that you need to take. You need to be prepared to be really, really regimental with your routine. Having people around you for support, as well. I felt OK until I got to those last 48 hours, where I couldn't wait to go in and get [the eggs] out.' The clinic Logan Buckley chose for her treatment had an online portal that was a real support to her: 'You had access to support 24 hours a day, seven days a week. If there was anything at all you were slightly concerned about, you could pop it into the portal, and they would get back to you in lightning speed. That was really reassuring.' Fertility treatment costly At the age of 32, in 2003, Karen, from Dublin, embarked on her IVF journey. She had a 12-year-old child from a previous relationship. She subsequently met and married another man. He had fertility complications from a bout of the mumps he'd had as a teenager. At the hospital fertility clinic Karen attended, she had a combination of frozen embryos and frozen eggs. She and her husband went on to have two children from two frozen embryos: A son, now 21, and a daughter, who has just turned 18. Karen's experience was overall 'very positive': 'I was very well looked after. Both my embryos took first time; the doctor said I was in a 5% statistic of it working first time. The hardest part was having to do the injections before you have an egg collection and all of that process.' Fertility treatment is a costly undertaking. Karen says: 'The banter in my house is, 'I have a receipt for you pair!' It was a financial burden, but when you're desperate, you'd beg, borrow, and steal. My mother-in-law gave us a good handout financially.' The Government is now subsidising one cycle of IVF for qualifying couples. Egg freezing for fertility preservation is not included in this provision. Irish Life, Laya, and VHI include provisions for egg freezing in some of their plans, typically up to a cost of € 1,000. Egg-freezing costs approximately €3,000 per cycle and approximately €300 per year for storage. In Ireland, the storage period is unlimited until the age of 49. While Irish fertility clinics operate to international standards, there is no regulatory authority or national clinical governance framework for the fertility services sector. Karen Murphy says the fertility sector has repeatedly called for regulation. In Britain, the regulator is the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority. The necessity of regulatory oversight is apparent, and it becomes even more evident as demand for such services increases and new service providers enter the market. Click here to read our National Women's Health Survey. The Irish Examiner Women's Health Survey 2025 Ipsos B&A designed and implemented a research project for the Irish Examiner involving a nationally representative sample of n=1,078 women over the age of 16 years. The study was undertaken online with fieldwork conducted between April 30 and May 15, 2025. The sample was quota controlled by age, socio-economic class, region and area of residence to reflect the known profile of women in Ireland based on the census of population and industry agreed guidelines. Ipsos B&A has strict quality control measures in place to ensure robust and reliable findings; results based on the full sample carry a margin of error of +/-2.8%. In other words, if the research was repeated identically results would be expected to lie within this range on 19 occasions out of 20. A variety of aspects were assessed in relation to women's health including fertility, birth, menopause, mental health, health behaviour, and alcohol consumption.
RTÉ News
12-05-2025
- Health
- RTÉ News
How to get your skin 'wedding ready'
As wedding season is well and truly underway, now may be the perfect time to start thinking about your skin preparation. So, we hear from dermatologists and skin experts on how to get your skin 'wedding ready' this season. The non-negotiables "There is only one non-negotiable – and that is to start your prep early," says Germaine de Capuccini's skincare expert Gina Baker. "Ideally, give yourself six to 12 months. Book a consultation with a qualified facialist. Many now use skin scanners to analyse your skin thoroughly and create a tailored plan." However, if you're looking at more of a two or three-month lead-up to the big day, one non-negotiable is to prioritise the basics. "Start with the basics. SPF daily is essential to protect against sun damage and ageing," says laser and skin therapist Kayleigh Hawkins at Thérapie Clinic. "Cleanser morning and night keeps pores clear, and serums can target specific concerns. Vitamin C is great for brightening, hyaluronic acid for hydration, and retinol for overall skin renewal." A simple routine won't mess up your skin: "Hydration, sun protection and consistency," notes Dr Nora, dermatologist at the Rejuvenation Clinic, "stick with products your skin already likes. This isn't the time to experiment." Ultrasun SPF50 Photo Age Control Fluid, €31.50 Facetheory Glow-C Vitamin C 30% Serum, €41 The dos and don'ts of professional treatments You may be tempted by the array of professional treatments on offer that promise clear, glowing, bouncy skin – but it's important to be particular. "Peels are a fantastic prep for a wedding, but getting the right one is essential," says Baker. "Avoid harsh peels. A lactobionic acid peel at 10% strength is a good option – even for sensitive skin." Hawkins recommends starting any professional treatment three to six months before the big day. "Potenza [radiofrequency microneedling] is amazing for firming and tightening the skin while targeting lines and wrinkles," she says. "[A] laser facial is also great for enlarged pores and pigmentation." For those new to treatments, Dr Nora advises to "start a course of micro-needling, laser or combination skin-tightening procedures three to six months before. "Try hydrafacials or LED light therapy four to six weeks out, and avoid anything new within two weeks to prevent irritation or breakouts." Mistakes to avoid Giving yourself plenty of time to start skin prep is so you can avoid any skin mishaps close to the day, but there are a few other things to bear in mind. "Trying new products too close to the wedding day," says Hawkins, "especially actives like retinol, can cause irritation or purging." "Over-exfoliating or using too many active ingredients at once is also a common mistake," explains Dr Nora. "This is the time to keep things calm, not overhaul your routine." One crucial product that's cheap and cheerful and should be a skincare staple all-year-round is SPF. "Without it, you can end up with patchy pigmentation or sunburn," says Baker. "Look for a 'dry touch' product that absorbs quickly and works well under make-up." It's not just your products that could interfere with your skin – lifestyle is also a big culprit in the lead-up to a wedding, "Neglecting sleep and hydration [can affect your skin]," says Hawkins. "Stress, lack of sleep and dehydration show up as dullness, puffiness or breakouts." What to do with last-minute breakouts If a breakout does appear close to the wedding, don't panic – or pick. "This will only lead to swelling, inflammation, and scarring," says Hawkins. Instead, "apply salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide at night to kill bacteria and reduce inflammation." Alternatively, "dab on a mild cortisone cream or apply a cold compress," suggests Dr Nora. "For hydration and calm, use a soothing sheet mask or barrier-repairing cream." Practical habits matter too. "Keep your make-up brushes and sponges clean, and change your pillowcases more frequently," says Baker. "It's surprising how much sweat, dust and bacteria can build up overtime. "Sleeping with your hair loosely tied up can also help prevent skin irritation and blemishes caused by hair products." Acnecide Face Gel, €17.99, Boots Kitsch Satin Sleep Scrunchies, €8.99 What you should do on the morning of your big day It's important to remember that less is more – as well as being timeless. "Just begin with a gentle cleanse, tone and [collagen peptide]," says Baker. "A sheet mask with vitamin C will boost luminosity in just 15 minutes." It's recommended you keep your routine simple and classic, as Hawkins notes, "Use your regular cleanser, serum, and SPF. Choose non-greasy, fast-absorbing formulas that won't pill under make-up – invisible or tinted options help avoid a white cast in photos." Dr Nora agrees: "Think soothing and hydrating," she says. "A gentle cleanse, hydrating mist or serum, light moisturiser and SPF. "Skip actives and use a jade roller to de-puff if needed – but don't overdo it." Beauty Bay The Jade Facial Roller, €5.95 (was €12) Germaine de Capuccini Timexpert Radiance C+ Glow Force Face Mask, €13 How to tweak your routine if you're heading abroad Sunshine is what most people cross their fingers for on the day of a wedding – but with it brings a host of skincare challenges. "Heat and humidity stimulate increased oil production, and certain makeup products can trap heat or slide off," says Hawkins. "Avoid heavy moisturisers or SPF and use lightweight, oil-free options." Using light products is crucial for long, hot days, which might mean swapping out your regular products. "Switch to lighter, gel-based moisturisers," says Dr Nora. "Use sweat-resistant SPF and keep skin cool post-sun with aloe-based gels or thermal water sprays. Humidity changes everything – so simplify and hydrate." But don't worry if you don't want to switch up your products. "Many brands now offer the same moisturiser in different textures," says Baker, "which is perfect for swapping without confusion – and always, always wear SPF 30 or 50 on your face, particularly if arriving a few days early." Beauty of Joseon Red Bean Water Gel, €18.45, Look Fantastic
