The egg freezing process begins with a comprehensive fertility assessment to determine the suitability of the procedure. This is followed by the ovarian stimulation phase, using hormonal medications to encourage the growth and development of multiple mature eggs instead of the single egg that naturally occurs in each menstrual cycle. The growth of the eggs is closely monitored via ultrasound scans and blood hormone level tests to determine the optimal time for egg retrieval. Egg retrieval is performed under light sedation, where a physician inserts a thin needle through the vagina into the ovaries to aspirate the mature eggs. After retrieval, the eggs are examined by an embryologist to identify those suitable for freezing. The ultra-rapid freezing technique known as vitrification is used to freeze the eggs very quickly, preventing the formation of ice crystals that could damage them. The frozen eggs are stored in specialized tanks containing liquid nitrogen at a very low temperature (-196°C), where they can remain viable for many years. When the frozen eggs are desired for future use, they are carefully thawed and fertilized with sperm in the laboratory to create embryos, after which the best embryos are selected for transfer to the woman's uterus with the goal of achieving pregnancy.