Why are unfertilized eggs less successful in achieving pregnancy than embryos?
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Ralph Kazer, M.D.
Professor, Ob/Gyn
Oncofertility Consortium
Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University
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An unfertilized egg is more difficult to successfully freeze and thaw than a fertilized egg because its water content is so much higher. An unfertilized egg is like a tiny sphere of primarily water, and when it is frozen, ice crystals may form, which can later damage the delicate intracellular machinery of the egg. This is much less of a problem after an egg is fertilized and it loses a significant amount of its water content.