Diane Amedo, an embryologist and fertility advisor, recommends that prospective parents consider banking their eggs and sperm as a precaution for future family planning. She suggests that instead of facing fertility issues later, storing eggs and sperm during one’s prime is a better strategy for some fertility treatments.Amedo highlights that while there are exceptions, the decline in egg quality and quantity after age 35 can make it difficult for some women to conceive. Similarly, in men, the gradual decrease in testosterone with age can affect sperm quality and quantity. She advises young people focused on their careers or those not in stable relationships but wanting children in the future to get a fertility assessment and plan accordingly with expert advice.Amedo notes that many people are unaware of this option and only seek help in their 40s when facing fertility challenges. By then, they often realize they could have afforded this option if they had known about it earlier.Regarding the success rate and cost of the procedures, she explains that advancements in gamete storage exist, but success depends on the age and quantity of the frozen eggs. Typically, about 15 to 20 eggs are needed for a good chance of pregnancy. Younger, healthier eggs have a higher success rate. She assures that there are strict protocols to prevent mix-ups of stored eggs or sperm.Amedo outlines the costs: women aged 31 to 34 might spend $5,000 in the first year, including screening, registration, lab tests, medications, and other processes, with a $500 annual storage renewal fee. Men’s semen freezing is simpler and costs $250 for six months or $500 for a year.Social egg freezing refers to women freezing their eggs for non-medical reasons, such as delaying childbirth for personal reasons. Some medical conditions, like undergoing chemotherapy or working in environments like mines or the military, might necessitate gamete banking to preserve fertility.A woman in her 40s, speaking anonymously, regrets not knowing about this procedure earlier, as she now plans to adopt after unsuccessful attempts to conceive due to surgeries affecting her ovaries. Another woman, Aba Esaandoh, expresses concerns about the effects of medications used in egg maturation but acknowledges she might consider it to protect her future fertility.Assisted reproductive technology (ART) has become popular in Ghana, offering solutions for infertility through various methods, including ovarian stimulation, intrauterine insemination, IVF, and gamete donation. However, there is still no law regulating these practices. The Fertility Society of Ghana is working on a document to present to Parliament to address this gap.
