- With Mayo Clinic obstetrician and medical editor-in-chief
Roger W. Harms, M.D.
read biographyclose windowBiography of
Roger W. Harms, M.D.
Roger W. Harms, M.D.
"Nothing helps people stay healthy more than the power of real knowledge about health." — Dr. Roger Harms
As medical editor-in-chief, Dr. Roger Harms is excited about the potential for MayoClinic.com to help educate people about their health and provide them the tools and information to live healthier lives.
The Auburn, Neb., native has been with Mayo Clinic since 1981 and is board certified in obstetrics and gynecology. Dr. Harms is a consultant and associate professor of obstetrics and gynecology, and his specialty areas include office gynecology, high-risk obstetrics and obstetrical ultrasound.
From 2002 to 2007, Dr. Harms was director for education for Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. Dr. Harms was the 1988 Mayo Medical School Teacher of the Year and served as associate dean for student affairs and academic affairs before taking this leadership role. He is the co-author of the "Mayo Clinic Model of Education." In 2008, Dr. Harms was presented the Distinguished Educator Award, Mayo Clinic, Rochester.
Dr. Harms is vice chair of the Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology and medical editor of the Pregnancy section on this Web site. In addition, Dr. Harms is editor-in-chief of the "Mayo Clinic Guide to a Healthy Pregnancy" book, a month-by-month guide to everything a woman needs to know about having a baby.
"My medical education experience has grown out of a love of teaching, and that is what this site is about," Dr. Harms says. "If any visitor to this site makes a more informed and thus more comfortable decision about his or her health because of the information we provide, we are successful."
Definition (2)
- Tilted uterus: Can it lead to infertility?
- Ovulation signs: When is conception most likely?
Causes (4)
- Fallopian tubes: Is pregnancy possible with only one?
- Semen allergy: A cause of infertility?
- Hypothyroidism and infertility: Any connection?
- see all in Causes
Treatments and drugs (2)
- Fertility herbs and supplements: Do they enhance fertility?
- Freezing eggs: An option for future pregnancies?
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Question
Freezing eggs: An option for future pregnancies?
Is it possible to freeze a woman's eggs for future pregnancies?
Answer
from Roger W. Harms, M.D.
It's possible to freeze a woman's eggs for future use in fertility treatments — but it's quite difficult.
Freezing eggs may be an option for women who are facing cancer treatment that could lead to infertility. Freezing eggs may also be appealing for women who are planning to delay pregnancy or those who have concerns about freezing embryos that might never be used.
Freezing sperm is a relatively common practice for men who are concerned about future fertility. Excess embryos created in the process of in vitro fertilization often are frozen as well. Freezing eggs is more challenging, however. The large size of the egg cell — plus the fact that it's mainly water — complicates the freezing and thawing process. The key to success is managing the water content in the egg to prevent the formation of ice crystals, which can damage the egg.
Currently, eggs are frozen only in a few major centers that provide assisted reproductive technologies, and only a small number of live births from frozen eggs have been reported worldwide. Still, despite technical challenges and limited availability, freezing eggs may give the hope of restored fertility to women who have specific family planning issues.
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