For years, egg freezing has dominated the conversation around fertility preservation. However, a growing number of reproductive specialists now believe that ovarian tissue freezing—an outpatient surgical procedure that involves removing and preserving a portion of a woman’s ovarian tissue—could be a superior alternative, particularly for younger women or those undergoing medical treatments like chemotherapy.Unlike egg freezing, which requires hormonal stimulation over several weeks, ovarian tissue freezing can be completed quickly, even in children who haven’t yet reached puberty. And new data is backing up its promise: a recent review revealed that approximately 4 out of 10 women who underwent this procedure successfully gave birth later in life.What Is Ovarian Tissue Freezing?Ovarian tissue freezing, also known as ovarian tissue cryopreservation, involves surgically removing a portion of one ovary—typically through a minimally invasive laparoscopic procedure—and preserving its outer shell, where thousands of immature eggs reside. This tissue is sliced into thin slivers and stored in a programmable freezer using a Slow Freezing technique that can take up to six meticulous hours in the lab.Once the woman is ready to conceive, the tissue can be thawed and transplanted back into her body—either in the pelvis or under the skin. If successful, this transplant can restore hormonal function, trigger menstruation, and even reverse menopausal symptoms in many women.Egg Freezing vs. Ovarian Tissue Freezing: What’s the Difference?The numbers are compelling. A study conducted by Dr. Kutluk Oktay—who first performed the procedure in 1999—and Dr. Fernanda Pacheco reviewed data from 1999 to 2016. They found that out of 309 ovarian tissue freezing cases, 84 births were recorded, and two-thirds of patients experienced a restoration of reproductive or hormonal function.One particularly noteworthy aspect: only about one-third of patients required IVF, while the rest were able to conceive naturally—something not possible with frozen eggs. The tissue appears to create a more natural ovarian environment, increasing the chance of spontaneous conception.Initially developed as a fertility-preserving option for cancer patients, especially children who cannot undergo egg retrieval, ovarian tissue freezing is increasingly being considered for healthy women wanting to delay childbirth. According to Dr. Oktay, the procedure’s ability to reverse menopause, preserve hormonal function, and restore natural fertility makes it a holistic approach to reproductive longevity.In fact, many women undergo ovarian tissue freezing when there’s insufficient time for ovarian stimulation or when the ovaries are at risk of being damaged by cancer treatment. Unlike egg retrieval, which can delay urgent therapies, this method provides a faster and potentially more versatile solution.Egg freezing typically yields about 10 to 15 eggs per cycle. In contrast, a single procedure of ovarian tissue extraction can preserve hundreds or even thousands of eggs in their immature form, providing a much larger reservoir of fertility potential. This makes the procedure more cost-effective in the long run and potentially reduces the number of interventions a woman might need.Moreover, with ovarian tissue, there’s no need for the hormonal stimulation that egg freezing requires—saving both time and the physical side effects that some women experience.How Does the Transplant Work? Once a woman is ready to conceive, the frozen tissue can be thawed and transplanted using two primary techniques developed by Dr. Oktay:Pelvic Transplantation: Here, tissue is grafted near the remaining ovary or on the pelvic wall using a biodegradable scaffold. It reconnects with the surrounding blood vessels over 2–10 days, though some egg loss (over 50%) can occur during this period.Heterotopic (Under-the-Skin) Transplantation: This is used when the pelvis isn’t viable due to radiation or scarring. It’s performed under local anesthesia in the IVF lab—making it less invasive—but it does require IVF for conception.So far, about 20 live births have been recorded from pelvic ovarian transplants. Under-the-skin grafts are still in their experimental phase, though promising embryo development has been reported.Is Ovarian Tissue Freezing Affordable?Fertility preservation isn’t cheap. However, ovarian tissue freezing may offer more value for money. Ovarian tissue freezing costs approximately $10,000, while egg freezing can run upwards of $20,000 or more depending on the number of cycles needed.Given that a single ovarian tissue extraction can preserve significantly more eggs than traditional retrieval, this newer method may also reduce the long-term financial burden for women who may need multiple rounds of egg retrieval.Can You Conceive Naturally After a Transplant?Yes, but with caution. After pelvic transplantation, women can conceive naturally if their fallopian tubes are intact and functional. However, since transplanted ovaries may not last as long as natural ones, doctors often recommend IVF to speed up conception and avoid exhausting the finite egg supply in the graft.While ovarian tissue freezing is still technically considered experimental, the clinical data and real-world success stories are making it a strong contender in fertility preservation. Its ability to not only safeguard fertility but also reverse menopause, restore hormonal balance, and offer natural pregnancy potential makes it far more than just an alternative to egg freezing, it could be the future of reproductive medicine.