Warning Issued over Egg Freezing

The American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) warned the procedure was still experimental, and the chances of success poor.

It said it would be wrong to give women a false sense of hope. Instead they should be offered counselling.

However, a UK expert said egg freezing was a valid option for some women.

An increasing number of women are choosing to freeze their eggs for social reasons in the hope they will be able to have a child when they are older.

Critics argue they are delaying motherhood for the wrong motives, such as climbing the career ladder or until they have more money.

Dr Marc Fritz, of the ASRM, said it would be wrong for women who have frozen their eggs to think they had ensured their future fertility.

He said: "Existing medical evidence simply does not justify that conclusion."

The ASRM estimates that the overall live birth rate from frozen eggs is as low as 2% per egg.

It warned the figures may be even lower for women over 35 - the age at which fertility begins to...