Female reproductive system. Credits: Sewcreamstudio, Shutterstock
The new Barcelona-based study, released on July 17, 2025, reveals why female germ cells last so long. In this article, we will explain whether spending thousands on frozen eggs is really worth it.
Research published in EMBO Journal Report Sciencedaily On July 17, 2025, it was revealed that human eggs intentionally slow down internal “waste disposal” systems to keep them healthy for decades. This energy-saving trick appears to protect them from aging and can change how you approach fertile treatments like IVF.
“By seeing more than 100 newly donated eggs, the largest dataset of its species, we have found an incredible minimalist strategy that will help cells stay natural for many years,” said Dr. Elvan Beque, a group leader at the Center for Genomic Regulation (CRG) in Barcelona and the lead author of the study.
The study collected more than 100 eggs from 21 healthy donors aged 19-34 at Dexeus Mougère, a fertility clinic in Barcelona. This study is the largest study of healthy human eggs collected directly from women.
Using live imaging and fluorescent probes, the researchers found that mitochondria, proteasomes and lysosomes (cellular “housekeeping” machines) function at 50% of normal speeds. This reduction in metabolic activity can reduce the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), known to damage DNA over time.
This “standby mode” not only saves energy, but also looks like a natural longevity hack. The eggs drain lysosomes into the surrounding fluid just before ovulation, and even drain them, like “spring cleaning” to keep them fresh, said first author Dr. Gabriele Zafanini.
How about freezing eggs?
Some egg freeze cycles cost thousands of euros. But is it worth it?
Another report from the Progress Educational Trust (PET) published in 2022 asks exactly that. Freezing eggs have been frequently sold in recent years as an “insurance contract” for women who want to delay pregnancy. But even prominent infertility experts have warned against excessive estimates.
The report quotes Professor Robert Winston as accusing some fertility clinics of being “very exploitative.” The idea of freezing eggs warns that it is a “scam.”
The report highlights these concerns. Especially considering that freezing often results in an already impaired egg quality. Some UK clinics have launched a “freeze and share” scheme where women can get discounted freezes in exchange for donating eggs to others.
The success rate has improved since the American Association of Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) removed the “experimental” label in 2012, but it remains relatively low, especially for women over the age of 35.
In 2015, the Japan Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology decided not to recommend freezing eggs in healthy women due to low health risks and low pregnancy rates.
IVF supplements
The new Barcelona study may also challenge the promotion of supplements to improve egg health, one of the most common practices of IVF.
“While pregnant patients are routinely advised to take random supplements to improve egg metabolism, evidence of the benefits of pregnancy is patchy,” says Dr. Beke. “When I see fresh eggs, I found evidence suggesting that the eggs maintain a naturally quiet metabolism. It’s a better idea to maintain quality.”
Researchers will now look at eggs from older donors to see if the IVF cycle fails and these cell energy-saving procedures weaken with age.
This discovery opens up new possibilities in reproductive science, but it also raises offensive questions. If the eggs can remain viable on their own, are women being sold false hopes by freezing expensive eggs? Should clinics be legally needed to clearly disclose their success rates? And are women really empowered or emotionally sold?
When it is known to have the lowest success rate, more and more women are turning to freezing more than 40 eggs.
View all health and beauty news.
See all the articles by Letara Draghia.
