Clinics must make it clear that there is little point in women over 40 freezing their eggs, because the odds of a future pregnancy are very slim, says UK fertility regulator the HFEA.
Fertility declines with age, so the optimum time for egg freezing is before a woman turns 35, it says.
Yet data shows that the most common age at which women are treated is 38, with many freezing eggs into their 40s.
NHS clinics usually have a younger cut-off age, but private ones may not.
Women can only get egg freezing on the NHS if it is for medical reasons, such as needing a cancer treatment which may cause them later fertility problems.
Private clinics also offer it to women who want it for social reasons, like delaying starting a family because they haven’t met the right partner yet.
In 2016, 80% of the 1,310 freezing procedures carried out were done in private clinics, Around 890 of all the treatments were for women aged 35 and over, compared with 419 treatments for women younger than this.
The HFEA says it is not clear why patients of this age are freezing eggs. Most women freezing eggs using NHS funding were aged below 35, with 89% below 38.
It says women must be given clear information about the risks, costs and likely success rates of egg freezing, which is becoming an increasingly popular “fertility insurance” back-up plan.
Egg freezing facts
Success rates can be low
Egg quality and number naturally drops as a woman gets older
It is not a simple fix for delaying motherhood
NHS funding may be available if you are having medical treatment that affects your fertility
Frozen eggs can usually only be stored for 10 years (although there are some exceptions for medical reasons) -BBC
