For many women, a career can be just as important as starting a family. However, since women have a biological clock, pursuing both can be a daunting task.

Egg freezing is a viable option that enables women to prioritize their careers while keeping open the possibility of starting a family later in life.

What is egg freezing?

Egg freezing, also known as oocyte cryopreservation, is the process of extracting and freezing a woman’s eggs for later use. The process involves stimulating the ovaries to produce multiple eggs through a course of hormone injections.

The unfertilized eggs are then retrieved and frozen for future use.

Recent advancements in egg freezing technology have made the process much simpler and more effective, making it a viable option for women who wish to delay pregnancy for professional or personal reasons.

Previously, egg freezing was only offered to women with certain medical conditions, such as cancer, that would require chemotherapy or radiation therapy, which could damage their ovaries. However, today’s technology has been refined to the extent that egg freezing is now a popular option for women who simply wish to delay pregnancy until later in life.

Why is egg freezing a viable option for women pursuing their career?

Most women these days desire to build their careers before having children. The biological clock ticking makes this goal harder to achieve.

Egg freezing provides women with a chance to keep their eggs frozen until they are ready to conceive, even if it’s years after the average age of natural fertility. This means that women who choose to freeze their eggs can pursue demanding careers without worrying that the window of opportunity for starting a family is closing.

Furthermore, egg freezing can also be emotionally beneficial for women. Women who freeze their eggs experience a sense of empowerment and confidence, knowing that they are not sacrificing their future family dreams for their current career ventures.

What are the benefits of egg freezing?

Peace of mind. Egg freezing can provide women with a sense of comfort and security, knowing that they have an opportunity to start a family in the future if they so choose.

Improved fertility options. Egg freezing can be of great benefit for women experiencing fertility issues. If the woman has a medical condition that affects her ovaries, such as early menopause, egg freezing can be a lifesaver.

Less pressure to conceive. Women who opt to freeze their eggs will feel less pressure to conceive, allowing them to focus on their careers, education, or other personal goals.

Freedom to plan. Egg freezing allows women to plan their future effectively, instead of feeling restricted by the “biological clock” and worrying about starting their families at a certain age.

No expiration date. Eggs can be frozen for an extended period of time with no expiration date.

Women can choose to freeze their eggs and focus on their careers with the confidence that they will still have a chance of starting a family shortly.

Increased control. Egg freezing gives women the power to control when and how they start a family, which can be empowering and fulfilling for women with professional aspirations or personal goals that they want to accomplish before having children.

Who should consider egg freezing?

Any woman who wishes to postpone pregnancy for career or other factors should consider egg freezing. Also, any woman with medical conditions that can affect her fertility, such as cancer, may opt to freeze her eggs before starting treatment.

It is recommended that women consider egg freezing before the age of 35 as the egg quality declines with age, making it more challenging to conceive naturally or through assisted reproductive technologies.

Freezing eggs at a more youthful age ensures that they are more likely to achieve a successful pregnancy when they’re ready to start a family.

The costs of egg freezing

Egg freezing can be expensive, making it difficult for women who are already grappling with rising living costs to consider this option.

The cost of egg freezing can vary, with the average cost ranging from $10,000 to $15,000 per cycle, which can be discouraging for many women. Fortunately, some insurance companies are now starting to cover the cost of egg freezing as a form of fertility preservation.

What are the limitations of egg freezing?

Egg freezing is not a guarantee of successful conception. While success rates are high, the quality of the frozen eggs and the patient’s age can impact the outcome of the cycle.

Additionally, other factors, like endometrial lining, uterine shape, and sperm quality, can influence the success of the in-vitro fertilization process when using the frozen eggs.

Additionally, there are limitations to the number of eggs that can be frozen with one cycle, which means that multiple cycles may be necessary to achieve the desired number of frozen eggs.

Conclusion

Egg freezing has brought an enormous opportunity to women seeking to prioritize their careers and personal growth while keeping their option to have children open in the future.

Egg freezing technology is continuing to advance, enabling more and more women to have access to this revolutionary technology. The costs and limitations can be significant, but the peace of mind that comes with knowing that you have eliminated the ticking biological clock and ensured a secure and prosperous future for yourself is priceless.