Freeze Eggs To Freeze Time
Oocyte cryopreservation is a procedure where eggs are retrieved from the ovaries and frozen for use at a later date. The egg freezing process freezes fertility at that exact time, giving those eggs a greater chance of future pregnancy success. The oocyte cryopreservation procedure is becoming increasingly popular for a number of reasons. Medical conditions, career ambitions, finding a partner, and financial well being are 4 reasons women may benefit from egg freezing.
1. Medical necessity
Certain medical treatments, such as receiving chemotherapy or radiation, can affect fertility. This means that people undergoing cancer treatment or dealing with other serious illnesses may experience premature ovarian failure. These individuals could benefit greatly from freezing eggs before starting treatment to preserve fertility. Certain genetic conditions, such as fragile X premutation and mosaicism for monosomy X, can also affect how well the ovaries function. For women with fertility-related genetic issues, earlier egg freezing can increase the overall chance of a future successful pregnancy.
2. Climb that ladder
Another common reason for egg freezing is that many women spend primary reproductive years pursuing career ambitions. Peak professional ladder climbing years can often coincide with peak fertility years, forcing women to make a tough choice. Nowadays, oocyte cryopreservation can help circumvent this issue. Women who freeze eggs during younger fertile years for use at a later date can get the best of both worlds.
3. A plus one, but not so fast
Raising kids is hard work, and for many people the thought of proceeding without a partner can feel overwhelming. Single women may prefer to freeze eggs now so as to not feel pressured to rush into a partnership purely for fertility reasons. Women considering parenting alone may want to delay this process until feeling ready to take on this important job singlehandedly. Either way, oocyte cryopreservation can provide the time needed to determine the best plan of action.
4. Money, money, money
Put simply, kids are expensive. Even without college expenses factored in, average costs to raise a child to adulthood can be substantial. By freezing eggs early on, people can instead spend money earned on expenses like buying a house and completing school while saving for parenthood. This approach can decrease long-term financial stress and sets the child up for a secure life.
Cryopreservation now, babies later
For those who choose to delay family building for any of the above reasons, oocyte cryopreservation is an excellent option. These individuals can ensure a higher success rate of pregnancy later in life by freezing eggs now. This procedure is one of the best ways for women to have control over timing and success of pregnancy and should be considered by many.
