As a woman, you’re encouraged to have it all—a fulfilling career, a loving partner, children to adore. But jobs, relationships, age and countless other factors impact even the best-laid plans, including starting a family. If you aren’t ready to have kids but your biological clock is ticking, egg freezing can potentially extend your fertility window.
Egg freezing is a relatively new (and improving) technology, but it’s rising in popularity, according to Mary Abusief, M.D., a reproductive endocrinologist at the Palo Alto Medical Foundation. “I’ve seen a significant increase in the number of women seeking information about fertility preservation,” Dr. Abusief says. “Many are trying to understand how egg freezing might help them.”
For example, some women consider freezing eggs before they undergo chemotherapy or radiation treatments. Others do so because they don’t feel ready to be a mom just yet but know they may be better prepared down the road.
Although the procedure presents a profound opportunity, egg freezing isn’t ideal for everyone. First, it’s costly, running to tens of thousands of dollars. It also doesn’t guarantee a pregnancy. The chance that one of your frozen eggs will lead to a live birth is still only about 2 to 12 percent, according to the American Society for Reproductive Medicine.
As with any healthcare decision, Dr. Abusief says it’s important to weigh your options carefully and talk with your doctor about your specific situation.