Freezing Your Eggs: Why Women in Their 20s Should Consider It Sooner Rather Than Later

Approximately 10 years ago, I met with the founders of a start-up fertility company called Prelude Fertility, which made the cover of Forbes Magazine for bringing the tried-and-true egg-freezing process mainstream with a business model similar to a gym membership. Their concept was simple: why wait until someone is diagnosed with infertility when the science exists to help women be proactive about their fertility?

They had me at hello. I began routinely counseling my patients in their mid-20s about egg freezing—what it is, what’s involved, and why they may want to consider it long before they’re ready to have babies. Yes, you read that right: mid-20s. I now view egg freezing as akin to banking umbilical cord blood—so well-established that if an OB-GYN doesn’t discuss this option with their patients, I consider it subpar medical care.

One of my former patients just completed the process and I asked if she would share her story, which she bravely and eloquently does below. Please forward this email to anyone you know who has a daughter in this age range, OR who is in this age range herself.  It may literally change a life. Here’s her journey:

Dear Ajenda Readers,

My name is Melissa. I’m 26 years old, and a few weeks ago, I decided to freeze my eggs—it was the best decision I’ve ever made. I’m so excited to share my experience with you because I think so many women can benefit from learning more about egg freezing and its advantages.

Why did I freeze my eggs?

When I started telling people about my decision to freeze my eggs, the most common response was, “But you’re so young!” Yes, it’s true—I’m on the younger side of women who have done this, but I believe it’s only because most people don’t think about their fertility until they’re trying to conceive. Of course, the decision to do an egg retrieval is extremely personal, but here are the reasons I decided to freeze my eggs as a single, healthy 26-year-old:

• I wanted the freedom and peace of mind to build my family on my own timeline. The biological clock is a real thing, but it shouldn’t be the reason you settle down and have kids if you’re not ready.
• I want to set myself up for success with my family-planning goals. I’ve always wanted three children, and my egg quality may be worse by the time I’m looking to have my second or third.
• I’m a BRCA carrier and do not want to pass on the BRCA gene. With modern technology, I will be able to screen for the embryos that are BRCA positive through IVF.
• My employer offers family-planning benefits. An egg freezing cycle can be extremely expensive (around $15k per cycle), but my company’s insurance covered most of the cost. If you work for a big bank, tech company or consulting firm, you likely have the same benefits :)

What was the process/timeline like?

1. Finding a Clinic. I did lots of research to find the right doctor and ultimately decided to work with Dr. Jaime Knopman (@AFertileFuture) at CCRM New York. I truly can’t speak more highly of the care I received from Dr. Knopman and the team at CCRM.  They are so professional, compassionate, and understand the emotional journey this process represents for each patient.
2. Testing & Preparation. Once I decided to work with CCRM,  they did a few tests (a blood test & an ultrasound) to make sure I was a good candidate for egg freezing. I was approved and was told to reach back out a few weeks before I wanted to do the egg retrieval. I knew I wanted to do my retrieval in December, so early November I reached back out to start planning. They told me to stop taking my birth control so I would ovulate again (or so my ovaries would “wake up”)  and to let them know when I got my period. In the meantime, I ordered the medications that I would need when I started the process. I finally got my period in the first week of December and did one last blood test to make sure my hormone levels looked good and my body was ready for my first injection.
3. The Injections. I was so nervous about the injections – but I knew they were important. For context, the injections stimulate the ovaries so we produce more eggs than we would naturally during a cycle. This is what make the egg retrieval surgery worthwhile. I had a nurse come to my apartment every night to help me with my injections. There were 10 days of injections, and it was honestly not bad. The hardest part was going for bloodwork and ultrasounds every other morning to monitor my response to the medication. While it sounds like a lot, trust me—if I can get through it, anyone can.
4. Once my eggs were mature enough, I was instructed to take the “trigger shot.” This injection was the last one before the retrieval and signals the body to release the eggs. By this point, my stomach was extremely bloated. While I felt okay, I was excited the end was near.
5. The Retrieval. The big day had finally come – I met with an anesthesiologist in the morning who prepared me for the operation and the retrieval was over before I knew it. The days following the procedure were admittedly the most uncomfortable of them all. I was extremely bloated and feeling emotionally drained from the whole process, but I gave myself permission to do nothing but sit in bed and watch “Sex and the City” reruns for the next few days.
6. The Results. I learned after the retrieval that I got 24 eggs, 17 of which were mature enough to be frozen.  I was very happy with my results.

Knowing that I have good quality eggs whenever I need them has been so empowering. I feel that I now have the freedom to live my life freely and that I can really take my future - and my family’s future - into my own hands. Needless to say, the injections were so well worth it.

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