Many little girls are conditioned to believe that marriage and motherhood are the ultimate goals. While you may find some success in other ventures, women are only fulfilled once they start a family. Fortunately, today’s adult women are throwing away that “advice.” More and more women are delaying motherhood until their 30s and 40s.
According to TIME magazine, in 1970, the average age of first-time mothers was 21. In 2022, the average age was 27. However, waiting until you’re older to have children has downsides. Delaying motherhood until your 30s and 40s can put you at a higher risk for infertility. Nevertheless, advancements in medicine and technology have allowed for egg freezing in your 20s to become a trend.
Freezing one’s eggs has become a popular technique for delaying motherhood. Doing so allows you to lengthen the window for becoming pregnant. Many women who take this route begin freezing their eggs around the age of 30, but this may not give you the best chances for pregnancy. Southern California Reproductive Center (SCRC) suggests that women who plan to freeze their eggs should do the procedure as soon as possible.
Why should I freeze my eggs?
There are many reasons why someone may decide to freeze their eggs. Some women have a family history of early menopause, so they opt to freeze their eggs to give themselves an option for motherhood. Young women with a recent cancer diagnosis typically choose to freeze their eggs as well.
For the average woman, egg freezing in your 20s can have many benefits. Participating in the procedure can save you stress and angst if your life’s plan doesn’t pan out as you would like. For example, if you reach a certain age and have not yet found a partner but still wish to bear a child, you can use your frozen eggs and a sperm donor.
As mentioned, more women choose to have children later to pursue other desires, including education and careers. If you decide to freeze your eggs, you won’t have to worry about the pressure of getting pregnant before a certain age. It allows you more freedom concerning your goals for motherhood.
When should I freeze my eggs?
According to the SCRC, you can freeze your eggs anytime during your fertile years. However, the center states that freezing your eggs at a younger age is better.
“Freezing eggs in your 20s may sound very young, but it offers you the best chance of success,” the SCRC shared.
Your ability to have children begins to decline at age 25 and takes a major dip at age 35. While you may not be ready to have children before 25, egg freezing in your 20s may give you a better chance to produce multiple, healthy eggs. Waiting until your mid-to-late 30s to freeze your eggs significantly decreases your chances of a healthy baby. Nevertheless, everyone is different, and you should seek professional medical advice based on your unique body and family history.
How does freezing my eggs work?
If you are considering freezing your eggs, note that the process can be lengthy and expensive. According to Johns Hopkins Medicine, first, you (or a partner) have to inject yourself with hormones for about two weeks. Afterward, you track your period by having frequent bloodwork and ultrasounds. Once the eggs have matured, you undergo a procedure to remove them. Typically, patients are put under anesthesia, and the procedure takes about 30 minutes.
Remember, the costs vary. However, one can expect to spend around $8000 for the egg-freezing process. Medications are an additional cost, ranging between $4000 and $6000. Additionally, it costs around $800 yearly to store the eggs in a cryobank after they are extracted.
Whether you know you want children or not, egg freezing in your 20s is a solid decision. The process gives you freedom and serves as an empowering choice, as you now have more agency to decide what motherhood looks like for you.
Have you considered freezing your eggs? Let us know in the comments below.
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