Picture this, a group of women in their stylish glasses toasting to one another over the phrase: “Preserve your option.” Americans in 2019 are in the business of sales, and the best way to sell anything is to tell them they need it and that they have every right to take it. This is where egg freezing is right now.
Everyone – celebrities, your friends, family members, and coworkers are speaking of preserving their fertility for the future. What is this procedure all about, and what can you expect from it in the future? Are the expenses worth it, and will it yield results? There are several questions regarding this new option for women.
Egg Freezing as a Popular Go-to Choice for Women
Merely seven years ago, the American Society for Reproductive Medicine got rid of the “experimental” label from the egg-freezing process, previously known as oocyte cryopreservation. Since 2012, egg freezing has become more and more popular. According to a survey by The New York Times, more than 200,000 women have decided to freeze their eggs. As per the survey Egg Freezing increase 2,100 percent from 2012 to 2018, says the ASRM.
How Successful Is Egg Freezing?
There is a limit of data on successful live births from frozen eggs. That’s because the statistics are combined with other statistics on births from frozen Egg Donors, and the ones resulting from a patient’s own egg freezing.
Women who freeze their own eggs have an 18 % success rate of conceiving, while those who use fertile donor eggs have a 30 % success rate. While this procedure does not guarantee success, it drastically increases a woman’s chance of getting pregnant.
Why Do Women Decide to Try Egg Freezing?
Egg freezing was very quick to find its prime target – 30-year-old or older women. Many women are indecisive; they are uncertain whether or not they want a child, so they don’t do anything about it. Some are worried that their partners are not the perfect match for a child. Where some think they don’t have the resources to take on such a huge responsibility at an early age. If you have ever felt this way, you’re not alone. A recent study shows that around 50 % of all single women undergo egg freezing. Especially when they don’t have a viable partner. Another issue is in regards to responsibilities as well as resources. Getting pregnant right now would constitute an actual fiscal emergency, which is why many women decide to have a child at an older age when they are more financially stable.
Egg Freezing as a Viable Choice
There are not many options available to women who are approaching their fertility declining stage. Being indecisive does come with the cost of time, and that’s where the egg freezing procedure can come in handy.
With advances technological, egg freezing has now become an affordable and possible option for women who want to preserve their fertility. There are more than 500 American fertility clinics across various states, including a top fertility clinic in San Diego, California. The freezing eggs cost is different for every clinic. Some states offer a slightly cheaper procedure, but in general, these prices fluctuate. Now it can cost you anywhere from $4,000 to $10,000 per egg freezing cycle, while just a few years ago, it would have been $10,000 to $19,000.
With procedures such as these, you need to be prepared for additional costs when planning your budget. The hormone injections necessary for freezing your eggs usually cost about $3,000.00, which can add up around $1,000 a year. Certain insurance providers may cover certain costs associated. So, it is important to check if your plan can help with the expenses.
Undergoing the egg freezing procedure is the same as purchasing a lottery ticket – nothing guarantees you will win a prize. However, in recent years, fertility clinics have become more successful in conducting the egg freezing procedure, particularly the top fertility clinic, RSMC in San Diego.
Expert’s Opinion
For patients to better understand this procedure, Catherine Racowsky, a renowned professor of gynecology and reproductive biology, decided to explain. She says, “There is little experience to support women doing this electively.” She also adds that she would be happy to see nurseries in her building so that women can have their children on-site and visit them during the day.
But that’s not all Racowsky has to say – “In order to be fertilized, the egg must be mature and on an average about 80 percent of the eggs that are retrieved for the freezing process is mature.” You need to understand that not all mature eggs are fertilized, and not all eggs that are fertilized are capable of making embryos. This implies that even with the best candidates, one cycle has a 30 % chance of resulting in a baby. There are no guarantees whether you freeze your eggs at 25 or 35.
What is going to happen
Usually, you’ll be required to go to the clinic almost every day for a minimum of two weeks. Also, you’ll have to take several blood tests in addition to several ultrasounds. You will take hormonal shots during this time which can increase your appetite.
Fertility is often tying with several deep emotions. The desperation of those yearning for a family is like deep dark waters while fertility clinics are the lighthouse. The most important thing about egg freezing is that you are not freezing time. After, when fertilization of the eggs is complete, one resulting embryo will be ready to take place in your body. It’s fine to get pregnant in your early 40s, but when it’s 45, you are more likely to experience complications. This is because your chances of getting pregnant naturally decrease after 40. So, the question now is: Should we promote the new norm ‘wait until you’re 45?’
Are All the Expenses Worth It?
We (Eggs Freezing Fertility Clinic, San Diego) suggest our patients do medical insurance that can help cover the expenses. The financial commitment is huge, and it might not always yield results.
The thought of any amount of money standing between a parent and a potential family is too great to bear. However, women who have undergone this exact process said that the amount of money they spent on this procedure pales to the comparison of the happiness they felt the moment the procedure turned out to be a success.
The concept of being able to have it all for women and not having to sacrifice your career or education is a huge part of why egg freezing procedures are on the rise above all the other treatments. For more information on the egg freezing process, you can visit us at www.fertile.com or call us (A Fertility Clinic, San Diego) at 858-436-7186.
