Debunking The 8 Most Common Egg Freezing Myths
The myths about egg freezing are plentiful. Before I froze my eggs, I thought the process took months and was probably painful and intense.
But those things weren’t the case at all. I had a really good experience overall and it didn’t interrupt my life. On this blog, I want to help people make an informed decision about their fertility options and the process of egg freezing.
This post is all about busting egg freezing myths.
Myth 1: Egg Freezing is only for women who want to delay childbearing
Elective egg freezing is more popular than ever before but not all women do it as an insurance policy, some do it out of necessity.
Egg freezing, also known as oocyte cryopreservation, can offer hope and empowerment to women facing health conditions that may impact their fertility.
For those undergoing cancer treatment, such as chemotherapy or radiation, preserving fertility may not be at the forefront of their minds. However, these treatments can have damaging effects on the ovaries, leading to infertility or early menopause. By freezing eggs prior to treatment, women can safeguard their ability to conceive in the future, even after overcoming their health condition.
Also, women with health conditions like endometriosis, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), or premature ovarian failure may also benefit from egg freezing. These conditions can significantly impact a woman’s ovarian reserve, making it challenging to conceive naturally.
Myth 2: Egg Freezing guarantees a successful pregnancy
The reality is, egg freezing is the first step of IVF and does not always lead to a healthy viable embryo. Any fertility clinic will tell you that egg freezing does not necessarily mean you will have a healthy pregnancy.
Here’s the thing – fertility, conception, and pregnancy are complex processes. While egg freezing can definitely improve your chances of conceiving later in life, it’s important to remember that it’s not a guarantee. The success rates can vary depending on a variety of factors like age, overall health, the quality of the eggs, and the quantity of mature eggs retrieved. So, it’s always a good idea to have an open conversation with your reproductive endocrinologist to understand your individual situation better.
Myth 3: Egg Freezing damages eggs and makes you infertile
There is a common misconception surrounding egg freezing, in which many people believe that this fertility preservation method can damage eggs and ultimately lead to infertility.
A woman is born with all the eggs she will ever have. Egg freezing extracts the eggs a woman was going to ovulate (aka lose) anyway.
During the egg retrieval procedure, your fertility doctor will use transvaginal ultrasound to guide a teeny-tiny needle into the ovaries and suck out the eggs. It sounds scarier than it actually is, I promise!
Vitrification is a word that means that the fully developed eggs are super quickly frozen to increase their chances of survival. This is a big deal because freezing eggs can sometimes damage them, but vitrification helps minimize that risk.
Myth 4: Egg Freezing is not covered by insurance
My insurance through my job paid for my egg freezing. I hadn’t reached my deductible yet so I paid about $2,500 to freeze my eggs. My insurance paid $10,000.
I used Progyny health insurance through my Aetna benefits to cover the expenses of my egg freezing.
If you go through Progyny, Carrot, or another fertility insurance provider, I would HIGHLY recommend reaching your deductible before starting the process to minimize the amount of money you need to pay. Also, if you receive an infertility diagnosis, more and more states are being required to provide you with fertility health insurance to pay for the costs.
Related post: 5 ways to freeze your eggs for free
Myth 5: Egg freezing is only for older women
Egg freezing is for women of reproductive age. You could be 20. You could be 40.
Since I froze my eggs in my late 20s, I learned that fertility specialists are really recommending women consider freezing their eggs before age 32. The quality and survival rate of one’s eggs is directly linked to the age and health of a woman.
Egg freezing allows women to focus on their personal growth and aspirations, without the pressure of a biological clock ticking away. It helps women who have medical reasons. It helps women find the right partner. There are a variety of reasons that go into the decision to freeze eggs that aren’t necessarily dependent on age.
Myth 6: There’s no more costs after egg freezing
Something I wish I had done more research on was storage fees. After your eggs have been frozen, they will need to be stored in a specialized facility. These storage fees can vary depending on the duration of storage and the location of the facility.
Additionally, there may be future fertility treatments that you’ll want to keep in mind. While freezing your eggs is a wise investment in your reproductive future, it’s crucial to remember that these frozen eggs will need to be thawed and fertilized in order to be used.
Lastly, there can be ongoing expenses to keep in mind. These may include necessary medications, follow-up appointments, and other related treatments.
Myth 7: Egg freezing is painful
There may be some discomfort involved in egg freezing but it’s not painful!
The daily injections of hormones and trigger shot stung a bit but I got used to them.
During the egg retrieval surgery (which is only about 20 minutes), anesthesia is commonly used. You’ll be completely asleep and won’t feel a thing!
Overall from my experience and all the research I’ve done, egg freezing is safe. But the biggest potential side effect you should be aware of is OHSS.
Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome (OHSS) occurs when the ovaries become swollen and painful due to the hormone injections used to stimulate egg production. This can be very serious and requires medical attention.
Myth 8: Egg freezing interrupts your life and is time-consuming
It’s true that egg freezing does require some time and effort, but it’s definitely manageable. The process typically involves several appointments and tests. These can take up some of your time but you can easily fit them into your schedule. The appointments last 15-30 minutes.
When it comes to physical considerations, it’s important to remember that every woman is different. Some might experience mild discomfort during the hormonal injections, while others may sail through the process with little to no issues. Emotionally, it’s important to take the time to understand the potential implications of egg freezing. It’s natural to have a mix of mood swings, from excitement to anxiety, and it’s crucial to prioritize self-care during this time.
I only took the hormonal medications for 9 days. It was a quick process overall.
Related post: 6 things to avoid during egg freezing
I hope this post about egg freezing myths was useful to you when thinking about your reproductive health. Check out my library of other posts all about egg freezing.
