4 Things to Consider when Thinking About Fertility Preservation

Fertility preservation is often a topic discussed in the context of medical treatments such as cancer therapies. More recently it has evolved into a broader conversation that encompasses family planning, lifestyle choices, and reproductive health. As more and more women are publicly sharing their stories of egg freezing it is becoming less taboo and more of an issue of women’s health in general. So how do you know if fertility preservation is for you and when should you consider it?

Fertility preservation is the proactive approach of preserving eggs, sperm, or reproductive tissues to maintain the possibility of having biological children in the future. While traditionally associated with cancer patients undergoing treatments that may impact fertility, it has expanded to cater to a diverse range of individuals. People are now opting to freeze eggs for social reasons. Younger women are starting to get the message that freezing their eggs before the age of 35 will give them a comforting “insurance policy” while they pursue their careers, travel, or look for the partner they wish to create a family with.

There is such a wonderful empowerment to taking control of your own fertility and the choices it may afford you in the future.

There are several factors to consider when thinking about whether or not fertility preservation is right for you. If there is a clear medical reason indicated then the decision is more straight forward. To give yourself a chance for your own biological child in the future, you will need to do something proactive to give you that opportunity. However, if you are thinking about doing it for social reasons you will need to consider the following

Photo by Deidre Schlabs on Unsplash

1. Psychological

Is the process of freezing your eggs something you feel emotionally ready to do? It can bring up a lot of emotions as it may force you to evaluate your life and where you might like your future to bring you.

2. Financial

While more and more clinics in the UAE are offering special egg freezing packages, it can still be costly. It can be hard to feel justified in spending money on something you may or may not need in the future. It is worth getting some cost estimates for it and seeing how it can fit into your budget at this time in your life.

3. Ethical

Although you will likely try to have a baby using conventional methods when you decide to try, if you end up needing to use your frozen eggs then you will have to have an IVF. As your eggs will already be out of your body then they will need to be turned into embryos and transferred back into your body to achieve pregnancy. That may mean that some of the embryos will be destroyed, nonviable, or unsuccessful. If you have any ethical concerns about that process you should be thinking about them now.

4. Time

This process will take some time to complete. You can expect it to take anywhere from a few weeks to a month or more. During that time you will need to attend several clinic visits and have the egg collection itself, which is an outpatient procedure. It is advisable to take the entire day of your egg collection off work, if you are working, and possibly the following day. You will need to consider if you have the time to devote to this process with work, family, and travel commitments.

Fertility preservation is a revolutionary way to stop the clock on your fertility for many reasons and success rates will only improve as the technology evolves, There is so much to think about when considering taking this step but having that “insurance policy” will give you enormous peace of mind as you focus on other things in your life.