Egg Freezing Gains Popularity

“The Bachelorette,” Season 11’s leading lady, Kaitlyn Bristowe, recently caught everyone’s attention when she shared news of her decision to freeze her eggs. Embryo freezing has been in practice since the late 1980s, but has recently seen a huge jump in popularity. According to the Society for Assisted Reproductive Technology, nearly 4,000 women froze their eggs in 2013, compared to less than 500 in 2009. Celebrities, like Bristowe, are going public with their decision to preserve their eggs, making people curious about how egg freezing works and what makes it so appealing.

Egg Freezing, or cryopreservation, is the preservation of one or more healthy embryos until a time when the mother decides she wants to use them. The embryos are frozen and stored carefully in a safe location until that time is determined. Doctors only select the healthiest embryos to freeze, making the process largely successful.

Women and couples decide to freeze their embryos for a host of reasons. Sometimes pregnancy is not successful and women will decide to preserve their remaining healthy embryos while a solution or alternative plan of action is found. Some women simply wish to have a child later in life, so they preserve their eggs when they are at their healthiest. It is also possible to preserve the eggs if the woman is about to undergo a dangerous medical procedure, like cancer treatment. In this case, she can preserve her embryos and keep them safe while she receives the necessary care. Others choose to freeze their embryos in order to donate them to other hopeful parents.

Regardless of the reason, choosing to preserve your embryos can be an empowering experience and allow you the power to decide when you will have children. Kaitlyn Bristowe shared on Twitter, “I’m taking control of my future! As a woman, there’s always pressure to have babies, and this puts my mind at east for when I’M ready.”

Deciding to freeze your eggs can be a big step towards protecting your future fertility. Regardless of your current circumstances, if you are interested in preserving your embryos, see a specialist to discuss your options.

Contact Palm Beach Fertility Center to make an appointment for embryo freezing, today!