"This is a choice that I am making to feel more in control of my life," says 36-year-old representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez on Instagram about her decision regarding her reproductive options.
Ocasio-Cortez is the new social media sensation not just for her political career but also for her decision to freeze her eggs and her efforts to make such conversations easier among people.
"In this political environment, where this administration is denying reproductive care to women across the country, from abortion rights to the ability to carry out a healthy pregnancy, I think it's important for us as leaders to have these conversations," she said.
What is egg freezing?
It is a medical procedure where a woman's unfertilized eggs are extracted from her ovaries, frozen using liquid nitrogen, and stored at sub-zero temperatures. Through this procedure, women can preserve their fertility at a younger age for a future pregnancy, in case they want to start a family.
Women choose to freeze their eggs for various goals that include career, personal, etc. Some individuals freeze their eggs before undergoing treatments like chemotherapy or radiation.
What are the factors that affect the success of egg freezing?
Various reasons can be detrimental to the success of egg freezing, like:
- Age at the time of egg freezing
- Number of mature eggs frozen
- Quality of the egg
- Overall ovarian reserve
- Quality of the sperm during fertilisation
- Quality of the embryo after fertilisation
- Underlying medical conditions affecting fertility
What is the right age to freeze the eggs?
As per medical experts, the ideal time for egg freezing is in the late 20s or early 30s, when the quality and quantity of eggs are near their peak.
Consult a health expert to learn more about the risks, costs, and further details about egg freezing.
