Today, we bring you an interview with a woman who decided to share her story and her decision to freeze her eggs. This interview will provide insight into how she navigated this important decision, the process she went through, and what she believes women should know if they are considering a similar step.
The topic of egg freezing is still shrouded in many questions and taboos. At Femvie, our goal is to provide information, share women's open stories, and show that you are not alone in what you are going through. If you are also going through something and wish to share your story, we would be happy if you contact us.
What led you to consider freezing your eggs?
It's something I've been thinking about for a while. I'm not in a serious relationship right now, but I've always wanted children. Last summer, I started thinking about this possibility again, but then I put it aside. However, the topic resurfaced during Christmas, thanks to a friend who is also considering this step.
What was the basis for your final decision?
I turned 35 in July, and there haven't been any significant changes in my personal life yet. Since I had been contemplating this idea for a long time, I decided there was no reason to wait. It's a cliché, but our biological clock is ticking, and I'm even more aware of this because my father is a gynecologist. I'm healthy, and nothing prevents me from undergoing this procedure. So I decided to consult with a fertility specialist, and then everything moved quickly. Since I like to have things under control in my life, in this regard, too, I wanted to be sure that if I couldn't conceive naturally in the future, I would have a backup plan. I didn't want to regret in the future not having done everything necessary to have options.
What should women know before deciding to freeze their eggs?
How did the whole process go?
As I mentioned, it cannot be generalized because the length of the process and hormone dosages will vary according to individual factors, medical history, and other aspects. Here is a timeline of my procedure, from my first visit to a fertility specialist, where I made the decision, to the day of the procedure itself:
The procedure itself takes approximately 15 minutes. You are transferred to the operating room, where you are in a position as if you were prepared for childbirth, and you are given general anesthesia. Thanks to the anesthesia, you are asleep and therefore do not feel the needle being inserted to retrieve eggs from your ovary.
On the day of the procedure, you must not be alone at home due to possible complications after the procedure. Primarily, doctors are concerned about the possibility of bleeding into the abdomen.
As for the results, I was really lucky because I managed to have 18 eggs retrieved, of which I have 16 frozen. I say I was lucky because I follow women of the same age on Instagram who share their experiences, and some of them had only 2 eggs retrieved after the procedure and had to undergo several more procedures to get more. For your information, this procedure can be done every six months.
How do you feel now, after successfully completing the procedure?
It's been a month since the procedure, but it feels much longer. For the first three days after the procedure, I was tired and had abdominal pain, similar to PMS. Moreover, due to hormones, you have irregular menstruation, so the first month is quite unpredictable. In my case, everything was fine a month after the procedure.
Do you think women need more information to better decide when to consider freezing their eggs?
Absolutely! I decided to share my experience on my Instagram page. I'm not an influencer, but I have over 1,000 followers, most of whom are women, so I thought, why not? I am the daughter of a gynecologist, and even I didn't know that much about it.
During those three weeks, I shared photos of injections, videos of how I learned to inject myself, etc., on Instagram, and many women and even a few men started writing to me. They were not only very supportive but also said they didn't know much about it, and some women told me they had undergone the procedure but never wanted to talk about it. Which, of course, is their decision, but I'm quite open. But what one woman said to me in our conversation is that egg freezing is still like abortion, a TABOO. Which is quite sad because all these things, like menstruation or childbirth, are part of women's health.
What would you have liked to know earlier?
When I spoke with the fertility specialist, she told me, "that women usually start thinking about this procedure around 30 to 35 years old because they are "taught" that at 30 they are already "old." Which is nonsense, but unfortunately, we have been conditioned by it for decades. The doctor told me that she would recommend women start thinking about it around 25, because that is when they are most fertile. But she herself acknowledged that twenty-year-old girls don't think about it because, nowadays, for many of them, children are not a current topic (it wasn't for me 10 years ago either).
Femvie products that can help you
We have selected products related to this topic that can support your health:
- 💊 Fertility support complex for women — comprehensive nutrition to support female fertility
- 💊 Folic acid — essential for pregnancy preparation
- 💊 Vitamin complex for pregnant women — comprehensive support during pregnancy
- 💊 Natural Vitamin D — important for fertility and a healthy pregnancy
Frequently Asked Questions
How to support fertility naturally?
A healthy diet, plenty of exercise, sleep, stress management, and targeted supplements like folic acid or a fertility complex can naturally support female fertility.
When should I start taking folic acid?
We recommend starting folic acid ideally 3 months before planned conception. It is crucial for the proper development of the fetal neural tube.
What affects female fertility?
Age, hormonal balance, diet, body weight, stress, and conditions such as PCOS or endometriosis can affect fertility. Tracking ovulation will help you identify fertile days.
