We can’t always control how our lives will unfold. Careers take unexpected turns, marriages end, sudden illness can change the game, and the list goes on. In spite of life’s twists and turns—thanks to modern medicine—these days, women do have more control over when and how they choose to have children.
One way women have taken control of their fertility is by choosing to freeze their eggs. The egg freezing (oocyte cryopreservation) process is similar to in vitro fertilization. A woman’s ovaries are stimulated with fertility hormones to produce eggs, which are then frozen and stored for later use. Recent improvements in the freezing process have made this an even more reliable option for women who can’t—or don’t wish to—get pregnant immediately.
Here are 8 reasons why you might want to consider freezing your eggs.
1. Illness
The treatments for illnesses such as cancer or fibroid tumors can result in infertility. Freezing eggs before such treatments allows women to have a child in the future and allows them to focus on getting well, rather than having to make difficult choices between their health and dreams of having children.
Read Related: Facing Midlife Without Kids
