At first, I never imagined I would be a candidate for egg freezing. I was 37 years old when I started thinking about freezing my eggs. I looked young for my age. I ate well and was in great physical shape. Like many women my age, I reasoned that I must have a healthy supply of eggs.
When I researched fertility in more depth, I was surprised to learn that maternal age directly correlates with the health of a woman’s eggs. By 40 years of age, only 3 percent of eggs remain in the ovaries.
After learning this, I felt helpless. All my life, I imagined I would someday be a mom. I have a library of children’s books, from Dr. Seuss to Goodnight Moon, waiting for my child in my spare room. I have names picked out for a son and daughter. I even wrapped up my first communion dress in tissue paper and stored it in a box for my little girl to wear during her own ceremony.
But here I was, 37 years old, still single and childless. I was divorced, had changed careers three times, moved four times and sat through more bad dates than I could count. Mr. Right was either on a different continent or nonexistent, and seeing my friends with kids made my heart ache.
But I was still hopeful. I met with a doctor who told me about the tremendous strides in egg vitrification technology in recent years. A process of flash freezing eggs, vitrification keeps delicate eggs intact for years. Studies have shown that once thawed, vitrified eggs stand as good a chance of fertilization and impregnation as fresh eggs.
I quickly decided to freeze my own eggs. Despite being deathly afraid of needles, I was soon giving myself hormone shots like a pro. In the flawless procedure that followed, a doctor extracted 13 eggs, 11 of which were mature. My eggs are now on ice in a lab in Colorado, waiting for me to retrieve them.
The process lifted a two-ton weight off my shoulders. Although I don’t know what the future holds, I am calmer and more optimistic. I’m not as anxious about meeting Mr. Right.
I also discovered a new passion for educating women about their fertility options. My decision to launch Eggsurance (www.eggsurance.com) was based on the need for more open dialogue about egg freezing as a possibility for women to extend their fertility futures. Our mission is to build a safe and welcoming community for women to learn, share and discuss all things egg freezing.