A few weeks ago, I shared my egg freezing experience with the founder of the Eggsurance website, Brigitte. To check out my "Women like You" Interview, read below.
Jenni
Current age: 36
Age eggs were frozen: 36
# of eggs frozen: 9
I’ve always wanted to have a family. That’s never been a question for me. Turning 35 really threw me for a loop. I was no longer in the early-thirties bracket. I just kept thinking, “I’m halfway to 40.” You know the scene in When Harry Met Sally where Sally is in her bathrobe crying and she says, “And I’m gonna be 40….Someday.” That’s what I felt like. Forty was five years away at the time, but it was looming. I had to be really honest with myself about what I wanted for my future. If having kids was important to me, taking action to possibly extend my fertility seemed reasonable enough. I made the decision to freeze my eggs because I didn’t want to miss the opportunity to have my own children AND I didn’t want to pressure myself to choose a partner just because I wanted to have a family. It’s all a matter of timing.
The most
difficult part of the process was getting to the point where I could begin the
hormone shots through the retrieval. First, I had to find a director for the
documentary. Second, my grandfather became very ill the day before I planned to
start the STIM cycle. I decided to push the shots a month to visit him. I’m
incredibly grateful I saw him when I did; he passed away the next month. Third,
when I finally started the hormone shots, one of my follicles was growing
exponentially faster than the others. After two days of shots I stopped the
injections. I had to wait until my next period, which was four weeks away.
You are now blogging about your experience,
what made you decide to be so vocal about your story?
When I first made
the decision to freeze my eggs, I didn’t want to tell anyone. I was afraid of
what people would think. (Yep, sometimes the insecure high school me resurfaces
and cares too much about the opinion of others.) Once I got over the fear (and
myself), I talked to a few friends. Chatting with them made me realize how
important it was for women to know egg freezing is an option.
You are also making a documentary film, can
you tell us a bit more about this project?
During my egg
freezing research, I looked for anything and everything to read and/or watch
that would give me a better idea of what I could expect during the process.
Most of what I saw discussed the science, but lacked information on the
physical and emotional aspects.
I wanted others
to be able to participate in the journey – see what I saw and feel what I felt. I'm working to raise funds
and produce a film. There's a lot of great footage so far. I’m really
excited about it. The project is called Chill;
a documentary film about balancing life, career, and cheating the biological
clock. http://www.chillthedocumentary.com/
Has anything changed now that you have frozen
your eggs?
I’ve learned more
about fertility in the last year than I have in my entire life. My eyes have
definitely been opened to how delicate and complicated a woman’s body is.
That’s for sure. Most of the changes I’ve noticed are emotional. I feel less
pressure about choosing a partner and reduced anxiety about what the future
holds.
I’ve also become
very open to talking about egg freezing with men and women. In my experience,
men are fascinated by the science. Women feel a sense of relief and sisterhood
knowing there’s another person that feels what they do.
What would you tell women considering the
procedure?
1. If you can swing it, freeze your eggs before your 30th birthday; the earlier the better.
2. Go to a reputable fertility clinic. Research, get referrals and make sure you’re comfortable asking questions to both the clinic staff and doctor because along the way you will have questions.
3. No one likes shots, but they’re part of the process. The injections will become routine. You’ll get to the point where you won’t even think twice. Trust me, you can handle it.
4. As my best friend would say, "There have been many women before you. There will be countless women after you. You're not alone."
1. If you can swing it, freeze your eggs before your 30th birthday; the earlier the better.
2. Go to a reputable fertility clinic. Research, get referrals and make sure you’re comfortable asking questions to both the clinic staff and doctor because along the way you will have questions.
3. No one likes shots, but they’re part of the process. The injections will become routine. You’ll get to the point where you won’t even think twice. Trust me, you can handle it.
4. As my best friend would say, "There have been many women before you. There will be countless women after you. You're not alone."
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