Your age does not need to dictate your fertility. By freezing your eggs, you are in control of how and when you get pregnant.
Many women want to achieve their personal and career goals before starting a family, are worried about their current finances, or are waiting to meet the right partner to settle down with.
But these are not the only reasons why you may put off parenthood. Maybe you simply aren’t ready, even though your body is.
In 2019, the average mother was 29 when she gave birth to her first child, according to Statistics Canada.
Freezing her eggs can give a woman peace of mind to know that she can wait to have a child until she is ready without the looming fear of aging.
Tavia McLachlan helped launch Evolve, a clinic in Toronto focusing solely on freezing eggs.
“Egg freezing is not a fertility treatment. You’re not sick,” she said. Instead, egg freezing is fertility preservation.
While you age, your eggs will stay the same age and quality as they were when they were initially frozen. And they can stay frozen indefinitely; there is no rush to use them.
“It’s a decision that you should make if you feel like it’s right for you. And you should go somewhere where you feel supported, not pressured, and empowered to make these choices,” McLachlan said.
Cost
Though costs will vary slightly from clinic to clinic, the average cost is $8850 per egg freezing cycle. The process also requires fertility medications that can range between $3000-$7000.
Intended parents will need to pay annual storage fees, which typically cost about $600 per year, though some clinics will offer an option for a discounted lump sum payable up front.
Lastly, there is a fee for thawing, fertilizing, and transferring the egg which averages around $6500 in Canada.
Insurance will usually fully or partially cover the required fertility drugs, but very few plans cover fertility treatment. Check with your insurance provider for details. McLachlan also suggested talking to your employer about covering fertility treatments.
The Ontario Fertility Program offers financial assistance which can make the process more accessible to people aged 43 and younger freezing their eggs for a medical reason.
- Up to two attempts at cycle monitoring
- One attempt at egg retrieval
- Freezing of one batch/sample of eggs or sperm
- Sperm collection or, if required, one attempt at surgical sperm retrieval using certain techniques
Some clinics offer payment plans, too. Evolve, for one, has partnered up with a medical credit company to offer patients various payment plans so that anyone can find the right fit.
Surprisingly, while about 20 per cent of her patients check if they qualify for a payment plan, only around 5 per cent use the service.
Fertility and Freezing Your Eggs
If you have a partner, Evolve recommends trying to conceive naturally before using your frozen eggs. This way, they can be saved for any potential future children you and your partner may want.
McLachlan said she’s often asked if undergoing the process will affect your future fertility. The short answer is no.
She explained how although women only release one egg per month, your ovaries start growing a group of them all at the same time. Your body simply only releases the egg that matures first.
“When you are undergoing these fertility treatment cycles, what you are trying to do is get all of those eggs to mature at the same time so you can collect them all. But you are not using more than your body would naturally,” she said.
Egg freezing can open up options for women and allow them to live without worrying about the constantly ticking biological clock.
The information provided on TheHealthInsider.ca is for educational purposes only and does not substitute for professional medical advice. TheHealthInsider.ca advises consulting a medical professional or healthcare provider when seeking medical advice, diagnoses, or treatment.
