Many often wonder when they ought to have children. For some, it’s a clear-cut path woven into their DNA based on the growing up years but for many, life in the modern world isn’t so linear—its ebbs and flows and curveballs can throw even the best-laid timelines off track. This often leaves people frustrated and confused, with many finding themselves exploring alternate options a little late in the game.
There’s now a growing consensus that generational expectations have shifted, societal norms have evolved, and modern living has advanced… “egg”cept for our biological clocks.
More people are openly discussing the challenges of conceiving, but what’s often left out is the emotional toll—the frustration and the un“egg”spected scramble to find alternatives. Thanks to modern medicine, we’ve found new ways to navigate fertility, and It might be time to consider not putting all your eggs in one basket—and maybe freezing a few instead?
But before you spring that question on tonight’s dinner guests, let’s break down what egg freezing actually involves.
The scientific term for freezing eggs is oocyte cryopreservation, a medical procedure that first led to a successful birth in 1986 and many more after that. A woman undergoing the procedure takes hormone injections for 8–14 days to stimulate her ovaries to produce multiple eggs. During this time, she’s monitored through blood tests, ultrasounds, and clinic visits. Once the eggs are mature, they’re retrieved in a short outpatient procedure under anesthesia. They’re then frozen using a method called vitrification—a rapid freezing technique that minimizes ice crystal formation and helps protect the eggs from damage. These frozen eggs can be safely stored for many years. When the time comes, they’re thawed, fertilized (often via ICSI—intracytoplasmic sperm injection), and the resulting embryos are transferred to the uterus. The procedure tends to be more successful when performed before the age of 38.
Now, circling back to the original question…
From an early age, we’re encouraged to think about investment portfolios—mutual funds, stocks, real estate, crypto, and insurance—as ways to secure our future. But when it comes to familial investments and planning, should egg freezing be considered part of a future security?
For women prioritizing other life goals, egg freezing offers peace of mind, easing the pressure to start a family without a deadline. And let’s not forget the men, those envisioning future fatherhood while juggling careers, relationships, or other family situations—who might not be ready for a literal Easter egg hunt to have their own little ones later on.
Perhaps it’s less of a dinner table topic and more of a strategic policy discussion, something for the next goverenmental agenda. A conversation about weighing risks against benefits, and how supportive fertility policies could influence employee retention and even drive economic growth.
Now that would be an “eggceptionally” interesting experiment.
