Why are so many women freezing their eggs?

In a recent survey, we discovered that 79% of women who had previously frozen their eggs wished they had done so sooner. Despite egg freezing being discussed more openly today than it once was, the rhetoric that egg freezing is a ‘last chance saloon’, aimed at women who feel like time is running out, remains.  

The truth is egg freezing doesn’t have to be a last resort. In fact, medical professionals at TFP Fertility would encourage you to consider freezing your eggs earlier, when they are at their healthiest, for more reasons than one.  

The reality is that the quantity and quality of a woman’s eggs declines with age. Naturally, this means that freezing your eggs earlier means you’re likely to have more viable eggs to freeze. And because the eggs collected are younger and higher in quality, they have a higher chance of success when used in future fertility treatments.  

Freezing your eggs in your twenties, or even early thirties, may feel like a drastic step, but for many it’s a reassuring one. It’s a way of safeguarding your future, allowing you to make the most of what’s important right now, without sacrificing having a family later on.  

A proactive approach to family planning 

In recent years, many household names have been featured in the news, sharing their egg freezing journey and the decision that led them there. Whilst many of us are a far cry away from the Hollywood limelight, it may be of comfort to know that these women have chosen to freeze their eggs for very real, and very normal, reasons.  

Actress Florence Pugh, for example, chose to freeze her eggs after learning that she had both PCOS (polycystic ovary syndrome) and endometriosis. Both conditions are known to impact fertility and is a common factor in why women need fertility treatment later in life.  

In an interview with Elle magazine, Pugh talks about how having a fertility assessment at the age of 27 “felt bizarre”, especially as her own Mum had been “making babies well into her 40s.” But the results of her fertility assessment shone a light on her fertility health and helped her to understand the impact her diagnoses would have on her ability to fall pregnant naturally in the future.  

Born in Kosovo, singer Rita Ora, now 34, has openly talked about wanting a big family and in an interview with The Independent she expressed that “having children is what’s important” in Kosovan culture.  

“I think as women, we put that pressure on ourselves, subconsciously, because we feel like it’s our duty – to create and give life. So, I just wanted to not worry about it. And I didn’t after.” 

For Ora, freezing her eggs twice – at ages 24 and 27 - gave her peace of mind for the future, knowing her career and lifestyle choices might delay parenthood. 

In a 2024 episode of the podcast Not Skinny But Not Fat, actress Kristen Stewart shared that she and her fiancée Dylan Meyer had both frozen their eggs.  

Fertility treatments such as IUI (intrauterine insemination) and IVF (in vitro fertilisation) are a necessary step for lesbian couples pursuing parenthood, however, for Stewart the decision to freeze her eggs was also about “keeping their options open” so that if and when they want to try for a baby it’s a choice they are still able to make.  

Taking control of your fertility 

Despite what the headlines say, egg freezing isn’t something only to be associated with celebrity culture. Egg freezing is a very viable option for preserving your fertility, regardless of your background or reason for doing so.  

Hazel Wallace is just one example. As a nutritionist, former NHS doctor and author, it’s safe to assume that, like many of us, Wallace is spinning a few plates. Documenting her journey on Instagram, she froze her eggs in 2023 and credited various reasons as to why she took her fertility into her own hands.  

“I’m relatively young, healthy and in a relationship with someone I hope to have kids with one day. But right now, I’m not financially, emotionally or mentally ready to have a child.”  

As well as being a career-driven woman with numerous goals to achieve, Wallace recognises the pressure of her ‘biological clock ticking’ being something she “can’t completely ignore.” This, along with her diagnosis of PCOS and its potential impact on her ability to conceive naturally, meant that egg freezing enabled her to relieve some of this pressure.  

Like so many of us, journalist Kohinoor Sahota found that her life had taken an unexpected turn after being made redundant and becoming single during the pandemic. Facing the societal pressures of starting a family, Sahota craved autonomy over her future and found that freezing her eggs allowed her to “embrace her reproductive choices” and gave her a “sense of control.”  

Likewise, Philippa, a TFP Fertility patient, had always assumed she’d meet the right person and eventually become a Mum. However, when she entered her mid-thirties having not met the right person, suddenly her age was hanging over her.  

Knowing that she would prefer to start a family with a partner, but is willing to do it alone, Philippa froze her eggs to ease some of this pressure, and to give herself more time to decide what’s right for her.  

The first step in your egg freezing journey 

We understand that for many women one of the biggest barriers to egg freezing is simply knowing where to start. At TFP Fertility, we strive to make the process as seamless and supported as possible, arranging appointments around your busy schedule so that you can keep your life on track.  

Regardless of your circumstances, all fertility journeys begin with a fertility assessment. The fertility tests we carry out provide a detailed overview of your fertility health, so that you can make empowered decisions about your fertility future.  

If you’re interested in egg freezing and would like to learn more, you can get in touch or book a consultation today.