My Intro to Egg Freezing
Start saving your hard-earned dollars now if you are at all interested in freezing your eggs, women!
I had heard of egg freezing a couple of years ago, but didn't give it much attention. I was probably 30 years old. It wasn't top of mind and of any relevance to me then... until this past May when I bumped into a friend at Bottle Rock in Napa. Wendy just had a baby girl at the age of 35 or 36. I just remember she was considered geriatric when she was pregnant. She asked about my life and how I was doing. I hardly know her because she's my ex-coworker's wife, but she's one of those people who just asks away and I'm one of those who just answers away. I offer more info than necessary when people ask me questions 1:1.
As we sat on the expansive grassy area listening to live bands, Wendy gets into private questions about my relationship, my age, my goals, and she suddenly says, "you should freeze your eggs!" So enthusiastically. A bit nonchalantly and definitely non-judgmentally.
I gave it deep thought over the next weeks and months along with a lot of research and reading of forums. It was a statement I wasn't sure I agreed with because I didn't know anything about freezing eggs, and a bigger question loomed - do I even want kids?
Some people just know. Unfortunately I'm not one who just knows that they want kids (or knows that they don't want kids). I never knew I had to know. Why? Why do I need to answer this question? Doesn't it just happen?
My boyfriend doesn't want kids. It's a hard fact. I need to emphasize "hard fact" because I get resulting questions. No, he's not under 30. No, he's not indecisive, and just saying that because guys don't know. I feel it in my gut when he says it. Kind of like when I say I'm 32 years old... almost 33. These facts have sky-rocketed me into the world of egg freezing.
Because I don't absolutely know, I want the opportunity to have a (healthy) kid. This opportunity comes at a great cost financially, physically, and emotionally. I just want the opportunity. I don't want that door to be closed for me yet.
Side story...
About 15 years ago for a solid 3 years or so, I used to get into bed and lie there and pray before drifting to sleep. My prayers would usually be for family and friends who may be going through tough times. Always at the end of the prayers, I would give a lot of gratitude to a God or spirits that would listen. Maybe no spirits listened, but doing so gave me a lot of happiness. I always ended it by saying thank you for my ability and opportunity. I have the physical and mental ability to do whatever I please and nearly endless opportunities in this life. I have working limbs and a brain that can achieve it's highest potential. I live in a metropolitan area with some of the greatest human advances in the world. I had grown up thinking I'm no different than my white male counterparts [this has changed by the way, that's why it's in past perfect tense!]. I haven't practiced showing gratitude lately, but my boyfriend often reminds me how privileged we are.
I had heard of egg freezing a couple of years ago, but didn't give it much attention. I was probably 30 years old. It wasn't top of mind and of any relevance to me then... until this past May when I bumped into a friend at Bottle Rock in Napa. Wendy just had a baby girl at the age of 35 or 36. I just remember she was considered geriatric when she was pregnant. She asked about my life and how I was doing. I hardly know her because she's my ex-coworker's wife, but she's one of those people who just asks away and I'm one of those who just answers away. I offer more info than necessary when people ask me questions 1:1.
As we sat on the expansive grassy area listening to live bands, Wendy gets into private questions about my relationship, my age, my goals, and she suddenly says, "you should freeze your eggs!" So enthusiastically. A bit nonchalantly and definitely non-judgmentally.
I gave it deep thought over the next weeks and months along with a lot of research and reading of forums. It was a statement I wasn't sure I agreed with because I didn't know anything about freezing eggs, and a bigger question loomed - do I even want kids?
Some people just know. Unfortunately I'm not one who just knows that they want kids (or knows that they don't want kids). I never knew I had to know. Why? Why do I need to answer this question? Doesn't it just happen?
My boyfriend doesn't want kids. It's a hard fact. I need to emphasize "hard fact" because I get resulting questions. No, he's not under 30. No, he's not indecisive, and just saying that because guys don't know. I feel it in my gut when he says it. Kind of like when I say I'm 32 years old... almost 33. These facts have sky-rocketed me into the world of egg freezing.
Because I don't absolutely know, I want the opportunity to have a (healthy) kid. This opportunity comes at a great cost financially, physically, and emotionally. I just want the opportunity. I don't want that door to be closed for me yet.
Side story...
About 15 years ago for a solid 3 years or so, I used to get into bed and lie there and pray before drifting to sleep. My prayers would usually be for family and friends who may be going through tough times. Always at the end of the prayers, I would give a lot of gratitude to a God or spirits that would listen. Maybe no spirits listened, but doing so gave me a lot of happiness. I always ended it by saying thank you for my ability and opportunity. I have the physical and mental ability to do whatever I please and nearly endless opportunities in this life. I have working limbs and a brain that can achieve it's highest potential. I live in a metropolitan area with some of the greatest human advances in the world. I had grown up thinking I'm no different than my white male counterparts [this has changed by the way, that's why it's in past perfect tense!]. I haven't practiced showing gratitude lately, but my boyfriend often reminds me how privileged we are.
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