#MyEggsMyFuture

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Increasingly, many couples and individuals are choosing to start a family later in life. From focusing on their careers to looking for the perfect romantic partner there can be little time or space to create a family in the here and now. That said, fertility sadly does have an expiration date and this can make the decision to wait to start trying for a family feel like a race against the clock.

For cis-gender women in particular this ticking biological clock can add so much pressure; along with feeling bombarded by questions from family and friends and societal expectations too, it can be difficult to know what is the best decision for you and your future. If you’re not in the position to start a family or simply do not feel ready just yet, it can be helpful to know there are options out there for you.

At Herts & Essex Fertility Centre we are passionate about providing support and solutions to those who wish to start a family, no matter where they are in their journey. That’s why our campaign My Eggs, My Future is dedicated to helping you to make informed decisions. Egg freezing can be an excellent solution to creating a family later in life. As aforementioned, the variety of reasons leading people to choose to start a family later in life means that inevitably, age-related infertility is a prominent and problematic factor for many people. Even without age-related fertility decline, some fertility problems such as low-AMH levels or endocrine disorders such as PCOS can play a huge role in how likely you are to conceive when trying to do so naturally. Egg freezing could be the answer to family building at a more convenient time for the individual whilst eliminating the stress of age-impacted fertility issues too.

Female fertility tends to decline at around thirty-five with a steeper, more rapid decline at around the age of forty. Many women are aware of this, however, as they have better opportunities in education and therefore wider opportunities to progress in the workplace, women are increasingly more likely to choose to have their first children at a later stage. The vast majority of women will have no difficulties conceiving and having babies. But, 1 in 6 couples will have difficulty conceiving. Many will be able to conceive naturally following medical or surgical treatment and some will require extra support to conceive and usually will need in vitro fertilisation (IVF) with their eggs or with donor eggs.

Egg freezing, also known as oocyte cryopreservation, allows women to preserve their eggs at a younger age when they are healthier and more viable. Freezing eggs at a younger age can increase the chances of a successful pregnancy in the future. Freezing eggs before the age of thirty-five could have a huge impact on the quality and health of the egg and the outcome of IVF treatments in the future.

Women are born with all of the eggs they will ever have. Not only does your number of eggs decline as you age, but their quality drops as well. Freezing your eggs allows you to capture a moment in time when your eggs are plentiful and healthy so you can use them when you’re ready.

Two Dads UK caught up with Kira back in 2021 to discuss the benefits of egg freezing. Kira’s story is unique as she chose to freeze her eggs at the age of nineteen. After an unexpected result on her AMH blood test, Kira knew she had to take action. AMH stands for Anti-Mullerian Hormone. This blood test provides an idea of what your egg reserve is at that moment in time. Kira says: “Aged 19 I expected my fertility to be in its prime, as it should. Not on the low end of the fertility spectrum and heading towards early menopause. According to my AMH results my fertility was that of someone in their 40s.”

This shock result prompted Kira to seek help from Herts & Essex Fertility Centre where she embarked upon her egg freezing journey. You can follow more of Kira’s story here.

Kira’s journey highlights the importance of thinking about your fertility and gaining knowledge about your own body ahead of time. Even if you are not ready to start a family just yet, knowing in advance if there may be difficulties with conception can give you the power back and allow you to have more freedom of choice when it comes to family building.

If you are worried or intrigued about your own fertility health, you can book in for an all-round fertility assessment at the Herts & Essex Fertility Centre. We can help you understand your results and translate them into real-world plans that you can use in your everyday life. We can help you find the right pathway to overcome or treat any fertility problems you may encounter, or we can simply put your mind at rest until the time is right for you to start trying for a family. Fertility Assessments can be a great tool to gain control and knowledge when it comes to your health and awareness surrounding your own personal journey.

Check out the My Eggs My Future campaign here