A growing number of South African women are choosing to delay their fertility by freezing their eggs. Egg freezing allows women to obtain advanced degrees, pursuing successful careers. Egg freezing also allows them to separate reproduction from romance.

Hence in waiting longer to have children, many women enjoy the benefits of having successful, healthy pregnancies later in life. Whereas in most cases while they have made great strides in other areas, their fertility is still limited by basic biology the 'biological clock' generally stops ticking in late 30's or early 40's

What is biological clock?

Women are born with a limited number of eggs, around 1-2 million. At puberty, that number has decreased to 300,000 and subsequently just about 750 eggs are lost each month by a process called atresia. The eggs not only begin to diminish in quantity, but also in quality.

Thus freezing eggs offers women planning to have children after the age of 35 the opportunity to effectively slow down their biological clocks. Egg freezing gives women the unprecedented chance to store their eggs during their reproductive prime for use when they wish to start or expand their families.

Is egg freezing safe?

The current evidence states clearly that no increase in chromosomal abnormalities, birth defects, or developmental deficits have been noted in the children born from frozen eggs to date.

 What does it cost?

The costs are variable from woman to woman. It depends on how much medication is used to stimulate the ovaries. A good estimation (October 2009) is 28.000 Rand. This fee includes all the medication, the doctor's fees, the theatre fees, and all the laboratory fees. The storage fee is 600 Rand per year. Cited: Capefertilityclinic, 2010.

 Read Sarah's story:

Sources:

• Capefertilityclinic
• Extendfertility

Page Updated: 13 April 2011

by Zanele Matshotyana