By Evans Momodu
4 minute read
Egg freezing is increasingly popular in the UK, with thousands of women choosing the procedure to preserve their fertility for future use. Here's a breakdown of the costs, risks, and personal experiences associated with the process.
Costs of Egg Freezing
- Initial Costs:
- The procedure itself ranges from £3,500 to £7,000 per cycle.
- Medication for hormone stimulation typically costs around £1,000 to £2,000 per cycle.
- Preliminary consultations and tests add approximately £400 to £1,000.
- Storage Fees:
- Annual costs for storing frozen eggs are usually between £200 and £400.
- Additional Expenses: If multiple cycles are required to collect a sufficient number of eggs, costs can increase significantly.
What Can Go Wrong?
- Medical Risks:
- Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome (OHSS): Over-response to hormone injections can cause symptoms like abdominal pain, nausea, and in severe cases, blood clots or ovarian cysts.
- Procedure Complications: Retrieval involves inserting a needle into the ovaries, which carries minor risks of infection or bleeding.
- Emotional and Physical Strain:
- Hormone treatments can cause mood swings, fatigue, and other side effects.
- The emotional toll of uncertainty about future success can be significant.
- No Guarantees: Even with successful egg freezing, there is no certainty of pregnancy when eggs are thawed and fertilized.
Women’s Experiences
- Natalie Getreu: Faced complications during her first cycle due to overstimulation, resulting in wasted medication costs of £2,000. The financial and emotional strain was significant, though she found solace in family support.
- Catherine Miller: Diagnosed with low fertility reserves at 35, she opted for embryo freezing instead of egg freezing, spending £12,000. The process was mentally challenging, leading her to seek therapy.
- Vanessa Vanderpuye: Diagnosed with endometriosis at 35, she spent £3,900 to freeze her eggs, finding it a worthwhile investment for peace of mind despite initial hesitations about affordability.
What Experts Say
- Dr. Amit Shah (Fertility Plus): Emphasizes that egg freezing is a "plan B," with no guarantees of success. He highlights the importance of realistic expectations and informed decision-making.
- NHS Response: Women's health hubs are expanding access to reproductive health services, but fertility treatments like egg freezing remain largely unavailable on the NHS unless linked to medical conditions such as cancer treatment.
Takeaway
Egg freezing offers hope for women looking to delay motherhood but comes with financial, emotional, and medical challenges.
While the technology provides a "time travel" option for fertility, experts and patients alike caution against assuming guaranteed success.
For many, the decision requires weighing the high costs and potential risks against the peace of mind it can offer.
Source: Sky news
