6 Reasons Egg Freezing is Controversial (and Why We Need to Change the Conversation)

When the first baby was born from a frozen egg in 1986, it was considered a miracle of modern science. Today, egg freezing has evolved from an experimental procedure to a mainstream fertility option, with thousands of babies born from frozen eggs worldwide each year. But as more women consider freezing their eggs, debates continue about the medical, ethical, and social implications of this technology.

Some view egg freezing as a powerful tool for reproductive autonomy, allowing women to increase their chances of pregnancy later in life by preserving their younger, healthier eggs. Others worry about everything from medical risks to societal implications. 

This article explores the six “controversies” surrounding egg freezing. We'll examine these criticisms, look at what the research actually shows, and discuss how the conversation continues to evolve. Let’s dive in.

1. Medical considerations and concerns

Some people have concerns about egg freezing, particularly regarding the safety of the procedure. However, many of their concerns stem from earlier days of the technology. 

Today, research shows the procedure is generally safe, though, like any medical procedure, it carries some risks. In a single egg freezing cycle, the risk of a serious adverse event is under 2.5%. Severe ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) accounts for the majority of complications, occurring in 0.1-2% of cycles. The risk of other acute complications, including pelvic infection, intraperitoneal hemorrhage, or ovarian torsion, is small (<0.5%). The risks overall are generally low and can be minimized through careful monitoring and appropriate medical management.

Read more in Is Egg Freezing Safe? An OBGYN Answers Your Top Questions

2. The "false hope" debate

Another criticism is that egg freezing provides false hope to women about their future fertility. Critics raise a few concerns, so let's examine each one alongside current data and understanding.

Success rates

Critics point to declining success rates with age at freezing. While it's true that egg quality decreases with age, this is precisely why egg freezing can be valuable. By preserving eggs at a younger age, women can freeze younger eggs to use later on. A woman who freezes her eggs at 32 can use those same 32-year-old eggs when she's ready to build her family, whether that's at 36 or 42. Because IVF success depends more on the age of the eggs than the age of the mother when carrying the pregnancy, egg freezing can increase the chances of a healthy pregnancy in the future.

Thawing

Another concern is that not all frozen eggs will survive the thaw process. However, modern flash-freezing techniques (vitrification) have dramatically improved survival rates. Current data shows that 95% of eggs now survive the thawing process. This is why fertility doctors typically recommend freezing multiple eggs, accounting for both thaw rates and the typical number of eggs needed for a successful pregnancy.

Read more about Egg Freezing Thaw Rates

No guarantees

Critics also argue that having frozen eggs doesn't guarantee a future pregnancy. This is true – no fertility treatment comes with a guarantee. However, framing egg freezing as a way to increase your chances of a healthy pregnancy down the line, rather than a guarantee, helps set realistic expectations. One study found that a woman under 35 will need 9 eggs to achieve a 70% chance of having at least one live birth. 

Oversimplified marketing

Some suggest that marketing oversimplifies the complexity of fertility. This is a valid concern, and it's why transparent education about the process is so important. However, most women who pursue egg freezing do so after careful research and consultation with board-certified fertility doctors. They typically understand that it's one option among many for family planning.

Rather than providing false hope, egg freezing can offer realistic hope when women receive accurate information about success rates and limitations. We aim to ensure that women have access to clear, evidence-based information to make informed decisions about their reproductive futures.

3. Workplace benefits controversy

The addition of egg freezing to corporate benefits packages has sparked particular debate. Some critics argue that these benefits send a problematic message to female employees, suggesting they should prioritize work over starting a family. Some view it as a subtle form of pressure to delay parenthood, keeping talented women at their desks longer rather than taking maternity leave. Others see it as companies avoiding more meaningful family-friendly workplace reforms, like comprehensive parental leave policies, flexible work arrangements, or on-site childcare facilities.

However, supporters of these benefits present a different perspective. They argue that providing egg freezing coverage simply expands the range of reproductive choices available to women, particularly given the significant cost of the procedure. With egg freezing often costing $15,000 or more per cycle (plus annual storage fees), employer coverage can make this option accessible to more women who might otherwise be unable to afford it. Additionally, these benefits acknowledge the reality that many professionals want to pursue both career advancement and parenthood, but may not be ready for children during their most fertile years.

While the debate continues about the implications of these benefits, let’s acknowledge that egg freezing coverage remains relatively rare. Despite headlines about tech giants and large consulting firms offering this benefit, the vast majority of American women lack access to any fertility coverage through their employers. This means most women must pay out of pocket for the procedure, creating a significant gap between those who have employer support and those who don't.

Looking at the bigger picture, egg freezing benefits shouldn't replace comprehensive family-friendly workplace policies, but they can be part of a larger benefits package that supports employees' diverse needs and life choices. These benefits should exist alongside, rather than instead of, other family-supporting policies. When implemented thoughtfully, egg freezing coverage can be one component of a workplace that truly supports women's reproductive and career choices. The real issue may not be whether companies should offer these benefits, but why more companies don't provide any fertility coverage at all.

4. Social implications and pressures

The increasing popularity of egg freezing reflects and influences broader societal conversations about reproduction, careers, and modern family planning. As the procedure becomes more common, it raises questions about how we view the timing of parenthood in contemporary society. Some worry that the availability of egg freezing might create an expectation that women should delay having children until they've reached certain career milestones or financial goals, potentially shifting our cultural norms around when and how people choose to start families.

The reality is that both men and women are having children later in life - a trend that mirrors other demographic shifts like longer life expectancy, extended years of education, and later marriages. While we're living longer and healthier lives than ever before, our reproductive biology hasn't evolved at the same pace. A woman born today might live well into her 80s or 90s, but her eggs are most viable in her 20s and early 30s - creating a disconnect between our biological and social timelines.

Today's families often want to achieve financial stability, advance in their careers, find the right partner, and feel emotionally ready for parenthood before having children. These are reasonable goals, but they can conflict with optimal fertility timing. Rather than creating pressure to delay parenthood, egg freezing technology merely provides an option for those already planning to have children later, helping bridge the gap between biological and social timelines.

These social discussions reflect deeper cultural tensions about work-life balance, gender roles, and reproductive choices. While egg freezing offers increased flexibility in family planning, it also raises questions about how society can better support people in building families when and how they choose. This leads to broader discussions about workplace support for parents, the cost of childcare, and how to create environments where people don't have to choose between career growth and family planning.

5. Cost and access concerns

The significant cost of egg freezing raises important questions about equity in reproductive healthcare. With prices typically ranging from $15,000 to $20,000 per cycle, plus annual storage fees, many women are priced out of this option entirely. This creates a troubling dynamic where fertility preservation becomes accessible primarily to higher-income women or those working for companies that provide coverage. Some argue this deepens existing reproductive healthcare disparities, while others say that as the technology becomes more common, costs will naturally decrease.

These financial barriers become particularly concerning when considering that many women might need multiple cycles to freeze enough eggs for future family building. The high costs can force women to compromise on the number of eggs they freeze, potentially affecting their future chances of success.

This is why we started Cofertility - to help make fertility care more accessible. Through our Split program, qualified freezers can freeze their eggs for free when donating half of the eggs retrieved to a family who can’t otherwise conceive.

Through our Keep program — where you keep 100% of eggs retrieved for your own future use — we offer exclusive discounts on expenses, such as frozen egg storage. Keep members also still gain free access to our Freeze by Co Community, a safe space for those engaging in the egg freezing process (or gearing up for it) to connect and lean on each other.

By making egg freezing easier and more accessible, our programs further strengthen the American Society of Reproductive Medicine (ASRM)’s Committee Opinion that egg freezing can help promote social justice and strengthen gender equality.

6. Control over women’s reproductive choices

Perhaps the most fundamental controversy surrounding egg freezing stems from a sadly familiar source: resistance to women having control over their reproductive choices. Just as with birth control and abortion, egg freezing faces criticism simply because it gives women more reproductive autonomy. Some critics mask their discomfort with women's bodily autonomy behind concerns about "natural" conception or traditional family structures.

This resistance often manifests in subtle ways: dismissing egg freezing as "selfish," suggesting women are "playing God," or implying that women should simply have children younger rather than wait until they are ready. These criticisms ignore the complex realities of modern life and the valid reasons women might want to preserve their fertility options.

The bottom line

At Cofertility, we believe women deserve access to accurate information about their reproductive options and the ability to make informed choices about their futures. We're working to make egg freezing more accessible while maintaining high standards for patient education. We understand that egg freezing isn't right for everyone, but we believe women deserve the opportunity to make that choice for themselves.

Rather than letting these controversies discourage women from exploring their options, we should focus on addressing the underlying issues: improving access, ensuring transparent success rate reporting, developing better insurance coverage, and most importantly, defending women's right to make their own reproductive choices. The future of egg freezing lies not in whether women should have this option, but in how we can make it more accessible, successful, and supported for those who choose it.