Should I Freeze My Eggs If I'm Not Yet Sure I Want Children?

The concept of family planning has evolved tremendously since our grandparents were in their reproductive years. Women are starting families later than ever. The latest U.S. Census Bureau figures show that, for the first time, the average age of women giving birth is now 30 in the U.S., the highest on record.

Couple this with tremendous progress in reproductive technologies, including egg freezing, and more women are opting to explore their career aspirations and personal growth before starting a family. 

But what if you’re not sure if you want kids? In this article, we will explore the ins and outs of egg freezing, helping you navigate the decision-making process and understand if it is the right choice for you.

You are not alone

To delve into this topic, we asked over 16,000 women without kids aged 21-40 their perspectives on family planning. Our survey revealed fascinating insights into the desires and uncertainties regarding family planning. Among the respondents, 69% expressed a desire to have children in the future, while 25% remained uncertain and 6% firmly stated they did not want children. Women ages 21-25 were most likely to be unsure, whereas women ages 31-34 were most likely to answer yes. 

What exactly is egg freezing anyhow

Okay so what is egg freezing exactly? Egg freezing, known as oocyte cryopreservation in the medical world, is a technique used to preserve someone’s fertility.  Eggs are collected from the ovaries and frozen so they can be used in the future. If the person is unable to get pregnant unassisted in the future, the eggs are thawed and used in an assisted reproductive technology (ART) procedure, like in-vitro fertilization (IVF). Whether you know you want to have kids or you aren’t sure and want to give yourself more time to figure it out, think of egg freezing as a way to keep your options open for the future.

To freeze or not to freeze, that is the question

When trying to decide if you should freeze your eggs, it’s important to know that egg freezing is not an “insurance policy” for your fertility. While egg freezing can take some of the stress of having a baby right now off your shoulders, it is not a guarantee that you’ll have a baby in the future. 

Why not? Well, for one, not all the eggs that get frozen will actually be viable. It’s expected that some eggs will not survive the warming process when it comes time to use the eggs. In addition, the chances of the eggs that do survive being successfully fertilized depends on a variety of factors, including how old you were when you froze them (more on this later). 

This is not to sway your decision one way or another. Ultimately, only you and your doctor can decide if egg freezing is the right decision for you. But it's important to go in knowing that it’s not meant to be a done deal. As egg freezing has gotten more popular, many companies will gloss over this fact. We don't think that's right and want to be straight with you from the outset.

Freezing your eggs when you’re unsure if you want kids

Perhaps the biggest benefit of egg freezing is that it puts the decision-making power entirely in your hands. Whether you’re freezing your eggs because you want to focus on your career or you’re about to undergo medical treatment that may affect your fertility later on, or you’re waiting to find the right partner, freezing your eggs allows you to preserve some of your fertility independently. 

While you might not be sure about having kids today, if you do decide you want kids down the road, especially if you’re in your mid- to late-thirties, having eggs on ice will increase the chances that you’re able to do so.

If I freeze my eggs, will it harm my fertility?

Freezing your eggs does not affect your ability to get pregnant otherwise. The egg freezing process and retrieval procedure simply rescue eggs that would have died with your next menstrual cycle. This means egg freezing does not affect your ovarian reserve (the number of eggs in your ovaries). Once you’ve completed the full process, your body will continue to ovulate and release an egg each month like normal.  

What happens to the eggs if I don’t use them?

One study of egg freezing patients at UCSF found that 89% believed they would be glad they froze their eggs, even if they never used them to conceive a child. If you don't end up needing your frozen eggs down the line, there are a few options for what to do with them.

• Keep them in storage. Most storage facilities offer long-term storage options, allowing you to keep your eggs frozen for many years if necessary. This may be a good option if you're not yet ready to use the eggs but want to keep them as a backup plan. If you freeze your eggs with Cofertility, our storage partner offers our members exclusive long-term storage rates up to 80% less than what you’d see with individual clinics. 
• Donate the eggs to someone else who may need them. Egg donation is a process of donating eggs to another person or couple who needs them, such as LGBTQ+ families or those suffering from infertility. This can be a wonderful gift for those who may not be able to have a child otherwise.
• Discard them.  If you decide that you no longer need your frozen eggs and don't want to continue storing them or donate them, simply request that they are disposed of by the clinic or storage facility.
• Donate to science. Many research studies rely on donated eggs to investigate new techniques and treatments for infertility. Ask your clinic if this is an option.

Know this: most people do not regret freezing their eggs

We looked at five studies on egg freezing. The rates of regret reported in these studies varied, likely due to the sample size, study design, and the follow-up period. However, taken together, these studies suggest that the vast majority of those who freeze their eggs have zero regrets.

There also appear to be factors that reduce the chances of regret, including feeling fully informed beforehand, and getting adequate support during the egg freezing process. In other words, if you take the time to think things through and feel supported throughout the journey, you’re less likely to regret making this decision for yourself.

Freeze your eggs with Cofertility

Whether you know you want kids or you’re still figuring it out, we’d love the opportunity to support you on your egg freezing journey. 

Cofertility is in the “family” business, striving to make egg freezing and third-party reproduction more human-centered and accessible for all. Our Freeze by Co platform empowers women to take control of their fertility timelines by making egg freezing more accessible. We offer two egg freezing programs: 

Our Split program enables women to freeze their eggs for free(!) when they donate half of the eggs retrieved to a family who can’t conceive, including LGBTQ+ parents, couples facing infertility, and those with other fertility-impacting medical challenges, like cancer.

Our self-pay Keep program allows women to freeze their eggs and keep them all for their future use. Through Keep, we offer our members partnerships and discounts to lighten the financial load of egg freezing, as well as access to our member community.

The benefits for of working with Cofertility include:

• Power of choice: Freeze your eggs more affordably or, if you qualify, freeze for free when you give half to a family who can’t otherwise conceive.
• Community: Our inclusive online spaces allow you to connect with others going through the process in our private online community.
• Compassion: We’ll always treat you with care, and our Split program gives you the opportunity to make someone’s family building dreams a reality.
• Data-driven: We provide you with trustworthy guidance and evidence-based research so you can make informed decisions about your fertility.
• Free egg freezing: Freeze and store your eggs for 10 years, entirely for free if you qualify for our Split program.

Ready to learn about more affordable (even free!) egg freezing with Cofertility? Fill out this quick quiz to learn about our accessible egg freezing options and see if you qualify for our programs — it only takes one minute.

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Commonly asked questions

How do you decide if you want to freeze your eggs?

The decision to freeze one's eggs is deeply personal and multifaceted. Factors to consider include personal goals, relationship status, career aspirations, financial stability, and overall health. Seeking guidance from a fertility clinic, discussing your concerns and aspirations, can help you make an informed decision aligned with your values and future plans.

Is egg freezing right for me?

While egg freezing is an empowering option, it’s not for everyone. Factors such as age, ovarian reserve, and overall health play a role in determining the success of the procedure. A consultation with a fertility clinic will assess your individual circumstances and help determine if egg freezing is the right choice for you. (If you work with Cofertility, we can connect you with a fertility clinic for a consult).

What are my egg freezing options?

There are several egg freezing options available, including Cofertility's Split program. This innovative initiative offers the opportunity to freeze your eggs for free when you donate half of them to a family that could not otherwise conceive. This program not only provides a free egg freezing option, but also offers the chance to make a positive impact on others' lives.

What age should you freeze eggs before?

Age is a crucial factor when considering egg freezing. Generally, the quality and quantity of eggs decline with age, making earlier freezing more advantageous. Fertility experts recommend considering egg freezing before the age of 35 to optimize the chances of success. Read more in What’s the Best Age to Freeze My Eggs?

Can I freeze my eggs and have kids later?

Yes, egg freezing can offer a viable path to future motherhood. When you decide to use your frozen eggs, they can be thawed, fertilized with sperm through in vitro fertilization (IVF), and transferred to your uterus for pregnancy. While the success of pregnancy depends on various factors, including the quality of the eggs, freezing them increases the likelihood of having biological children later in life.