Women freeze eggs due to partners, not for career: Study

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85 per cent women who chose to freeze their eggs, were without partners and reflected six different situations in life
85 per cent women who chose to freeze their eggs, were without partners and reflected six different situations in life

New Delhi : When it comes to women’s reproductive relationship, many people believe that the delay in carrying child might be due to their career planning. But, a new study reveals that lack of a stable relationship could be the reason why young women are increasingly opting to freeze their eggs, contrary to the aforesaid belief which links education or career. 

Notably, the findings showed that 85 per cent who chose to freeze their eggs, were without partners, and reflected six different situations in life, being single, divorced or divorcing, broken up from a relationship, working overseas, single mother by choice or circumstance, and career planning. Among these, career planning got minimum vote.

Moreover, freezing eggs is common among those women with man who are not ready to have children, in a relationship too new or uncertain, with a partner who refuses to have children, or with a partner with his own multiple partners.

“Most of the women had already pursued and completed their educational and career goals but by their late 30s had been unable to find a lasting reproductive relationship with a stable partner. This is why they turned to egg freezing,” said Marcia Inhorn from the Yale University in the US.

“The medical literature and media coverage of oocyte cryopreservation — egg freezing — usually suggest that elective egg freezing is being used to defer or delay childbearing among women pursuing education and careers. “Our study, however, suggests that the lack of a stable partner is the primary motivation,” Inhorn said.

The study was presented at the 34th Annual Meeting of ESHRE in Barcelona. To conduct the research, the team conducted thorough interviews with 150 women who had chosen to freeze their eggs at fertility clinics and had completed at least one cycle of oocyte cryopreservation. “Clinicians must be aware of the role partnership ‘troubles’ play in the lives of egg freezing patients and make patient-centred care for single women a high priority,” Inhorn said.