What is egg freezing? At the time, I didn’t need to know because I had a husband and didn’t have fertility issues. I was blessed with the ability to have children naturally. However, as the saying goes, “if you want to make God laugh, tell him your plans.” I unexpectedly lost my husband. I have a young son and never imagined him being an only child. There is nothing wrong with having only one, but I wanted him to have someone to grow up with, especially since it’s now just the two of us.
I had heard of egg freezing but didn’t know anything about it or anyone who had gone through the process. Late one night, I started my research. If I’m doing this, I want the best doctor and the best fertility practice. That’s when I found an article about Shady Grove Fertility. Their closest office was 2+ hours away in Atlanta. I did a phone consult, a handful of tests, and an in-person consult.
I committed; however, I didn’t want anyone to know. I panicked when a large box of injections was delivered to my house. I’m expected to give myself three injections per day?! That’s when I told my mom I made the decision to freeze my eggs. She was very supportive, as I knew deep down she would be, and she became my at-home nurse.
I would be lying if I said it was an easy process, but women are strong, and we can endure just about anything. I was filled with anxiety the morning of my egg retrieval. What if something goes wrong? What if they can only retrieve a few mature eggs? What if I have to go through this process several more times? The “what ifs” were endless.
As I was awaiting my retrieval, I was greeted by the kindest and most supportive SGF staff. They didn’t rush me, and they let me ask questions like, “are you sure I’ll wake up after the procedure?” After all, I’m now an only parent and have to be careful about the decisions I make for the sake of my 3-year-old son.
I woke up after the procedure, which only took about 30 minutes. I had the best nap when I got home, and I went back to work the next day. The nurse called the following morning to tell me the retrieval was a success and I now had 14 frozen eggs. I was on top of the world!
I went from telling nobody to telling everybody that I froze my eggs. I want every woman to know about this incredible option. The hardest and most prohibitive part for many people is paying for the procedure. I had a platinum insurance policy, and I was on my own to pay a lot of money out of pocket before the process even started. Trying to remain positive, I thought about the thousands of rewards miles I just racked up on my credit card!
Egg freezing is an investment in the future and probably the best one I’ve ever made. I no longer have to worry about my biological clock ticking as I rebuild my life. No matter how old I am if or when I decide to have another child, my eggs will always be 36. As my eggs wait to be thawed one day, medicine continues to advance, and the statistics continue to improve. How lucky are women to have this gift?! As I prepare for one more cycle, the only regret I have is that I didn’t freeze my eggs sooner.
To learn more about egg freezing at Shady Grove Fertility or to schedule an appointment, call 1-877-411-9292 or submit this brief online form.
