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Egg-Freezing a Risky Way to Go

Low success rate makes it a 'gamble' for women wanting to delay motherhood

By Wesley Oliver,  Newser Staff

Posted Feb 1, 2009 4:35 PM CST
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(Newser) – British doctors are warning women in their 20s and 30s against freezing their eggs to have children later in life, the Telegraph reports. "The central issue is that it doesn't work very well," one doctor said. "The chance of a baby from a frozen egg with vitrification is less than 6 per cent per egg." He also questioned the ethics of women who delay motherhood for "lifestyle reasons."

He did support egg fertilization for cancer patients who freeze eggs before chemotherapy, which can damage their potential to have children. The process, which costs about $7,000, “should not be used for women who want to guarantee a family in the future," one professor said. "Your best chance of having a baby is doing it naturally when you are under 35.”

Official figures show that 78 women froze their eggs for non-medical reasons in 2007, more than double the 33 who did so the year before, and that their average age was 37.
Official figures show that 78 women froze their eggs for non-medical reasons in 2007, more than double the 33 who did so the year before, and that their average age was 37.   (Shutter Stock)
One doctor says that while it's legitimate for a young woman with cancer to have her eggs frozen before chemotherapy damages her child-bearing potential, it's questionable for healthy women to do it.
One doctor says that while it's legitimate for a young woman with cancer to have her eggs frozen before chemotherapy damages her child-bearing potential, it's questionable for healthy women to do it.   (Shutter Stock)
Women who freeze their eggs to concentrate on their careers before starting a family are taking huge gambles with their futures, according to doctors.
Women who freeze their eggs to concentrate on their careers before starting a family are taking huge gambles with their futures, according to doctors.   (Shutter Stock)
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COMMENTS
Showing 2 of 2 comments
Guest
Feb 1, 2009 7:01 PM CST
I question the ethics of a doctor who would presume to tell women whether or not to have children.
Guest
Feb 1, 2009 4:55 AM CST
Questioning their ethics? What a jerk. The ability for a woman to control when she has a child is a fundamental part of reproductive choice.

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