Q: How did you make up your mind on going for fertility preservation treatment?

As I approached 36 years old, I have been thinking about egg freezing for myself for about 2-3 years. Although I do not intend to have kids after 45 years old, I was worried that I cannot have kids before then. A friend who I met in a dance class one day told me that she had to skip class for some time and as we chatted, she revealed that she was going for egg freezing. After speaking with her, I had a stronger urge to act and booked a consultation with the fertility specialist she recommended.

Q: How did you decide on the location, clinic and doctor?

The first consultation with the fertility specialist, who is a renowned professor in Hong Kong, gave me great confidence that I would be in good hands. The clinic is hospital affiliated and the nurses were very caring and professional. The medical team made me feel at ease; they did not pressure me to make a decision but provided relevant facts and opinions for me to make up my own mind.

Q: What preparation did you make before you began?

• CUT SMOKING: My doctor told me that smoking would negatively impact my egg count and quality and it was recommended that I stop smoking before the egg retrieval.
• GOT OFF CONTRACEPTIVES: After the first consultation, I was instructed to get off the usual contraceptive pills I took because they may suppress my ovaries too much.
• COLLAGEN RICH DIET: My friend told me that eating foods rich in collagen would help the egg count and quality so during the 10 days as I went through the fertility treatment cycle, I ate fish maw to help my body with more nutrients.
  

A journey worth facing your fears for.

Q: What were your major concerns going in and how did you overcome/manage them?

I am very scared of needles. Every morning during the treatment cycle, I would inject the medication. I needed the courage to inject myself so I laid out everything to make myself feel more in control. I had to mix my own medication which was quite stressful. Then the injections increased to three times a day, with one in the morning and two in the evening.

I was a little concerned about the egg retrieval process mainly because of anesthesia. My mother was there to support me and she waited and picked me up after the retrieval procedures.

Q: What did you and/or your partner find surprising or unexpected during your journey?

I didn’t expect so many people wanted to know about the details of this process. Some people are genuinely interested while others could be quite conservative and judgmental.

Q: What side effects did you experience (if any) and how did you manage them?

I didn’t have side effects during the fertility treatment but I felt my belly a little bit heavy towards the end of the cycle. One side of my ovaries had grown more while the other side less and I felt the difference physically.

After retrieval, I had very little blood but experienced a bit of pain. I took pain killers twice to manage the discomfort. I was very bloated after egg retrieval.

Q: How has the treatment impacted you and your partner?

I felt a strong sense of satisfaction and empowerment after the procedure. Since I have bought myself a chance, I am no longer as rushed to start a family.

Q: What advice do you have for women who are thinking of fertility preservation treatment for elective reasons?

Do it early if you are interested in having kids. Buy yourself a chance. Do not let yourself regret. You can always earn the money again.