Lauren knew her ovarian reserve was low and looked for options to preserve her chances of having children a few years down the road while she make an important career transition into the world of fashion and branding.
Q: What was your reason for looking into egg freezing?
Age – I like to have children and feeling that from an egg quality perspective I am getting older. However, I was not ready to have children yet. It could be when I am 37.
Q: What was on your mind going into the treatment?
I felt there was no doubt that I wanted to freeze my eggs. For me, if I want to have children, and not sure when, freezing now is what I want to do. After I met with the doctor and looked at the stats that were given to me on how eggs age, I know there is no doubt I have to do this.
Q: What preparation did you and/or your partner make before you began?
First, I went off the birth control pill. Then, I found out that I had to wait another two months before I can start treatment because I had a trip to Mexico which has Zika presence.
My doctor gave me hormone pills (Prometrium) to take a month before injections.
I talked to my friends and family about my decision to freeze my eggs and they were all very encouraging. I realized people I know have done it and everyone was so supportive. They shared their experiences and told me that I should be proud of myself which made me feel that I was doing the right thing. It’s not necessarily easy and they were cheering me on.
My doctor told me I had a low ovarian reserve… I ended up having good results even though the blood work was a little discouraging at the time.
Q: What were your major concerns going in and how did you overcome/manage them?
I was feeling nervous about giving myself the shots. I have never done that before. And just being unsure how my body would react and how it would feel.
My AMH level was relatively low so I was also hoping it would go well for me. My doctor told me I had a low ovarian reserve and that she was not certain whether the egg count was going to be satisfactory. I ended up having good results even though the blood work was a little discouraging at the time. I generally felt uncertain about the procedure.
[People who have done it] shared their experience and told me that I should be proud of myself which made me feel that I was doing the right thing. It’s not necessarily easy and they were cheering me on.
Q: What did you find surprising or unexpected during your journey?
I was surprised that once I did my first shot, it was pretty easy. It wasn’t super painful and totally doable. I felt a sense of pride that I am going through this for myself. I felt emotional when I went to the appointments and my mom was emotional for me too and happy for me, taking control.
One thing that no one ever told me was that you can get constipated in the process. I was so constipated during the hormonal treatment after 4 days. And I took psyllium husk and it helped a lot.
Q: What side effects did you experience (if any) and how did you manage them?
First couple of days, I couldn’t drink coffee, I felt really tired and had headaches but after getting over that hurdle, I was feeling okay but got more bloated over 10-12 days.
Q: How has the treatment impacted you?
I feel more empowered and like I just feel less on the clock. I can make the decision when I am ready and less because I am running out of time. And that’s liberating.
Q: How have your plans on family building evolved (or not evolved) since the treatment?
Nothing has changed but when I am ready to have kids, I may try it naturally and see.
Q: What advice do you have for women who are thinking of fertility preservation treatment for elective reasons?
Go for it! It’s relatively an easy process and so I feel it is so important if you can do it, I recommend it. Talking about it more is important and encourage others to do it if they have the means.
