Winnie is a broker relationship manager in the finance industry who wanted to prepare for the future when she did not have a partner at the time. She is now pregnant with her first child through natural conception, 3 years after egg freezing.
Q: How did you make up your mind on going for fertility preservation treatment?
I learned about egg freezing from friends who did it globally and heard that Hong Kong has opened up the option for single women. So I wanted to seize the opportunity. I didn’t know if I want kids but I wanted the option to have kids.
Q: How did you decide on the location, clinic and doctor?
I went in for a consultation with the fertility specialist that my friend referred me to. I also did blood work and fertility tests to assess my fertility level with another doctor.
For the IVF process, I heard the former doctor was better so I decided to go with him. I was instructed to take prenatal pills a few months before (CoQ10) to help improve egg quality.
Q: What preparation did you make before you began?
Before the hormonal treatment, I talked to my colleagues and gave them a heads up. When you are inclusive, you are more comfortable. You are not owning your own feelings and reactions to the journey and people can empathize around you. You have more self awareness and not a raving bitch – it’s just the hormones if it happens.
Q: What were your major concerns going in and how did you overcome/manage them?
The needles – I had a fear of needles. A friend advised me that it is just like squeezing your own fat and if I want kids, I have to shift my perspectives and overcome it. I was able to overcome the fear of needles when I knew it would be a game changing journey.
My strategy was to do the injections after work, after dinner when my mindset was calmer. I developed a routine that was less stressful when I am chilling and watching tv. I didn’t know how to mix my own medication so I paid to get the mixed medication.
It does not hurt to educate yourself about [fertility preservation] and remember that you always have a choice.
The treatment process was smoother than expected.
Q: What did you find surprising or unexpected during your journey?
For the process, the shots were not as painful as I thought, the needles were thin except for the last shot. In terms of side effects, I expected to be puffy and hormonal but I did not cry all of a sudden.
I was worried about the results at the beginning because they say after 35 your egg count drops and I was surprised with the successful outcome.
Q: What side effects did you experience (if any) and how did you manage them?
Just puffiness, I didn’t have too many side effects. I wore loose clothes to work. I thought the retrieval was seamless.
My strategy was to do the injections after work, after dinner when my mindset was calmer. I developed a routine that was less stressful.
Q: How has the treatment impacted you?
First, you feel a weight lifted off your chest, maybe not a heavy weight but less pressure, you feel lighter and brighter. I look at it like an insurance for your future.
Q: How have your plans on family building evolved (or not evolved) since the treatment?
I was open with my new partner that I did egg freezing. When we got married, we knew that we had a back up. We discussed that if conceiving naturally did not work after 6 months, after the age of 40 as advised by the doctor, we would use the frozen eggs. For now, we have no plan for a second child, if we do and we cannot go for natural conception, then we would try for the frozen eggs.
Q: What advice do you have for women who are thinking of fertility preservation treatment for elective reasons?
It does not hurt to educate yourself about it and remember that you always have a choice.
