‘Social egg-freezing’ is on the rise, but at what cost?

Demand for egg freezing in Australia is growing rapidly as more women seek to preserve their future fertility, but the procedure comes with significant financial, physical and emotional costs. The article follows Mollie Bennett, who underwent five egg-freezing cycles after discovering she had a low ovarian reserve and a genetic risk of early menopause. Over 12 months, she endured hormone injections, blood tests, ultrasounds and surgeries, spending her entire $50,000 house deposit to freeze 26 eggs in the hope of becoming a mother one day.

Advances in vitrification technology have improved the survival and success rates of frozen eggs, making egg freezing increasingly attractive to women who are not yet ready to have children. However, experts caution that it should not be viewed as a guarantee of future parenthood. Success depends on factors including a woman's age at the time of freezing and the number of eggs collected.

The article also highlights concerns about the growing commercialisation of fertility services. Dr Tessa Copp, a reproductive health researcher at the University of Sydney, warns that fertility clinics often promote egg freezing as a form of "fertility insurance" when the reality is far less certain.