Here in Australia egg-freezing has been commoditised by many fertility clinics, with a heavy emphasis on selling the procedure to young women as an insurance policy. This, together with emotive marketing of the ‘egg-timer test’ (AMH) and stories by ‘influencers’ on social media, makes a potent cocktail of a desirable, expensive, invasive and usually unnecessary procedure. (A very high percentage of stored oocytes is discarded by clinics each year, according to the owners’ instructions when they conceive naturally.)
When I worked for a while on a fertility advice help line, probably 75% of enquiries were about egg-freezing. I was honest with the callers, though could tell that many would go ahead regardless of the facts and the cost. I wondered how many would regret spending that amount of money in years to come…
Reading your perspective means so much to me, Jen, because of your technical knowledge and conversations with women. I think it’s safe to say the distaste we have for ‘commodification’ would be shared by the three pioneers we knew. I recall private equity companies made early inroads into IVF in Australia. They are now leveraging fees at many vet practices they bought out in the US and UK. More pet owners are struggling with bills or avoiding treatment their pets need.
I banked my eggs as a 22 year old cancer patient facing life-saving and potentially sterilizing cancer treatments. I am forever grateful for the option.
Here in Australia egg-freezing has been commoditised by many fertility clinics, with a heavy emphasis on selling the procedure to young women as an insurance policy. This, together with emotive marketing of the ‘egg-timer test’ (AMH) and stories by ‘influencers’ on social media, makes a potent cocktail of a desirable, expensive, invasive and usually unnecessary procedure. (A very high percentage of stored oocytes is discarded by clinics each year, according to the owners’ instructions when they conceive naturally.)
When I worked for a while on a fertility advice help line, probably 75% of enquiries were about egg-freezing. I was honest with the callers, though could tell that many would go ahead regardless of the facts and the cost. I wondered how many would regret spending that amount of money in years to come…
Reading your perspective means so much to me, Jen, because of your technical knowledge and conversations with women. I think it’s safe to say the distaste we have for ‘commodification’ would be shared by the three pioneers we knew. I recall private equity companies made early inroads into IVF in Australia. They are now leveraging fees at many vet practices they bought out in the US and UK. More pet owners are struggling with bills or avoiding treatment their pets need.
I banked my eggs as a 22 year old cancer patient facing life-saving and potentially sterilizing cancer treatments. I am forever grateful for the option.
Lots to consider with egg banking