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It’s Time to Expand How We Discuss Egg Freezing

Mainstreaming the discussion around egg freezing seems like a win for everyone. But that normalization can cost patients a fuller, more nuanced picture of what they can expect.

Sam Escobar

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Just a few decades ago, discussions of fertility treatments and egg freezing were relegated to doctor’s offices and at home, in private. But as the topic has become a critical part of the cultural conversation—a major win for inclusivity—the public discussion has yet to leave room for the nuances of the process. And as its complexity gets flattened by podcast ads and celebrity sound bites, patients can easily find themselves feeling duped at the end of a grueling and expensive process.

In an attempt to broaden the way we discuss this important topic, Allure has spoken with dozens of women generous enough to share the experiences and frustrations of their egg freezing journey. And in this collection, I’ve brought together some of the pieces that explore these different paths through more honest anecdotes—as well as a few celebrity “testimonials” that don’t read like the typical stories.

All people—even those who are the target market for fertility treatments—deserve to expand their understanding of an incredible and life-changing technology. I hope you’ll enjoy diving into the complexity of these stories, which leave room for so many different aspects of the egg freezing process.

Image by Science Photo Library / Getty Images

“I Felt Misled”: Are Women Getting the Full Truth About Egg Freezing?

“As someone who’s considered egg freezing as a serious option—I am in my 30s and not financially ready to be a parent — this was an eye-opening story for me. For many like myself, freezing one’s eggs has often been communicated as a simple process with a feasible cost and a borderline-certain outcome. Clearly, it is anything but.” - Sam Escobar

26 Women Get Real About Freezing Their Eggs

More people than ever are signing on — and paying up — for the fertility-preserving procedure. Here is what it’s actually like.

The Rise of Egg Freezing as a Fertility Choice

Many are choosing this option when it comes to planning their futures.

Egg Freezing for Transgender Men: What You Need to Know

More than half of transgender men (those who were assigned female at birth and identify as a male) say they want children one day. But those who are considering or have undergone hormone replacement therapy (HRT) or gender affirming surgery may wonder about their future ability to have biological children. In this article, we’ll review how egg freezing works, and if it’s possible for transgender men.

‘Sobering’ Study Shows Challenges of Egg Freezing

Claire Evans decided to freeze her eggs six years ago, when she was 36. She had just broken up with her fiancé and was worried that her time to have a baby was running out. A friend, whose own marriage had just ended, suggested the procedure.

Tamron Hall on the Importance of Talking About Infertility and Mental Health

“Sometimes it’ll turn into your dream and sometimes it won’t. But we can talk about it.”

My IVF Experience Didn’t End With a Baby

One woman’s story of what happens when you don’t get the miracle.

Jennifer Aniston Has Nothing to Hide

SE: “Jennifer Aniston doesn’t owe anyone details on her fertility journey, but I, and so many Allure readers, appreciate how openly she speaks about it in this profile.”

Sam Escobar

Sam Escobar is Allure’s Site Director. Their writing has appeared in Esquire, MEL Magazine, The Observer, Business Insider, and Cosmopolitan, and they were named one of Brooklyn Magazine's "30 under 30." In the 10 years they’ve spent in the media world, they’ve held editorial roles at Good Housekeeping, Bustle, and The Gloss. In 2016, they co-edited Kill Your Darlings, Tweet Yr Drafts, a chapbook of casual love poetry. In their spare time, Sam can be found practicing calligraphy, petting cats, and staring into a telescope. You can follow them on Twitter, which they refuse to call “X,” as well as Instagram.

Image by Christine Hahn