Spring Stories: I Froze My Eggs to Protect My Future Goals

I am certain that I want children, and having a family is incredibly important to me; however, I haven't yet found the right person to take on that stage of life with. So, at 34 years old, I chose to embark on a journey to freeze my eggs. Freezing my eggs removed the time constraints of having a child and relieved my anxiety. Putting yourself first can be difficult, especially as a woman, but taking this step was crucial to protecting my future goals.

Throughout my egg freezing cycle, I chose to document each stage of the process on Instagram, sharing all the highs, lows, and ever-meaningful “why’s” with my social media community. The reason I feel so passionately about sharing my egg freezing journey is because there was so much I didn’t know going into this experience that I wish I had known prior. I keep going back to the mantra “knowledge is power” when I think about my egg freezing experience. When asked if I had any regrets about the process, I’d say my only one would be not getting all of my options out on the table sooner. I say this to motivate anyone who is even thinking about the process because there is still a stigma when it comes to visiting a fertility specialist. I truly believe that the sooner you educate yourself on the how, the why, and the when, the more you set yourself up for success.

After researching and interviewing several fertility specialists, I felt fortunate to discover Spring Fertility and Dr. Fischer. Spring prioritizes accessibility and personalized care, and Dr. Fischer guided me through the entire process in a nonjudgmental manner. Having this kind of supportive relationship with my doctor was especially important to me as a single female seeking fertility treatment.

During my first appointment, I was relieved to learn that I wouldn't need to remove my IUD (the ovarian stimulation process and egg retrieval are all about the ovaries and actually don’t involve the uterus at all) - but I was surprised to discover that I have polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). I have to be honest, PCOS wasn’t even on my radar prior to thinking about freezing my eggs, and it should have been. Freezing your eggs when you are younger, especially for women with PCOS, gets you not only better quality but a higher quantity. It is important to remember that with PCOS you typically have a higher egg quantity, but that doesn’t always correlate with the egg quality.

I was frustrated that no other doctor had diagnosed me before, but grateful to finally be armed with that information as I planned my next steps toward my future goals. - had I known this earlier, I might have chosen to freeze my eggs sooner. To optimize my results, I accelerated my timeline and completed the process in about two months. Though I was anxious once I set a date, I found comfort in knowing that I trusted my doctor and clinic to support me through the process, which was especially important to me since I was single and far away from my family.

The next step was an ultrasound and bloodwork. Though I was mentally prepared to proceed, I encountered a setback: an ovarian cyst, common in women with PCOS, had to burst before I could move forward. I remember feeling annoyed and upset because I believed I could fully control the process. In hindsight, I realize that's not the best way to approach it. When it comes to egg freezing, you have to give your body and mind some grace and trust to do this on whatever timeline they need.

After my cyst was resolved, medication was delivered to my apartment: a nightly self-administered injection for 8-11 days. Although intimidating at first, you quickly become a pro. I wasn't expecting to mix and measure my daily injections, but I was grateful that Spring Fertility always had someone on call. Throughout the process, I had a dedicated nurse who I Facetimed on the first night to calm my anxiety and ensure I had mixed the shot correctly.

The first six days of injections were pretty straightforward; bloating and discomfort didn’t begin until the second half of my cycle. At this stage, you go for an ultrasound and bloodwork every other day. After every appointment, I would get a matcha and write. Injecting yourself with hormones daily comes with some highs and lows, so it's important to reflect. Had I been aware of how drastically things can change each day, I would've gone much easier on myself. The process is hard enough physically, so treat your mental self with equal kindness.

On the last night of injections, I remember feeling very alone, both physically and emotionally. I didn't feel in control of my body and was over it. I remember crying myself to sleep that night, subconsciously knowing, "This is the hormones, Dria. You'll be okay."

At my appointment the next day, I told Dr. Fischer, "If I have to do one more night of this, I'm not going to be able to handle it." She replied, "Take a deep breath and let's look at what's going on." After the ultrasound and bloodwork, she told me, "You're not going to like me right now, but we need to do one more night of shots." I'd been pretty strong up until then, but I broke down completely in her office. Dr. Fischer helped me through it, assuring me that this change would make all the difference in my outcome, and the nurses couldn't have been more supportive.

The retrieval surgery for my eggs went seamlessly. I received a call while in an Uber on my way home, informing me of how many viable eggs were collected, frozen, and stored until I was ready to come back and use them to build my family. The extra days of shots made all the difference; the result was incredible! After being newly diagnosed with PCOS and going through a rollercoaster of emotions, I was in shock.

While I felt relieved it was over, the recovery was worse than I anticipated, which I later learned was an uncommon experience (though more common for individuals like me with PCOS). I shared some of my experience on social media and received feedback from many women who had experienced the same thing yet felt alone at the time, as no one talks about the aftermath. If you’re interested in learning more, you can check out my “Egg Freezing” Instagram highlight. 

Going through such an emotional process centered around creating a family while being single can take time to process, especially in the present. It got worse before it got better, but it's important to rest, listen to your body, and allow it time to heal. Your body did an incredible thing, and what you went through is a big deal. Honor it!

Looking back a year later, I feel empowered. I couldn't be more confident in my decision and timing. It's allowed me to enjoy dating again and focus on what and who makes me happy.