Egg Freezing: It's a business decision
One of the latest innovations that has given women more control over their fertility is cryopreservation of eggs. This innovation is akin to the liberation of the birth control pill. Women are able to have more flexibility in deciding when they would like to have children rather than feel the proverbial clock ticking. This gives more flexibility to further one’s career, wait until a suitable partner is met, or to have a genetically related child after undergoing treatment for cancer (which often impedes the ability to have children).
When partners meet in their late 30s, they may feel a pressure to conceive and marry quickly, yet if the female's 20-something year old eggs are frozen, there is time. With certain careers, a woman’s 30s is the time to advance and gain important experience and skills that would dramatically be impacted if she was on maternity leave for a few months or had numerous doctor appointments. As Whitney Cummings stated in an engaging interview with Ashley Graham, freezing your eggs: “It’s a business decision”. Many women feel this option is empowering and provides choice in fertility.
Tech companies are noticing this ability to choose a better time to have a child that is not set in biology. There are some companies which help pay for cryopreservation. On the outset, this is an amazing opportunity, but it can become yet another push for the narrative that motherhood conflicts with careers. If a woman desires a pregnancy in her early 30s or does not want to freeze her eggs, then will she be disadvantaged or even get in trouble when compared to the women who will delay child bearing until after their careers are established?
American society often views pregnancy and motherhood as seriously impeding one’s ability to gain ranks in many careers. There is a separation of the two identities in American society. Maternity leave compensation can be pitiful or nonexistent in some workplaces. Needing to take your child to a doctor’s appointment or coming in late because he really missed you and needed an extra long hug is frowned upon and may hurt your job prospects in some workplaces. Child care is costly and can be equivalent to a woman’s salary rendering her a stay at home mom and missing out on her career aspirations. Often, American workplaces cut us off from our personal lives. We have known this for a long time, and some workplaces are making changes; however, many are not.
Cryopreservation of eggs is an amazing innovation and truly helps individuals achieve their desired families. It offers more control over our biology, careers, and relationships. However, let’s keep a watchful eye on the implicit biases that could arise when a company provides this technology for an employee. Does that employee have to remain childless between ages 30 and 35 if the company is to pay for this service? Will the women who choose to have children at 32 be disadvantaged? Will other companies adopt this offering and attempt their own control over our biology? Why not offer more robust maternity and paternity leave?
Resources:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6430120/
* This blog constitutes general information about genetic testing and medical screening. This blog does not offer or provide medical advice or diagnosis, and nothing in this blog/webinar should be construed as medical advice or diagnosis. Do not rely on the information in this blog/webinar to make medical management decisions. Please consult with a medical professional before making those decisions. Do not delay in seeking professional medical advice if you think you have a medical concern. Do not disregard professional medical advice based on any information received in this blog.
