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Thirty-something women 'should freeze their eggs before it's too late'
Last updated at 00:37am on 07.09.06
The Bridget Jones generation is leaving motherhood too late, says an expert
Women in their 30s who delay motherhood should freeze their eggs before they leave it too late to have children, a fertility expert has warned.
Dr Gillian Lockwood said the "Bridget Jones" generation of single women should consider putting their eggs "on ice" for future use.
Otherwise they may reach an age when they find that their best childbearing years have already passed them by.
Critics, however, have questioned the value of freezing eggs to beat a woman's biological clock.
They say women should be encouraged to have their children younger instead of putting off starting a family for 'lifestyle reasons'.
The technique which allows women to store healthy eggs until they want to conceive, was originally introduced to help women undergoing cancer treatment which can rob them of their fertility.
But increasing numbers of women appear to be turning to it as a way of delaying motherhood until their late 30s or early 40s to concentrate on their career or to wait until they have more financial stability.
Dr Lockwood, director of the Midlands Fertility Services clinic in Birmingham said: "There's nothing worse than having a women in her 40s and having to tell her she's missed the boat.
"Today's women, because they look and feel so young in their late 30s and early 40s, presume they have the same reproductive potential.
"But what determines the chance of a healthy pregnancy is the age of a woman's eggs.
"Women in their 30s who may want children in future should be encouraged to consider freezing their eggs for future use.
"I'd much rather that a 42 year old woman used healthy frozen eggs from her 30s than she took a chance on her 'time-expired' eggs from her 40s."
A woman is born with all the eggs she will ever have, meaning they age at the same rate she does.
According to Dr Lockwood, by the time a woman is 40-years-old, half her eggs will be chromosomally abnormal.
Women in their 40s also have a 30 to 40 per cent greater chance of miscarriage than women in their early 30s and the risk of Down's syndrome through natural conception is significantly higher.
Speaking ahead of her talk to the British Fertility Society conference in Glasgow, Dr Lockwood, added: "The last thing I want to do is to encourage any young woman who wants to be a mother and is in a position to do so from starting a family because she thinks technology will save her.
"But a lot of women in their early to mid-30s want to become mothers but are not in a position to do it now - such as those who have not met the right partner, who care for elderly parents or who are in a poor financial position.
"I think it's important that they know this technology is available."
According to the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) there are 32 clinics in the UK licensed to harvest and store eggs but only about 10 offer a full service.
Women undergoing cancer treatment that may affect their fertility are allowed to put their eggs "on ice" on the NHS.
But women who want to freeze their eggs for lifestyle reasons have to pay privately, with the cost being anything from around £2,000.
Eggs can generally be stored for around 10 years, with the cost of storage running at about £100 a year.
The latest figures from the HFEA show that between 1999 and 2004, 185 women stored their eggs.
However so far the technique has resulted in just four live births in the UK while the success rate stands at around just 10 per cent.
Josephine Quintavalle, of the pro-life group Comment on Reproductive Ethics, said yesterday: "I think this is an extraordinary proposal.
"Apart from the possible dangers of the procedure, we would do better to encourage women to get married earlier and wake up to the fact their fertility declines with age."
Dr Melanie Davies, from University College London, repeated calls that women should to be given more information about their fertility.
She said: "For the first time ever, the number of women giving birth in their 30s has overtaken births to younger woman.
"Women are increasing relying on sustained fertility, or on the safety net of assisted conception.
"However, although assisted conception can help in many cases, women will still run up against declining fertility with age.
"Perhaps the education system needs to take responsibility for this. There are very few decisions more important than having children, and women need to have information on the consequences of delaying pregnancy so that they can make the best choices."
Reader views (15)
Hi everyone. You know this just drives me nuts and saddens me. Here is another example of how women are kept down, even by their sister-women in some cases. I understand the thoughts about the woman who's father passed, of course. Then again I know of people having children to give their parents those wanted grandchildren before they die, give their children those grandparent memories. It's all valid but the bottom line is that life is evolving and women are FINALLY starting to get some human respect. Are we open to the possibility that we can't have the perfectly timed soul-match with the perfectly timed children that have the right amount of time for those perfect memories with grandparents? There are many who rushed it all due to their biological clocks and end up lonely, depressed, stressed and losing themselves in marriages that were done to make it happen, but weren't the right matches. Something's got to give okay? Maybe evolution will look like some without grandparents but with happy, prepared parents who had choices. It's not an accident that more women are are on anti-depressants than men. We have got to let these ridiculous belief systems that kill th ehuman spirit and souls go. Please.
- Lyn, Palm Springs, USA
Almost 36, and am considering/think I would prefer ADOPTION, which nobody has mentioned so far. Problem: I can't be assured of this. I, too, am a late bloomer, and feel that I shouldn't be punished for following dreams and wanting to nurture a child as well. I've been told I'd make a better mother than most, and truthfully, I know I'd have a great time with a kid. But I have no man, very basic low-income insurance, and make decent-but-not-spectacular money as a temp worker. Who can afford freezing eggs? If it's such a great equalizer, then how come only wealth women have it at their disposal? And, no I have no boyfriend/husband/partner. Like one, but...
Welcome your thoughts.
- Sophia, Seattle,WA
The following quote is great, except for the near-sighted approach to society today.
"Apart from the possible dangers of the procedure, we would do better to encourage women to get married earlier and wake up to the fact their fertility declines with age."
Dr Melanie Davies, from University College London, repeated calls that women should to be given more information about their fertility.
I myself am a very "awake" 36yr old woman. Who like many of my girlfriends are considered attractive and active in our search for partners and in our desire to begin a family.
Although, never did I dream it would be so difficult in today's busy "self- oriented, plugged into technology" society to meet a suitable partner. There are many avenues to explore, but, many of us would agree it is becoming more difficult.
Especially, in the mid0thirties, where most men who want to setlle down have..or they remain happily at the "buffet".
I would love to just "decide" to get married. But, it isn't that easy to control.
It is a very real frustration society must look at.
Even with all of the "online" dating venues etc..it is amazing how long it can take to play the "hit and miss" game of love.
With this being said, it would be wonderful to have advancements in this area of science. To have the option, at least.
Thank you
- Stephanie, Halifax, Canada
If you're a woman who chose to have children in your 20s, great, you made your choice, everyone else is entitled to make theirs, including when and by what method they choose to become mothers.
- Lisa, USA
Today's news is that 1) delayed fatherhood produces a higher rate of disease and disabilities; 2) besides delayed motherhood doing the same, it also decreases the likelihood of natural pregnancy.
- Richard, Dubuque, USA
My wife is just 33 and we have been trying to have a child for close to 2 years. The Doctor now states that our only hope is egg donor. Had this practice been talked about maybe she would have some eggs that are still healthy. The pain of infertility is unbelievable. For anyone that has children to state this is wrong is blind to the facts.
- Gill, USA
Thanks Julie, I was going to say the same thing! It's very selfish of women to choose to have a career before children and then end up having their kids at age 40+. If they really cared about their kids future they would want to be IN their kids future! Maybe they should think about choosing between having children or having a career. Or have children young then focus on building a career when the kids are older! We can't be superwomen no matter how much you wish it to be true.
Freezing eggs should only be for women who need to for medical reasons, for example infertility, as stated in the article.
- Erika, TX, USA
How ridiculous. Women can and do have healthy babies well into their 40's. It's just another way for the medical field to make money.
- Nancy, Connecticut, usa
I found that this article was slanted towards a physician or clinic that has financial gain if women decide to go to them to undertake this procedure of freezing eggs. What it does not mention is that due to better testing and screening that older women safely deliver normal and healthy babies. In fact, because of extensive testing it is younger women who give birth to the majority of babies with defects. I am 42 and expecting our fourth child and have never felt better or been healthier in my life. We also have a 2-year old, 4-year old, and 13-year old. This article seems to want to give older women angst and that is unfortunate. As an older mother I have more patience and more time to spend with my children and we are financially secure now versus when we were younger.
- Sandra, USA
I found this article offensive. Most women don't choose to have children late, they are forced to because it takes them YEARS to find a decent man to procreate with. And that is if they're lucky. There seems to be an excess of single, childless women who are desperate to be wives and mothers, but can't!!
- Amy, Atlanta, USA
I wish I had known about this option. Contrary to media myths, I dont know one woman who put off kids for a career. Most women I know who are childless at 40 are single, never married, and have average careers -- maybe they are a little higher up because they havent taken years off the career track to raise a family, but they are middle managers, store clerks, waitresses. Not high flying CEOs.
They have been waiting for a partner and dont want to be single parents with kids the result of a one night stand or a petri dish. So they should just marry any schlub who comes along? That can't be the answer. Then you just get more divorced mothers raising their kids. Believe me, we know about our fertility, and most have had long heartbreaking years of dating and waiting for the right person. It would also help if men weren't so darn commitment-phobic.
- Nancy, Maryland, USA
Interesting. Didn't know eggs get "rotten" I thought women just ran out of them after a certain point. Can birth control that eliminates mensturation keep the eggs inside longer?
- Myles, Petersburg, VA USA
An excellent technological alternative! Hopefully it will become more common and less expensive so that not only the financial elite have the option. Not many single women can afford such freezing fees...
- Kate, USA
I understand women today have more opportunities than ever before with choices like never before. Freezing their eggs? I think this is a case of I want everything when I want it and that's final. Is anyone thinking about these children that will be born to older women? My father was 44 when I was born. He passed away 2 months before my first child was born. My children will never know my Dad, only the stories that I will tell about him. I miss him and wish he were here to enjoy my children. Women need to think about this.
- Julie, Columbia, SC USA
Freeze your career rather than your eggs.
You can always return to a career.
- Dhanraj, basildon
