Emotional impact

Egg freezing can be an emotional experience. This may partly be due to the hormones given. It is difficult to predict how someone might feel as everyone is different.

Some women can experience sadness, grief and anxiety. For example, they might feel sad about not being able to have a child at that time, nervous about how many eggs they may collect, or disappointed if they do not collect as many eggs as they expected. The use of needles and other medical procedures can cause discomfort too. If only a few follicles develop, a fertility specialist may suggest stopping the cycle which can also be disappointing.

Other more positive feelings can be experienced too. Some women report feeling more “in control” of their fertility, and empowered by taking action (22, 23). The process can also be less emotional than expected.

From what we know, most women who freeze their eggs have little to no regret about their decision (2, 22, 24). Although, some factors like their age at the time of egg freezing, the number of frozen eggs they have, the chances of having a baby from their frozen eggs, and how well informed they felt when deciding about egg freezing can influence how they feel about their decision overall (25, 26).

Support and coping strategies

It is important to have good support and coping strategies to use during an egg freezing cycle. You may like to bring a close friend or family member along to your appointments, and/or talk to them when making your decision.

Speaking to a counsellor from a fertility clinic or a different service provider may also be useful. When contacting a fertility clinic, you may like to ask about the counselling services available, and how much contact and support you can expect to receive before, during, and after a cycle.

Some helpful coping strategies may include:

  • Trying relaxation or mindfulness activities (yoga/meditation/breathing exercises)
  • Connecting with others
  • Regular and gentle exercise
  • Getting adequate sleep

The Better Health Channel has more information and tools to help manage stress.