Why I chose to freeze my eggs at 36 | Sophie Hermann

I've toyed with the idea of freezing my eggs for what feels like forever. I kept putting it off, always finding an excuse - next winter, after Christmas, post-birthday celebrations. It seemed like something I could always push to the back burner. But deep down, I knew I had to face it, especially as I wasn't getting any younger.

My interest in egg freezing wasn't born out of desperation to become a mom right away. It's more about having options, you know? Life changes when you have kids, and I wasn't ready for that shift just yet. And honestly, the thought of doing it as a single mom didn't quite appeal to me - kudos to those who chose that path, but it wasn't for me.

So here I was at 36, still mulling over this decision. I'd been wrestling with these thoughts for a good four years. The big questions were: Where do I start? How long will it take? What's the cost? And let's not forget the big one - is it going to hurt?

I stumbled across Amilis, quite serendipitously, in a way that only the best British stories start - in a pub. It was there I met one of the co-founders, and that's how my journey began. Without that chance meeting, who knows if I'd have taken the plunge?

“Amilis was a godsend. They laid it all out for me - the success rates, the survival rates of eggs, the whole shebang.”

It was a reality check, making me realise that time wasn't exactly on my side.

Choosing a clinic was its own adventure. There are so many in London, each with its own reputation and offerings. I remember visiting one and practically running out backwards - it was that bad. But Amilis guided me through, offering personally vetted options. I eventually settled on The Evewell, and I couldn't be happier with my choice.

“The fertility tests were a wake-up call. I walked into The Evewell, thinking I was 'Fertile Myrtle,' only to find out from Dr. Ed Coats that my AMH levels were below average for my age, and my left ovary was barely responding - a likely aftermath of a past cyst removal.”

This hit me hard. I had assumed I had two perfectly functioning ovaries, but reality begged to differ.

Also I thought the entire process was going to be two weeks and basta, done, ciao. Little did I know… My Dr. advised me to inject the HGH human growth hormone for a whole month prior to my hormone injections for better egg quality and quantity due to my lower AMH. This advice was specific to me, not for everyone. 

Following, the hormone treatments were a journey in themselves. I was bracing for mood swings and physical changes, but thankfully, it wasn't as bad as I feared. Yes, the injections weren't a picnic, and there was some swelling, but I managed. Post-retrieval, I experienced some discomfort and cramps, but the support from Amilis and the clinic was phenomenal.

“In the end, I froze seven eggs. Initially, as a woman I was hard on myself, wanting more. I wanted 20 eggs. I kept thinking, come on, perform left ovary, wake up silly!”

But you know what? It's about being grateful for what you've got. This process taught me so much about my body and made me respect it in ways I hadn't before. It's not an easy process. It's not a walk in the park. As I said, I had pain afterwards that also will go away, but it's totally worth it.