Egg freezing at 37?

[SilverQuill]

I keep bouncing backwards and forwards on this so hoping to glean some other perspectives...

I'm 37, DH is 40 and we have one DS, 1, conceived naturally when I was 35 after a long time (on/off ttc for around 3 years - we'd actually given up and thought we would have to go down the IVF route, got a puppy when I found out I was pregnant). During fertility testing trying for DS, it was found I had an endometrial polyp which was still showing on ultrasound scan 2 months after he was born. No other issues, but seems likely that the polyp was interfering with conception.

I had quite severe PMD after having DS but life is feeling much more manageable now. All being well, I'm due to start a graduate training scheme for a v exciting albeit challenging new career in July - DS will start nursery full-time in September. This will combine study with on the job training and is likely to be intense - all being well, I'll finish September 2026, the month I turn 40 and DS is due to start primary school. So I'm not really in a position to try for another baby now, even if the time felt right - which it doesn't - DH and I are still on the fence as to whether we want another DC or not, but I'm painfully aware that time is running out, particularly for me, fertility-wise.

So my quandry is, I'm considering freezing eggs sometime in the spring, before I start my course. I'm aware that the success rate is somewhat better with frozen embryos as they are more robust, but this feels a step too far for both me and DH. Personally, I feel I would struggle to discard/destroy frozen embryos. My logic in freezing eggs is to potentially buy myself a couple more years, so we could make a final decision on trying for a second DC after my programme has finished and we're hopefully in a more secure position - re finances, career and mental health. Some days, it seems like a no-brainer and other days it feels like a crazy expensive gamble and I should lay to rest any thoughts of a second child and a sibling for DS.

I would love to know what others think!

Will your new career be manageable around 2 young children?

That's a big unknown! I'm hoping so...my new employer is supposedly open to part-time/flexible hours etc., so hoping to be able to utilise that after I qualify, even if only for DS. But it's a fair point, and I'm not getting any younger

Maybe her husband could take some time out to raise the children? It’s not all down to the woman.

I don't think egg freezing age 37 is worth it sorry. You'd have to have multiple rounds as you lose a lot s'more eggs during the freeze/thaw process than you do embryos. It's better to freeze embryos

He may, or Op may be left on her own with 2 children and a new job in a new sector plus a bit of peri menopause chucked in, I would plan for the worst then build from there.

I'd only freeze embryos, and I'd be very much prepared for it not to work out. Freezing eggs/embryos is not a guaranteed, less so at your ages, and especially if it took a while with number 1.

At 37 your eggs won't be the best. And the success rate will be extremely low and still very costly. How would you feel if you decided time was right and then were unsuccessful with your frozen eggs? That might be harder than deciding on just one now or taking a chance on conceiving now.

Oh thats a hard one. I am also 37 and TTC. I’m not sure what the success rate is for freezing eggs to be honest. Do you yearn for another? Because if you don’t, and work wise it isn’t an option to TTC now then perhaps you will stick with 1? I’m sorry I don’t know how helpful that is, but if you want another I think I would be trying now rather than delaying at all. You don’t have to have another if you don’t want to. Having one is great!

If you really want more children then try now. I had 2 children no problem but put off a third till 40. It never happened. I got PG with DD when I was on the pill and first month trying with DS when I was 34.