Positive and Negative Opinions please!!

[Mags 112]

Heh Mags, I knew you'd show up.

Question, while you're here: Can a woman freeze her eggs that she produces in her 20s and then use them later like at 38-40?

PS sorry OP I know that question doesn't apply to you. Not hijacking I swear.

Yup. They do it a lot in the UK for cancer sufferers before chemo/radiotherapy destroys their eggs. Not sure if you'd pay for storage over here in the US though.

[Alex+R 0]

Heh Mags, I knew you'd show up.

Question, while you're here: Can a woman freeze her eggs that she produces in her 20s and then use them later like at 38-40?

PS sorry OP I know that question doesn't apply to you. Not hijacking I swear.

Yup. They do it a lot in the UK for cancer sufferers before chemo/radiotherapy destroys their eggs. Not sure if you'd pay for storage over here in the US though.

So if you don't have cancer but just want to do it, do you pay to store them in the UK?

Also, do people (like the compulsive plan-aheaders) ever get fertility testing when they're young and not trying, just to find out sooner rather than later?

[rebeccajo 14]

........Other points to consider are:

You'd have a mad toddler running around when you are in your 50s.

You'd probably be mistaken for Grandma at the school gates when your child starts to go to school.

When your child graduates or goes to college you would possibly be in your late 60s.

When that child gets married you could be in your 80s.

When your child has a child of its own you may not even be around.

Sounds harsh? Probably. But switch it around and see it from the child's perspective now too...

Mags, the part of your post I've clipped.....you took the words right out of my mouth! In fact when I first read the thread, my brain really didn't go to the conceptual risks.

[Mags 112]

Heh Mags, I knew you'd show up.

Question, while you're here: Can a woman freeze her eggs that she produces in her 20s and then use them later like at 38-40?

PS sorry OP I know that question doesn't apply to you. Not hijacking I swear.

Yup. They do it a lot in the UK for cancer sufferers before chemo/radiotherapy destroys their eggs. Not sure if you'd pay for storage over here in the US though.

So if you don't have cancer but just want to do it, do you pay to store them in the UK?

Also, do people (like the compulsive plan-aheaders) ever get fertility testing when they're young and not trying, just to find out sooner rather than later?

I think you can do that in the UK, but it isn't done on the NHS, it costs you. Another thing to consider is that it isn't just then going in and pulling out the eggs. I think you have to take fertility drugs and then they can remove the eggs. This does take a little time and can play havoc with your hormones.

I'm not sure about the answer to your second question but I'm sure there must be some people out there who have done so! Fertility itself is a curious thing; you may be fertile at 25 but then something goes kablooey at 35 and you are no longer able to conceive. A test saying you can conceive at 25 may not be applicable at 35.

Edited February 17, 2008 by Mags

[Alex+R 0]

Heh Mags, I knew you'd show up.

Question, while you're here: Can a woman freeze her eggs that she produces in her 20s and then use them later like at 38-40?

PS sorry OP I know that question doesn't apply to you. Not hijacking I swear.

Yup. They do it a lot in the UK for cancer sufferers before chemo/radiotherapy destroys their eggs. Not sure if you'd pay for storage over here in the US though.

So if you don't have cancer but just want to do it, do you pay to store them in the UK?

Also, do people (like the compulsive plan-aheaders) ever get fertility testing when they're young and not trying, just to find out sooner rather than later?

I think you can do that in the UK, but it isn't done on the NHS, it costs you. Another thing to consider is that it isn't just then going in and pulling out the eggs. I think you have to take fertility drugs and then they can remove the eggs. This does take a little time and can play havoc with your hormones.

I'm not sure about the answer to your second question but I'm sure there must be some people out there who have done so! Fertility itself is a curious thing; you may be fertile at 25 but then something goes kablooey at 35 and you are no longer able to conceive. A test saying you can conceive at 25 may not be applicable at 35.

Oh... I hadn't thought about how fertility could change. Or that freezing your eggs would be like the process of donating your eggs (I guess, duh...). Yeesh, this all sounds very messy.

[Caladan 19]

Yeah, fertility's more than just eggs. There was a news report about a fertility test and it's highly influenced (U.S. population) by country of origin. I don't remember the details, but basically, if you're of Scandinavian descent, your fertility statistically takes a nosedive at age 30, and if you're of Mediterranean descent, the same dive doesn't happen till your mid-forties.

I'm not sure how good fertility testing would be in absence of trying to conceive a child, let alone whether it'd be good twenty years down the road. From a couple of friends who have struggled with infertility, most of the testing and treatment hangs around 'are you pregnant? was it easy to get pregnant? did you miscarry?' rather than just a test of hormones. E.g., one of my friends miscarried twice around eight weeks, and for her third pregnancy, the ob/gyn was ready to go with a hormone injection because they surmised the problem (if there was one), was a drop in hormone levels that made it hard for her to sustain a pregnancy. Not sure if they can diagnose that risk without a couple who is actively trying.

[Alex+R 0]

Yeah, fertility's more than just eggs. There was a news report about a fertility test and it's highly influenced (U.S. population) by country of origin. I don't remember the details, but basically, if you're of Scandinavian descent, your fertility statistically takes a nosedive at age 30, and if you're of Mediterranean descent, the same dive doesn't happen till your mid-forties.

I'm not sure how good fertility testing would be in absence of trying to conceive a child, let alone whether it'd be good twenty years down the road. From a couple of friends who have struggled with infertility, most of the testing and treatment hangs around 'are you pregnant? was it easy to get pregnant? did you miscarry?' rather than just a test of hormones. E.g., one of my friends miscarried twice around eight weeks, and for her third pregnancy, the ob/gyn was ready to go with a hormone injection because they surmised the problem (if there was one), was a drop in hormone levels that made it hard for her to sustain a pregnancy. Not sure if they can diagnose that risk without a couple who is actively trying.

Oo, interesting post.

Oh noes, I'm half Norwegian...better freeze some eggs. (Though my mom had my brother on her 35th birthday and he seems ok... sort of. )

[Mags 112]

Found this, on an egg donation site (same procedure for retrieving eggs for storage, I think):

These are the standard steps in the process and the risks:

Stopping your normal cycle: You may be prescribed a medication for one or more weeks to temporarily halt your ovaries' normal functioning.

This makes it easier to control your response to fertility drugs. A doctor or nurse will give you an injection or instruct you about how to inject the medication daily at home.

The risks: The medications can cause hot flashes, vaginal dryness, fatigue, sleep problems, body aches, mood swings, breast tenderness, headache, and/ or vision problems.

Stimulating egg production: In a normal menstrual cycle, one egg matures and, at ovulation, is released from an egg-containing sac (called a follicle) on the ovary. In egg donation, the goal is to obtain several mature eggs. You will be prescribed medication to stimulate your ovaries to mature more eggs than normal (called "controlled hyperstimulation"). The medications are similar to the hormones that your body produces, but at much higher doses. These medications must be injected (either under your skin or into a muscle). Treatment will start on a specific day of your cycle and continue for about ten days. You will be shown how to inject the medications. If you are unable to inject yourself reliably, you will need someone else to do it for you.

The risks: You may develop soreness, redness or mild bruising around the injection site. You may experience mood swings, tender breasts, enlarged ovaries and mild fluid retention. Occasionally, the medications cause more hyperstimulation than intended (known as "ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome," or OHSS). This will cause fluid retention and swelling of the ovaries. In mild OHSS, you may have abdominal pain, pressure and swelling. This should go away after your next period. In moderate OHSS, you may require careful monitoring, bed rest and pain medication. Severe OHSS is rare but can cause serious medical complications, including blood clots, kidney failure, fluid build-up in the lungs, and shock. In rare cases, hospitalization is necessary and the condition can be life-threatening. One or both of your ovaries may have to be removed. The risk of OHSS decreases after the eggs are retrieved.

If you show signs of OHSS before the eggs are ready to be retrieved, the doctor may decide that it is too risky for you to keep taking the hormones. You must stop using the medication and the cycle will be canceled.

If you decide, for some reason, not to undergo egg retrieval after having completed fertility drugs, you increase your risk of OHSS. Very rarely, an enlarged ovary will twist on its stalk and cut off its blood supply. This painful condition requires immediate surgery and the ovary may have to be removed. Also, very rarely, a woman has an allergic reaction to fertility drugs.

You can become pregnant during the cycle, if you have unprotected intercourse. This could occur if some of the eggs are released before retrieval, or if the doctor is unable to retrieve all of the mature eggs. There is a chance that you could become pregnant with twins, triplets or quadruplets. You must abstain from intercourse or use effective barrier contraception. Ask the doctor about restrictions on intercourse during the donation cycle.

The long-term risks of fertility drugs are unknown. A few studies suggest that fertility drugs might increase a woman's risk for developing ovarian cancer later in life. Others do not show this link. At this time, no one knows for sure.

Monitoring your progress: During the donation cycle, you must have frequent blood tests and ultrasound examinations to track the developing eggs and to see how you are responding to the hormones. Based on these tests, you will be told how to adjust the dose of medication. The ultrasound exams involve inserting an ultrasound probe (about the size of a tampon applicator) into your ####### so the doctor can see the growing follicles on your ovaries.

When the time is right, you will receive a final injection of another drug to prepare the eggs for retrieval. This injection is given shortly before egg retrieval.

The risks: Blood drawing can cause mild discomfort and there is a chance you will develop a bruise in the area where the needle was inserted. Ultrasound examination may be slightly uncomfortable but has no known risks.

Removing the eggs: The eggs will be removed from your ovaries in a minor surgical procedure called transvaginal ovarian aspiration. An ultrasound probe will be inserted into your #######. A thin needle attached to the probe will be inserted into each follicle. Using suction, the egg and liquid inside each follicle are removed. You may be given painkillers, sedatives or anesthesia during the retrieval, which lasts about 30 minutes. When all the eggs have been retrieved, you will recover for a few hours before going home. You must have someone drive you home. Afterwards, you will need to rest for the day. Often, it takes several days of restricted activity to recover.

The risks: After the needle is inserted into the ovary, there may be bleeding. Although rare, it is possible to damage or puncture the bowel, bladder or nearby blood vessels. In the unlikely possibility of severe internal bleeding or serious damage to the pelvic organs, major abdominal surgery may be needed.

To prevent infection, you may be given antibiotics. If infection occurs, it may affect your own future fertility. Ask the doctor about the risks of all medications used during retrieval.

Follow-up care: You should be given clear instructions about what to do if you need medical attention. In some programs, donors return for one or two check-ups. You may also be scheduled to meet with a counselor.

Many programs do not provide follow-up care, and it is normal for a donor to feel let down after her intense involvement in the process ends.

Many women are concerned that giving up some of their eggs may reduce their ability to later become pregnant. If there are no complications, being an egg donor should not affect your later fertility. However, if you develop serious complications, involving bleeding, infection, or loss of an ovary, it may jeopardize your ability to conceive.

http://www.health.state.ny.us/community/re...nor.htm#involve

Edited February 17, 2008 by Mags

[Caladan 19]

Yeah, it's just a statistics thing, and one study. But kind of neat. There's so much we don't know. Best predictor of when a woman will go through menopause is.. when her mom did. Fertility takes a nosedive before that. My mom's still not gone through menopause but at age 52 I'm not expecting her to have any kids.

[Kazan' Tiger 1]

From a male POV. My issue would be do you still want an underaged child around the home at age 62?

[Caladan 19]

That can be true of any man who marries younger, though, not just when the wife is older. But I think that's a good thing to consider (though it's true whether the child is your first or your fourth.) If your retirement plans, e.g., include lots of fancy travel and time away, that might be harder if your kid is still in high school.

This could cut either way. I think my parents would be very happy to have another daughter at home, because they're empty nesting at the moment and a little lonely.

[PlatyPius 5]

From a male POV. My issue would be do you still want an underaged child around the home at age 62?

Hell, I'll be 40 in a few months and I don't want any more around. I had decided a few years ago that I wasn't going to have kids (except for the one I've never seen). I'm 40 (close enough). 41 for the birth. 58-59 for the high school graduation. 63 for the bachelor's degree graduation... Nope, not happening. a) unfair to the kid 2) I'm a selfish #######. I don't want my "golden years" spent dealing with whiny, snotty, screaming children.

[rebeccajo 14]

That can be true of any man who marries younger, though, not just when the wife is older. But I think that's a good thing to consider (though it's true whether the child is your first or your fourth.) If your retirement plans, e.g., include lots of fancy travel and time away, that might be harder if your kid is still in high school.

This could cut either way. I think my parents would be very happy to have another daughter at home, because they're empty nesting at the moment and a little lonely.

That'd be an interesting question to ask them. I'm 50 and empty nesting too. I miss my son like crazy. But I miss his 'person-ness', what he has become and his interaction in my life as it was before he left for college.

But I'm sure not lonely enough to want another child to the point of diapers, daycare and the ball-and-chain of public school/after school activities/new clothes and shoes/carpools etc.

[Mags 112]

But I'm sure not lonely enough to want another child to the point of diapers, daycare and the ball-and-chain of public school/after school activities/new clothes and shoes/carpools etc.

I'm 34 and I don't want that either.

[Caladan 19]

That can be true of any man who marries younger, though, not just when the wife is older. But I think that's a good thing to consider (though it's true whether the child is your first or your fourth.) If your retirement plans, e.g., include lots of fancy travel and time away, that might be harder if your kid is still in high school.

This could cut either way. I think my parents would be very happy to have another daughter at home, because they're empty nesting at the moment and a little lonely.

That'd be an interesting question to ask them. I'm 50 and empty nesting too. I miss my son like crazy. But I miss his 'person-ness', what he has become and his interaction in my life as it was before he left for college.

But I'm sure not lonely enough to want another child to the point of diapers, daycare and the ball-and-chain of public school/after school activities/new clothes and shoes/carpools etc.

Yeah, I was thinking more of them with a younger teenager at home, not a baby. I think my mom will settle for grandkids at this point.