The Future on Ice: How Media Pressure Shapes Women’s Fertility Decisions

By Sophie Persia

11/3/25

As a 17-year-old girl in 2025, I happen to think about my future a lot. In the last 5 years, after the overturning of Roe v. Wade and the popularity of reproductive rights in society, my teenage years have been filled with abortion rights, IVF, fertility treatments, birth control, and more. I often find myself dreaming about starting my own family and what my future holds. With a family history of infertility, the thought of having trouble getting pregnant lingers in the back of my mind. I decided to do my own research about different infertility treatments and came across egg freezing. 

In the article, “Social egg freezing: risk, benefits and other considerations,” the authors describe egg freezing as the “process that involves the hormonal stimulation of the ovaries, followed by transvaginal retrieval and subsequent freezing and storage of a woman’s viable eggs.” Usually, egg freezing is used to have genetic children later in life. Due to this, it is considered a form of preventative medicine and allows women more control over their reproductive autonomy. Although egg freezing is directly connected to increasing age, many women also use this treatment for non-medical reasons: financial stability, career development, absence of a suitable partner, etc. As the need for control over reproductive rights increases, so does the use of egg freezing.

Egg freezing is very tailored to each patient, yielding different results. Many women will choose to freeze their eggs for “social” reasons, while others out of medical necessity. For example, some women will choose this treatment to delay pregnancy during a busy time in their lives, while others opt to keep their eggs unharmed by radiation or chemotherapy. However, freezing eggs does not guarantee a pregnancy, and therefore, can cause problems later in life while trying to conceive. Yet, there is misinformation being spread about egg freezing and the benefits the treatment yields. 

The media has been promoting anxiety-inducing messages to young women, urging them to freeze their eggs if they want to start a family in the future. These messages are causing women to prematurely make a decision about their future choices concerning egg freezing, however, this treatment is not always profitable and reliable. This has caused a spike in women receiving this treatment and fertility clinics are booming. YaleMedicine states, “Boutique fertility practices extolling the benefits of egg freezing are popping up around the country.” On one hand, yes, it is valuable to be educated on fertility treatment options, such as egg freezing. However, not every woman will struggle with infertility. These companies claim that without egg freezing, young women like me may never be able to have a family. Something that adds unnecessary anxiety for future plans that is not necessarily true. Although this technology can allow new beginnings for many women and families all over the world, it is important to be aware of misleading information and messages being fed by the media. 

I dream of one day having a family of my own. I aspire to be a lot of things, a mother being one of them. But for now, I will continue to educate myself on different fertility treatments, including egg freezing, focusing on the authentic and reliable information, not just what is pushed at me from social media. 

Sources:

• Social egg freezing: risk, benefits and other considerations

• Social Egg Freezing—A Trend or Modern Reality?

• Is Egg Freezing Right for You?