How & Why Nana Decided To Freeze Her Eggs

Freezing my eggs was something I’d thought about for years. I’ve always wanted to give myself the best chance of starting a family one day. A few years ago, I even had a fertility MOT, but as life got busy, I kept putting it off. Now, with my 40th birthday approaching, it finally felt like the right time to take action. In the past few years, more of my friends have gone through the process – or know someone who has. This is especially true in fashion and entertainment, where timelines and priorities can shift. Once seen as niche or extreme, egg freezing is now far more common, particularly among women in their 30s and early 40s who want to keep their options open.

The numbers speak for themselves. Data shows egg freezing in the UK has increased by more than 500% in the last decade. The reasons are deeply personal – some women haven’t met the right partner yet, others are focusing on their careers and many simply want reassurance for the future. In simple terms, egg freezing preserves your eggs at their current age, so if you decide to have children later, you’re working with eggs that are biologically younger. With fertility naturally declining after 35, it’s a way to safeguard your chances for later in life.

Finding the right clinic was everything. After weeks of research, I chose Avenues Clinic. I was impressed by how modern and tech-led the approach was. The results spoke for themselves – 97% of eggs survive after being ‘defrosted’, 78% fertilise successfully and 65% reach the crucial blastocyst stage, the latter being a good indicator of a successful future pregnancy. What really reassured me, though, was its AI Egg Intelligence system, which uses image analysis to spot the healthiest eggs with more than 20% greater accuracy than a human embryologist. 

Convenience mattered just as much as results. The clinic was just five minutes from Euston, and had appointments from 8am, so I could fit the process around work without too much disruption. At my first appointment in June, I met Dr Jyoti, who instantly put me at ease. She explained every step – from ultrasounds to blood tests and medication schedules – clearly and calmly, turning what could have been intimidating into something totally manageable.

Understanding my fertility was empowering. Two key indicators shaped the plan for my treatment: AMH (anti-Müllerin hormone) levels and follicle count. AMH reveals your egg reserve – how many eggs you still have – while the follicle count, visible on ultrasound, shows how many sacs (follicles) are likely to produce eggs that month. Together, these tests give doctors a clear idea of your fertility health and how your body might respond to stimulation medication. After my first ultrasound and blood tests, I was told both were excellent – a huge relief.

The medication stage was intense. The sheer number of boxes, vials and needles I collected from the pharmacy felt overwhelming at first, but once I organised everything into daily sections, it started to feel manageable. Over the next couple of weeks, I gave myself a combination of hormone injections designed to stimulate the ovaries to produce multiple eggs instead of just one. These included medications that mimic the body’s natural follicle-stimulating and luteinising hormones, encouraging the eggs to grow and mature properly. I was also prescribed a mild steroid to help reduce inflammation and support my body’s response to the treatment, as well as a growth hormone to improve egg quality. Later in the cycle, another medication was added to prevent premature ovulation – essentially ensuring the eggs stayed in place until the right time for retrieval. Finally, everything ended with what’s known as the ‘trigger injection’, which tells your body it’s time to release the mature eggs, ready for collection 36 hours later.

Once I got into the rhythm, it became second nature. The clinic’s app sent reminders for every dose and gave me 24/7 access to a nurse if I had questions. The needles were tiny – honestly, getting my ears pierced hurt more. The toughest part was giving up exercise. I usually work out daily, but to avoid the risk of ovarian torsion (when an ovary twists due to enlargement), I had to rest. It wasn’t easy but knowing it was temporary made it manageable.

The side effects were milder than I expected. Everyone’s experience is different but aside from feeling fuller and slightly bloated towards the end, I felt fine. I still went to dinners, events – even Soho House Festival – though I cut out alcohol completely. During those ten days, I had several ultrasound scans to track how my follicles were developing. Seeing my progress in real time was exciting and strangely motivating – proof that my body was doing exactly what it was supposed to.

The day of retrieval arrived quicker than I imagined. The team at Avenues were brilliant throughout – kind, patient and incredibly efficient. By day 13, my follicles were ready, and it was time for the final trigger shot to prepare my eggs for collection.

The retrieval itself was smooth and stress-free. I was told to arrange a lift home, as most people feel groggy after anaesthetic, but I woke up half an hour later feeling like I’d had the best nap of my life – refreshed, calm and completely pain-free.

The results were better than I could have hoped for. When Dr Jyoti came in to tell me they’d retrieved 22 eggs, I was ecstatic. I’d originally planned to do two rounds, but with such a strong result, I decided one was enough. With 20–25 eggs considered ideal for future success, I felt confident. That evening, I received an email from Avenues with my Oocyte Quality AI Report – complete with images of my frozen eggs and an ‘Oocyte Quality Score’. Eggs graded seven or higher (on a scale of zero to ten) are deemed excellent quality, and I was thrilled with my results.

The final stage was storage – my safety net for the future. Cryostorage costs £450 per year, and eggs can now legally be stored in the UK for up to 55 years – a huge jump from the previous ten-year limit. Avenues uses robotic cryostorage, ensuring 24/7 monitoring, digital tracking and complete security. When the time comes, the process of using them is straightforward: the eggs are thawed, fertilised with sperm, and the healthiest embryos are transferred back into the uterus – all of which Avenues can support.

Looking back, I couldn’t be happier I did it. The process was far less daunting than I’d imagined, and I feel empowered knowing I’ve given myself another option – on my own terms, and my own timeline. If I could offer one piece of advice, it would be this: there’s never a perfect time but taking control of your fertility might be one of the most empowering decisions you’ll ever make.

• Do your research
  Each clinic is different – from technology to bedside manner – so take the time to find one that feels right for you.

• Plan ahead
  From your first consultation to retrieval, the whole process takes about two to three weeks. If possible, choose a quieter period in your calendar – the winter months like January or February are ideal.

• Stay organised with your medication
  Set alarms and reminders. The Avenues app made it easy but even a simple calendar alert helps.

• Decide who you want to tell
  You don’t owe anyone an explanation. I chose to share my experience openly but it’s equally fine to keep it private.

• Take care of yourself
  Rest, hydrate and be kind to your body.

• Budget realistically
  Factor in the cycle cost, medication and annual storage. It’s not cheap but for me, it was worth every penny for peace of mind.

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