US Congresswoman: I'll freeze my eggs

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, one of the most recognizable figures in the American Congress, usually tries to keep journalists and subscribers out of her personal life. This time she made an exception: in her Instagram story she announced that she had begun the procedure of egg freezing, and explained why she decided to talk about it out loud, and not remain silent, as many do.

A solution that has been brewing for years class=»notranslate»>__GTAG8__

The statement appeared on Saturday evening, at the very beginning of the August parliamentary recess — a moment that Ocasio-Cortez herself did not choose by chance, notes xrust. According to her, she thought about the decision to freeze eggs for a long time: she weighed the pros and cons, and at the same time set aside money for the procedure, which in the USA is not cheap — from several thousand dollars per cycle and the same amount per year is spent on storing the material.

In the video, the 36-year-old congresswoman admitted that the topic is complex and personal, and she usually keeps such things to herself. But this time I decided that silence does more harm than frankness.

Why she decided not to remain silent

Ocasio-Cortez explained her public recognition simply: women systemically lack information about their own reproductive health and available family planning options. In her opinion, when public people talk openly about such procedures, the topic ceases to be taboo — and it becomes easier for other women to make informed decisions about their bodies and careers.

In the interview, she added that it is important for leaders to share such experiences — especially for the sake of working women who have to combine a career and thoughts about future motherhood. Separately, she admitted: public discussion of reproductive health carries certain reputational risks for a politician — but this did not influence her decision.

Judging by her words, viewers will see not only the fact of the statement: the congresswoman plans to show part of the process — from unpacking medications to hormonal injections before retrieving eggs, which she has already begun filming.

Not the first time in the spotlight due to the topic of reproductive health

class=»notranslate»>__GTAG6__ For Ocasio-Cortez, the topic of women's health is not new — she regularly raises it in public speeches. A few years ago, she said that men should more actively speak out in support of women in matters of reproductive rights, explaining that decisions regarding women’s bodies, in one way or another, affect the men next to them.

The reaction was mixed

The news quickly spread across social networks — and, as is usually the case with resonant personal confessions of politicians, it aroused not only sympathy, but also criticism. Some conservative commentators saw the story as an example of a broader trend: when careers and professional ambitions put off starting a family until later, and egg freezing turns into universal advice instead of solving a specific problem for a specific person. Someone sneered that “just freeze your eggs” sounds too easy given the falling birth rate.

At the same time, another detail was discussed: a recent poll in New Hampshire showed Ocasio-Cortez in the lead among possible Democratic candidates in future presidential primaries — and in the interview she was directly asked about plans for 2028. She herself did not close this topic, but said that she was focused on her current work in Congress.

Egg freezing as a growing trend

Oocyte cryopreservation — as the procedure is called in the medical literature — ceased to be exotic several years ago. The technology allows women to store eggs at a young age, when the chances of a successful pregnancy in the future are higher, and use them later when the time is right. The success of the procedure depends heavily on the age at the time of freezing, general health and genetic factors — so doctors usually advise against delaying the decision if it is considered at all.

Public confessions of celebrities and politicians in recent years have become a noticeable factor reducing the stigma around the topic: actress Priyanka Chopra, Rebel Wilson, Paris Hilton and TV presenter Hoda Kotb have previously spoken about their own experiences with egg freezing. Chopra, for example, compared regular spending on the procedure with saving money for a car — and called this decision one of the best gifts to herself.

The story of Ocasio-Cortez fits into the same series: no matter how her political ambitions are assessed, the fact remains that the topic of egg freezing has again found itself in the center of public attention thanks to a public figure who is ready to talk openly about personal matters.

Sources:
cnn.com
washingtonpost.com
ms.now

Xrust US Congresswoman: I’ll freeze my eggs