The fertility talk you never got
Watch the episode: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q2louUB5A4E&t
Why do we teach 10-year-olds about sex but never teach young women about their fertility?
I had an amazing conversation with Richard Wilmore on the Make Your Day Richer show about this question. (Richard's a wonderful, hilarious host, btw—you can watch the full episode here.
The answer? Because our schools focus on preventing pregnancy, not understanding it.
In fact, the topics of contraception, IVF, abortion, and assisted reproduction have become so culturally and politically charged that we prefer to ignore them altogether.
And when we do, it sends the message that pregnancy is something to avoid—leaving women unprepared when they actually want to conceive.
Well, it's time we talk about it. Because it's costing people the families they want.
A UK study shows that over 80% of women underestimate how quickly fertility declines after age 35.
Having spent 10 years struggling with infertility myself, I know how devastating it is to discover your options are limited. For me, earlier education might have led to different decisions.
If you want to preserve your fertility options, the best thing you can do is freeze your eggs.
This is a medical procedure in which egg production is stimulated with medication, and the eggs are then harvested and preserved for future use. A healthy woman under 35 can typically harvest 10-30 eggs in a single cycle.
But egg freezing comes with a cost.
According to Carrot Fertility, the average cost for an egg retrieval cycle is approximately $15,000, plus annual storage fees of $500-1,000.
Yes, that's pricey.
However, a recent Forbes article suggests that an increasing number of employers are covering egg freezing. 16% of large employers with 500+ employees cover elective egg freezing. Among the largest employers (20,000+ employees), it's closer to 20%.
If your employer doesn't offer coverage and you can’t afford to pay out-of-pocket, companies like Cofertility offer services to make egg freezing more accessible.
They offer two free egg retrieval cycles and up to 10 years of storage in exchange for donating half your eggs to another family struggling with infertility. The program has some pre-requisities and provides medical screening, psychological evaluation, and genetic testing.
Admittedly, it’s not for everyone. But if you’re a woman who wants to help others while preserving you’re own options, it's a potential path.
At the end of the day, planning for motherhood isn't one-size-fits-all.
But here’s the point: When we talk openly about fertility timelines and the different paths to motherhood, women are empowered with choice. They can intentionally architect the careers and families they want—on their own terms.
It's never too early to learn about your fertility. And it's never too late to take control of your future.
Ready to learn more? Message me to get on the waitlist for our January workshop.
