Fertility • July 03, 2025

– That's why I chose to freeze my eggs

Eirin Myrvang Berg

Marketer

Pia wants to remain anonymous. The images in the case are illustrative images, some AI-generated.

For Pia (37), egg freezing became a way to take back control.

– I didn't want the door to close.

A long trial period with child number one, and a desire to keep the options open for at least one, maybe two more children, were the reasons she chose to be safe.

More demanding than expected

Pia had always imagined that she would have children in a reasonable time and that things would go quite smoothly for her. When she and her partner started trying, she was 32 and felt she was on track.

But it would take many trials, many disappointments, and several miscarriages before she finally became pregnant. When Oliver was born, she was 35.

– I wasn't prepared for how long it would take.

The feeling of losing control

She wasn't prepared for how demanding it would be either.

This applied to both the trial phase and life as a mother. The first years of parenthood were intense.

She breastfed for a long time and still didn't feel ready to think about more children as Oliver approached two. Nevertheless, they started trying again.

That's when the idea of egg freezing came to mind. An opportunity to buy more time.

An extreme choice?

Pia – who usually takes her time when it comes to decisions – made up her mind relatively quickly. A casual conversation with a friend gave the idea momentum.

“Can't you just do it, then?” asked her friend.

Well, maybe I can, Pia thought.

– I was very different from myself there. But it became so clear to me that I wanted an alternative. I wanted to secure time and secure the opportunity for a larger family.

At that time, I felt like this was a bit of an extreme choice. Am I just doing this because I'm the type of person who likes to be safe?

But through conversations with friends and family afterwards, she has realized that egg freezing is far more common than she had initially thought.

My roommate probably also thought the quick decision was a bit atypical, but supported Pia and they stood together in the election.

26 eggs in the "bank"

Pia knew that Medicus had extensive experience with fertility treatments and has been helping women with egg freezing since it was allowed in Norway in 2020. Therefore, choosing a clinic was easy. She describes the process as orderly and safe, and that she received good follow-up throughout.

Due to high AMH levels and many follicles, many eggs developed. As a result, she went in for an extra monitoring session beforehand, had her medication dosage adjusted, and was reassured that this was completely normal.

As someone who likes to know the details, she had many questions along the way.

– Fortunately, I was able to call and talk to a nurse, even on the weekend, and got answers to my questions.

During the egg retrieval, a doctor and a nurse removed the eggs, which were sent straight to the lab.

“I got to see what they were doing on the screen and got continuous updates along the way. It was nice,” she thought.

A total of 28 eggs were selected. 26 of them were mature and were frozen – or “banked”.

The average for such an egg retrieval is 10–15 eggs.

See fact box about egg freezing at the bottom of the article.

The election brought peace

Pia does not hide that she felt the process on her body, largely because she developed so many eggs and her ovaries grew. But the egg retrieval itself did not hurt at all.

Everything about the injections went very well, she experienced no side effects related to the hormones. Once the egg retrieval was done and the eggs were frozen, she felt that she had made the right choice in securing a backup solution.

– It gave me peace of mind and a certain sense of control again.

"Everyone" else is procrastinating

When asked what she thinks other family planners should know about egg freezing, she gets a little emotional. Before she had children herself, she couldn't quite imagine what it would be like to have created her own family, and how wonderful it could be.

– We're trying to have siblings and have the family we always thought we would have, but it's hard. I read in the newspaper that fertility clinics are full of people in their late 30s who regret not starting sooner. Now we're one of them.

According to the National Institute of Public Health, first-time mothers in Norway are getting older. and we know that fertility decreases noticeably after the age of 35. In 2023, the average was 30,2 years, and the number has been getting higher every year.

– We think it doesn't concern us, that for some reason we are above age because we feel young anymore.

– Just because “everyone” around us is procrastinating, we think things are going well. But it’s not necessarily the case.

– Why don't more people do this?

The process is often longer than you think, from the time you start trying until you actually have a child – and are ready again for the next one. Trying and failing, miscarriages and breastfeeding a toddler and the feeling of losing both yourself and your body to someone else – things take time. People who haven't been through it underestimate this aspect, Pia believes.

– We are used to having control over most things, but here we don't have that.

While she has wanted to keep her and her partner's process private, and not want to interfere in other people's business, she has wanted to shout out to everyone she knows who is approaching their mid-30s. She wants everyone to know that the option of egg freezing exists and to consider the option before it is too late.

– I feel like I've discovered an opportunity that I wish more people knew about. Why don't more people do this? she asks.

After freezing their eggs, the couple tried for another six months on their own before realizing it was time for a little more help. They received IVF treatment here at Medicus, and it was a complete success on the first try. Pia is (finally!) pregnant with their second child.

Want to know more about egg freezing?

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Egg Freezing Guide Medicus

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Facts about egg freezing

"Social freeze" allowed from 2020

In 2020, women in Norway were given the opportunity to freeze unfertilized eggs, without there having to be a medical reason behind it. This is often called "social freezing."

More and more people are freezing their eggs

The trend is increasing, and from 2022 to 2023, the number of egg freezing procedures performed in Norway increased by 67%. (source: TV2)

Recommended age for egg freezing

Fertility begins to decline gradually from the age of 32 and more noticeably from the age of 37. Therefore, it is recommended to freeze eggs between the ages of 25 and 35 for best results.

Success rates

Over 90% of eggs survive the freezing and thawing process thanks to modern techniques such as vitrification.

How the egg freezing process works

It starts with a fertility check and progresses to ovarian stimulation and egg retrieval. Doctors assess hormone levels and egg reserves to tailor the treatment. The entire process, from the initial consultation until the eggs are safely frozen, usually takes a few weeks. This includes ovarian stimulation, ultrasound monitoring, and the actual egg retrieval.

Read more about egg freezing here