Opinion
Text of Gunes Karakus, gynecologist. In recent years, a profound change in the way women view motherhood has become increasingly visible. The so-called “social egg freezing”, the cryopreservation of oocytes for non-medical reasons, is growing significantly, accompanying longer, more demanding and, often, uncertain life trajectories. This evolution deserves to be understood. But it also requires serious debate.
The reasons are known: job instability, absence of a partner, priority given to career or, simply, the legitimate desire to decide with more time. Medicine responded to this new context with technological solutions that allow you to preserve oocytes and, therefore, gain decision-making room. However, Saving time does not mean suspending biology.
In Portugal, the majority of women who resort to cryopreservation do so between the ages of 30 and 39, with a higher incidence between the ages of 35 and 39. That is, precisely in the period in which female fertility declines most sharply. Many reach this decision at a stage already marked by the beginning of a more pronounced decline in fertility which, in common sense, is called “biological urgency”. This data should not be ignored, as it conditions results and expectations.
It is true that the vitrification allows preserving the quality of the oocyte at the time of collection. This is a relevant advance in reproductive medicine. But it does not eliminate other determining factors for achieving pregnancy, nor does it guarantee, in itself, a positive outcome. Age, number of preserved oocytes and future clinical conditions remain central.
It is mismatch between perception and reality raises an essential question: are we replacing a complex decision with a sense of control? The answer is not linear. On the one hand, cryopreservation represents an undeniable achievement in terms of autonomy. On the other, can create the illusion that biological time is completely malleable.
The implications of this trend go beyond the individual sphere. The systematic postponement of motherhood contributes to the aging of the population, a phenomenon already evident in Portugal. Fewer births, at increasingly later ages, translate into increased pressure on social and health systemsa generational imbalance and a reduction in the country’s demographic potential.
It is therefore important to look at this reality in an integrated way. This is not about questioning women’s individual choices, nor about defending outdated models. It is about recognizing that private decisions, when generalized, have a collective impact.
There are, at this point, different perspectives that must be considered. Some argue that the The solution is to invest even more in medical innovationmaking preservation and medically assisted procreation techniques more effective and accessible. Others emphasize that the focus should be on social conditions: birth support policies, job stability, access to housing and family support networks that allow early maternity without penalty.
A third way, perhaps more demanding, involves reproductive literacy. Provide clear, accurate and timely information about the decline in fertility, the limits of techniques available and the risks associated with postponement. Not to condition choices, but so that they are truly conscious.
Article authored by gecologist especialist in medically assisted reproduction
