Liberty Lifestyle: Putting Off Starting a Family

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) recently announced that she is freezing her eggs instead of starting a family anytime soon – a move she claims makes her “feel more in control of [her] life.” While AOC frames the decision as empowering, in the minds of many people, she’s tragically putting off one of the most profound and fulfilling parts of life: becoming a mother and starting a family.

Life Hack: Start a Family

Women choose to freeze their eggs for a number of reasons, from not yet having a suitable partner to financial concerns or a desire to prioritize their careers, according to Extend Fertility, a clinic specializing in fertility care. Though the reasons for freezing their eggs may differ, they seem to share the same goal: to “give themselves a better chance of getting pregnant later.”

But here’s the reality: There is no perfect time to have children because nothing in life is guaranteed. Spouses die, marriages fall apart, jobs disappear, finances collapse, and homes can be lost overnight. No matter how carefully we plan, even the most seemingly secure life can change in an instant.

That’s not meant to scare you; rather, it’s meant to remind you might be putting off one of life’s greatest joys. There are plenty of great reasons to start a family as soon as possible. The younger you are, the more energy you will have to raise children and the more time you will have to enjoy their company. Starting sooner rather than later can also help build strong bonds across generations and gives you more time to create traditions and memories that last long after you are gone.

Plus, married women with children report higher levels of happiness than unmarried women and those without children, according to an Institute for Family Studies/Wheatley Institute study. “Married women are also more likely than unmarried women to say that life was enjoyable most or all of the time: 47% of married mothers and 43% of married childless women say life is enjoyable, compared to 40% of unmarried mothers and 34% of unmarried childless women,” the institute noted.

The Reality of Egg Freezing

Egg freezing and retrieval procedures have surged over the past ten years, climbing from just 6,090 cycles in 2014 to more than 39,000 in the United States in 2024, according to Dr. Jen Eaton, president of the Society for Assisted Reproductive Technology.

While egg freezing is growing in popularity, its costs, risks, and potential side effects deserve serious consideration. The process is physically demanding, requiring hormone injections, frequent blood tests, and ultrasounds. Egg retrieval requires an outpatient procedure performed under anesthesia.

The 36-year-old congresswoman said she plans to share the process on Instagram, shots and all: “I want you all to see that because women can do anything. And I think it’s badass that I’m gonna [sic] be giving myself shots in the green room, get my glam on, roll out, talk international events, domestic policy, elections, pop out, live my life, do my thing.”

Will AOC share whether or not she experiences any side effects, including mood swings, headaches, nausea, hot flashes, or ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS)? According to the Mayo Clinic, OHSS “causes the ovaries to swell and become painful.” In mild cases, the patient may experience abdominal pain, bloating, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. If the condition is severe, the symptoms include rapid weight gain, severe abdominal pain, blood clots, decreased urination, shortness of breath, and a tight or enlarged abdomen.

Egg freezing is fairly new, so experts aren’t exactly sure how long extracted eggs remain viable – and the procedure costs between $10,000 and $15,000, Eaton said. Then there’s the price to store the eggs in liquid nitrogen, which could cost another $1,000 annually.

However, egg freezing does not ensure that a woman will be able to become pregnant later in life. “I would just caution people against thinking that it’s a guarantee,” Eaton noted. “I think a lot of celebrities unfortunately convey it like it is, that now they don’t have to worry about their fertility anymore.”

Pregnancy comes with its own physical demands and lasts far longer than the egg-freezing process. But at the end of those nine months, God willing, you and your family get to hold your baby in your arms.