Australian women's views concerning non-medical egg freezing and factors motivating freezing decisions

Abstract

Objective

We aimed to determine women's views about egg freezing for non-medical reasons and the factors motivating freezing decisions.

Design

In this study, 514 women aged 18–44 years completed an online cross-sectional survey exploring fertility knowledge, reproductive intentions and views concerning non-medical egg freezing.

Methods

Data were analysed descriptively. Additionally, 14 variables noted as potential motivators in prior literature were entered into a multinomial regression to explore factors that would motivate women to consider freezing their eggs for non-medical reasons.

Results

Views concerning non-medical egg freezing were generally positive, with 61.3% of participants reporting that they would consider egg freezing (‘Yes’ or ‘Maybe’). Factors motivating decisions to freeze varied among women who responded ‘Yes’, ‘Maybe’ and ‘I don't know’ to whether they would consider freezing. The availability of Medicare subsidization and the procedure not affecting future fertility were significant predictors for all three groups of women.

Conclusions

Acceptability of egg freezing for non-medical reasons was moderate to high. However, there is a need for targeted fertility information to educate women about fertility and optimal times to conceive and freeze their eggs. Future research about views concerning non-medical egg freezing among diverse populations and examining the health economics of this procedure would be beneficial.