More Women Are Going For Egg Counting Fertility Tests – But Are They A Good Idea?
[Photo: Rex]
Women have it tough – that’s nothing new. Pursuing a successful career and putting off starting a family can mean we’re set for fertility struggles later in life and if we start a family while young then there’s the chance we’ll never quite manage to catch up with our peers at work.
So women are getting proactive with their ferility and finding out their options. More and more females are going for egg counting tests, to determine just how fertile they are and what their next steps should be.
Dr Amin Gorgy from The Fertility & Gynaecology Academy has revealed there’s been a big increase in the number of women getting their eggs counted – as well as enquiring about egg freezing. An egg counting test determines a woman’s reserves and gives an indication of how fertile she is – hinting at how soon she needs to start a family.
The test is recommended for those as young as 25, who are already thinking about delaying having children, or those who want to know what else they can do to boost their chances of staying fertile.
Some would argue that it’s brilliant that fertility issues are getting more attention, but are egg testing procedures sensible? Sure, the results may help a percentage of women decide their next step, but they may simply scare others into freaking out about the state of their fertility. After all, they do say ignorance is bliss for a reason.
The good news is the amount of eggs you have isn’t actually the be all and end all. OK, so egg count does matter a lot if you’re having IVF, but that only applies to a small amount of women.
For those that conceive naturally, most research shoes that a low eggs count doesn’t mean a woman won’t get pregnant. Whereas IVF needs to get out a lot of eggs at once, all you need for a natural conception is one.
[Photo: Rex]
The Changing Face Of Parenthood
How and when people start a family has changed dramatically in the last decade or so, we all know that. But what wasn’t made obvious was the sheer volume of single women are opting to go it alone.
In fact, the of amount of unattached ladies opting for IVF treatment has tripled in the last 10 years, with a 20 per cent rise in one year alone.
Experts reckon this is because more and more men are steering clear of marriage in order to avoid pricey divorces and career-driven women are putting off ‘finding’ a man – instead choosing to go it alone before it’s too late. An increased acceptance of both single-parent families and IVF in general is also thought to have played a part.
In 2013, some 952 single mums-to-be registered at IVF clinics marking a 226 per cent increase since 2006 and a 22 per cent hike in just one year, figures from the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority have revealed.
Early figures for 2014 hint that for the first time ever, the number of women undergoing IVF will more than 1,000.
Single women still aren’t able to get IVF on the NHS, but it’s pretty simple to get it privately – if you’ve got the cash. One cycle of IVF can cost anywhere between £4,000 - £8,000 and scans and additional treatments may push the cost up further.
There are payment plans available, and some clinics offer a discount if you’re willing to donate some of your eggs, but it’s still an expensive thing to pay for solo. Either way, it’s great that women do have options like IVF and adoption so that their dreams of having it all can become an actuality.
What do you think? Are egg counting tests a good idea? Tweet us at @YahooStyleUK.
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