AOC’s Decision To Freeze Eggs Sparks Debate: How Common Is It?

Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has announced that she is freezing her eggs, sparking a public debate about the cost, age, and reproductive autonomy of women. The New York Democrat said the decision is a personal choice that gives her more control over her life. Ocasio-Cortez has been saving for the procedure for a long time and plans to document the process online.

Her decision, which has drawn both praise and criticism, is becoming more common, with U.S. data showing a sharp increase in elective egg-freezing cycles over the past decade. However, many people who freeze their eggs do not use them within the first several years. While Ocasio-Cortez frames the decision as both personal and an opportunity to educate others, the current medical system is described as "broken" by her, due to a lack of adequate fertility care for women.

Some individuals have criticized the congresswoman's decision, arguing that it is not an example of female liberation but rather a cautionary tale. Despite the controversy, egg freezing itself has become increasingly common in the U.S., with the number of planned elective cycles nearly quadrupling between 2014 and 2021.