When it comes to egg freezing, the practice isn’t reserved for just single women looking to take charge of their fertility futures. Sometimes individuals will also involve their partners in the process because they are looking for a support system and or that particular person is who they plan to one day build their family with.

Having your partner on board while going through this journey is essential. Not only for the emotional and physical support (i.e words of encouragement, assisting with self-injections, driving to appointments, financially, etc.); but also in the decision to freeze embryos instead of just eggs due to the extra clarity you gain from fertilization and genetic testing of embryos.

Sitting down and having an informative and open discussion with your partner is key to helping them understand where you are coming from and where you stand. More importantly, discussing the role they would play and establishing consent if required in your fertility preservation journey can allow you to feel calm and prepared moving forward.

Seeing as this can be quite a life-altering decision, there are a few things you can do to prepare yourself and help make this conversation a positive one.

Do Your Research

Before initiating a conversation, you should know and understand what it is exactly you are trying to do and where your place is when making the choice to pursue it.

Take your time when doing research. This will allow you to get a clear picture of all the in’s and out’s that come with egg freezing. Getting a visual as to what the process will be like and how you might feel afterward. Cost is typically a huge factor when it comes to freezing your eggs, so make sure you are well informed about the financial requirements involved before, during, and after the procedure when you decide it’s time to start building your family.

Be Prepared to Teach

This could be new territory for your partner so be ready to educate them on all the in’s and outs; down to the pros and cons.

There is a good chance your partner probably didn’t even know that egg freezing, let along egg sharing was an option. Be ready to confidently answer any questions they might have. As well as ready to explain the process step by step if necessary.

Provide Examples

Often times it’s easier for someone to absorb new information when they have real-life examples or testimonials to visualize with. Seeing others going through the same process can help them gain a better insight into what egg freezing entails.

Maybe you have a friend or a family member that has also frozen their eggs; ask them if it would be okay to share their experience with your partner. If you don’t have anyone you know of personally, research articles about celebrities or even online bloggers who might have shared their journey with the world.

Let’s Talk About Us

Use ‘us’ instead of ‘me’ when discussing. It’s important to remember that when you are going through this process with a partner it’s not always just about you. Especially if you are contemplating freezing embryos instead of just unfertilized eggs.

When talking to your partner use terms such as ‘us’ and ‘we’ and refrain from saying ‘me’ or ‘my’. You want to make sure your partner feels comfortable and that their feelings on the topic are being considered and respected when making this decision. Your partner will ultimately play a major role in supporting you throughout this process physically, emotionally, and possibly in making a collaborative decision to giving their consent and providing their genetic material towards growing your future family together.

Communication & Open-Mindedness

Keep a line of communication open on the topic. Be receptive to their questions, and calm when they might express any concerns.

Leaving the discussion open allows your partner time to think and or do their own research about everything you’ve just shared with them, providing an opportunity for them to further explore other options with you. They might also decide to preserve their own fertility as an insurance policy moving forward! Allowing your partner to be more involved in the decision-making process will surely be a positive contribution to your egg freezing journey.

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No matter what stage of a relationship you are in, communication and honesty must be at the forefront in order to succeed as a couple.

Discussing your life goals together and how to best achieve them can give you valuable information about your partner and whether or not your goals align for the future. Just remember, you know your dreams better than anyone else, so know your reason why and you do you!

How to Talk to Your Partner About Choosing to Freeze Your Eggs