How the Covid pandemic led to a boom in young women freezing their eggs amid increasing concerns about the ticking body clock
- A fertility clinic said it has seen a “significant increase in demand” for egg freezing
- Since the pandemic, some single women have had concerns about starting a family
- The pandemic meant women put dating “on hold” and spent more time alone
- 219 women per month frozen their eggs in 2020, excluding April and May this year
The number of women freezing their eggs rose sharply during the Covid pandemic, and many feared they were running out of time to have a baby, figures show.
The pandemic shut down dating for months for single women, leaving some uncertain about when they would meet the right partner to start a family.
Statistics for 2020, the latest available and published exclusively for the Chron, show an average of 219 women per month have their eggs frozen this year, with the exception of April and May when numbers fell due to Covid-related clinic closures.
The total increased from less than 200 per month in 2019.
The number of women freezing their eggs rose sharply during the Covid pandemic, and many feared they were running out of time to have a baby, figures show
According to experts, Covid has made many women extremely concerned about their biological clocks.
Responding to figures from the Human Fertilization and Embryology Authority (HFEA), the Aria Fertility Clinic in London said it had seen a “significant increase in demand” for egg freezing since the pandemic, with the procedure now accounting for a fifth of its treatments .
dr Ippokratis Sarris, of King’s Fertility Clinic, said: “We have seen an increase in demand for egg freezing post-Covid, as women have had to put their dating lives on hold and spend more time alone, giving them more time thought about their options.
The pandemic shut down dating for months for single women, leaving some unsure about when they would meet the right partner to start a family, experts say
“These women, along with those whose relationships ended during the Covid-related restrictions, may have had some anxiety about their opportunities to start a family.”
While some have frozen eggs to preserve fertility due to medical treatment such as chemotherapy, the vast majority are voluntary.
Every woman has had at least one cycle of egg freezing and planned to use them herself later in life rather than donate them to another couple.
The HFEA’s Rachel Cutting said: “Clinics should do it [women] We are aware that egg freezing does not guarantee a baby – only a third of IVF treatments result in a live birth.’