On May 14, 2012, The New York Times ran a very interesting article entitled, “Eager for Grandchildren, and Wanting Daughters’ Eggs in Freezer.” This article puts an entirely new spin on the issue of egg freezing and competing interests. Currently, the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) still considers the process of egg freezing to be experimental. However, this expensive practice has been gaining in popularity. An egg freezing procedure can cost anywhere from $8,000 – $18,000 and as with many other things in life there are no guarantees that it will even work.
The article is interesting because it presents the importance of egg freezing to not only the woman who has the eggs but also to her parents who see this as an insurance policy for future grandchildren. Although a gamble, many potential grandparents are even willing to pay for the costs of this procedure because it is seen as a proactive step to one day having grandchildren.