Home / Health / Genetic Fears Drive Egg Freezing Trend
Genetic Fears Drive Egg Freezing Trend
9 Nov
Summary
- Women freeze eggs to avoid passing on genetic cancer mutations.
- Egg freezing costs around $8,000 per cycle, plus medication.
- Fertility treatments lack widespread public funding in Canada.
Driven by concerns over passing on genetic mutations such as BRCA 1, an increasing number of women in Canada are choosing to freeze their eggs. This practice allows individuals to preserve fertility while also enabling the genetic testing of embryos during future IVF cycles to prevent the inheritance of diseases.
While a primary reason for egg freezing remains fertility preservation due to delayed childbearing, the proactive genetic screening aspect is becoming more prominent. However, the high cost, with one cycle typically around $8,000 plus $2,000 to $8,000 for medication, poses a significant barrier. Patients often require multiple cycles, and public funding for elective egg freezing is scarce, although some workplace benefits are starting to offer coverage.
Ethical discussions surround genetic testing, particularly concerning non-health-related selections like sex. Canada prohibits choosing embryos based on sex or pursuing 'designer babies,' with severe penalties. In contrast, elective sex selection is legal in the U.S. Experts emphasize that fertility treatments, including egg freezing, represent a critical public health concern due to their widespread impact on many individuals.
