Amy Schumer recently opened up on Instagram about freezing her eggs, and the physical and emotional toll it has taken on her body. The actress and comedian revealed that 8 months after giving birth to her son, Gene, she has decided to undergo the egg freezing process.
“I’m a week into IVF and feeling really run down and emotional,” Schumer posted to Instagram, along with a photo of her abdomen, bruised from her treatment. “If anyone went through it and if you have any advice or wouldn’t mind sharing your experience with me please do. My number is in my bio. We are freezing my eggs and figuring out what to do to give Gene a sibling.”
During her pregnancy with Gene, Schumer openly discussed dealing with hyperemesis gravidarum, a condition characterized by persistent nausea and vomiting, weight loss, and dehydration. She’s also discussed a difficult delivery via C-section due to complications from endometriosis.
Followers on Instagram, who have also been through the fertility treatment process, were quick to offer advice and support to Schumer.
“It’s emotional and your hormones are a mess,” said one follower. “Rest and accept pampering and hugs.”
“You are already doing the most important thing,” wrote another. “Being open and vulnerable about a very difficult process.”
Dr. Anate Brauer, Director of IVF who sees patients in SGF New York’s Manhattan office, says freezing eggs or embryos is an option sometimes chosen by women looking to delay getting pregnant for medical or elective reasons.
“Women who are in their later thirties and want multiple children may feel pressured to move on to the next pregnancy right away due to decreasing pregnancy rates due to egg quantity and quality,” Brauer told TODAY Parents. “By freezing eggs or embryos, a woman can choose to delay having a second or third child without the stress of her ‘biological clock’ ticking while enjoying time with her firstborn.”
So, are Schumer’s feelings of being “run down and emotional” par for the IVF course?
Brauer says it depends on the patient.
“While most women feel generally unaffected by IVF medications, everyone is different and responds to medications differently,” said Brauer. “Some women feel completely normal. Some feel emotional. Some feel tired while others report feeling more energetic.”
“One common complaint towards the end of the stimulation cycle is bloating,” Brauer continued. “Although this is not linked to the medication specifically, rather pressure from growing eggs inside the ovaries, which is the goal of treatment.”
A Holistic Approach to Treatment
For many women, their stress levels may already be high when they are trying to conceive or begin treatment. When you begin fertility treatment, we strongly recommend patients join a support group. Some even find services such as acupuncture or massage offered at SGF’s Wellness Center to be helpful. While these alternative therapies are not necessarily intended to increase conception rates, they have helped many patients better manage the emotional stress of infertility and support them before and during treatment.
Our Facebook community of 30K strong is a wonderful way to connect with past and current patients and to share stories, tips, and offer words of hope and encouragement.
What Egg Freezing Patients Are Saying
“Egg freezing gives me the opportunity to hold onto my own self interests. I am realistic that the journey will not be perfect, but I do believe it will be better than not trying at all. And this is a better chance to be able to do things my way, as I continue to progress through the natural aging process.” – Radell Peischler, Former Shady Grove Fertility Egg Freezing Patient.
“Egg freezing is an investment in the future and probably the best one I’ve ever made. I no longer have to worry about my biological clock ticking as I rebuild my life. No matter how old I am if or when I decide to have another child, my eggs will always be 36. As my eggs wait to be thawed one day, medicine continues to advance, and the statistics continue to improve. How lucky are women to have this gift?! As I prepare for one more cycle, the only regret I have is that I didn’t freeze my eggs sooner.” – Rachel, Former Shady Grove Fertility Egg Freezing Patient.
Looking for more information? Watch our Egg Freezing On-Demand Webinar, available for viewing at your convenience.
If you would like to learn more or schedule an appointment with an SGF physician, please speak with one of our New Patient Liaisons at 877-971-7755 or fill out this brief form.
