Italian Model Bianca Balti Advocates for Egg Freezing as a Tool of Freedom
Italian model Bianca Balti has sparked a debate on the practice of “egg freezing” by revealing her plan to gift her daughter with the procedure. Balti views egg freezing as a means to “stop” the biological clock for women, providing them with the option to freeze their eggs for future use.
Egg freezing, also known as “social freezing,” has gained popularity in recent years, with an estimated 6000 women in Italy resorting to the practice in 2021, a 20% increase from the previous year. The procedure, which involves the collection and freezing of a woman’s eggs for later use, was approved by the American Society of Reproductive Medicine in 2012.
To shed light on the process and its implications, we spoke with gynecologist Fabrizio Cerusico, a member of the technical table for lifestyles and fertility of the Ministry of Health. Dr. Cerusico explained that the first step in egg freezing is an ovarian reserve test, followed by hormone therapy and the collection of eggs in a minor surgical procedure.
The ideal time for a woman to freeze her eggs is between the ages of 20 and 35 when fertility is at its peak. Lifestyle factors, such as smoking, can affect the quality of a woman’s eggs, with smoking reducing fertility by approximately 50% in both men and women.
While the cost of egg freezing in Italy ranges from 3000 to 4000 euros, the procedure is only covered by the National Health System for cancer patients undergoing treatments that may impact their fertility. Additionally, there is an annual fee to maintain vitrified eggs.
Ultimately, the success of egg freezing in achieving pregnancy depends on various factors, including the age at which the eggs were frozen. Women who freeze their eggs between the ages of 20 and 30 have a 30% chance of pregnancy upon re-implantation, compared to a 10% chance for those who undergo the procedure at 40 with a reduced ovarian reserve.
As the conversation around egg freezing continues to evolve, it remains a personal choice for women seeking to preserve their fertility and exercise their reproductive freedom.