Today we’re talking about egg freezing, getting pregnant, putting off getting pregnant basically how to make a baby with a reproductive specialist. This is important info we should all know – whether you are done having kids, don’t want kids, don’t want to think about it right now… It’s getting more common to put off having babies but our bodies haven’t caught up with this timeline. We should all know how our bodies work for our own knowledge and also to be able to talk about it with the people in our lives. Let’s get comfortable talking about these things and it starts with getting educated.

New here? I’m Monica creator of RunEatRepeat.com at site I started to document my first marathon training and journey to lose weight. I ran a marathon, lost weight and much to my surprise the site grew a huge following and I fell in love with all things running, nutrition and health related.

You can follow along @RunEatRepeat on instagram

Warm Up:

I broke my tooth.

I saw my old dentist receptionist on HGTV – on the show Flea Market Flip. And I called her.

Main Event:

Before we get to the interview I want to share an update on my journey thinking about freezing my eggs, if I’ve decided to do it and what is factoring into my decision.

–> I made a video last year when I first started to research freezing my eggs. Note – most doctors call this fertility preservation.

Thinking About Egg Freezing video – my first thoughts on looking into it.

[Subscribe to my YouTube Channel here so you never miss a video!]

I’ve really gone back and forth with whether or not to do it for a few reasons…

– Cost

– Odds I’ll actually use them

– Relationship status

– Family history – my mom had my little brother when she was 45

– Timeline thoughts – part of me thinks if I’m going to have kids I should do it now since I have lil nieces and want them to grow up together

– Other options: deciding to do it alone via a sperm bank or adoption?

– Health

– and more

It’s a really hard decision because it’s so expensive and it’s just a back-up plan. But will I regret not doing it?

So I’m still thinking about it and don’t really have a clear plan one way or the other. I do know where I would do it if I was going to move forward so there’s a chance I might just go for it next week and there’s a chance I won’t do it. Stay tuned. Let me know if you have any questions or if you’ve done it and have something helpful to share.

Now let’s talk to Dr. Elizabeth A. Barbieri, she’s a board-certified specialist in reproductive endocrinology at Oregon Reproductive Medicine. Dr. Barbieri has extensive expertise in in vitro fertilization, infertility and egg freezing. And she really breaks down the medical jargon into a realistic way to think about these often emotional topics.

From Oregon Reproductive Medicine:

As more and more celebrities and athletes get pregnant later in life, the average woman is left thinking that she too can wait until her late 30s or 40s to start planning a family. According to Dr. Elizabeth Barbieri of Oregon Reproductive Medicine, that’s not always the case. “Many celebrities and athletes are inadvertently setting unrealistic expectations for many women that it will be easy to get pregnant naturally in their 40s, when in fact a lot of these celebrities and athletes have struggled, and have had a little assistance along the way.”

Specifically, athletic women tend to put off family planning while they train in their 20’s and into their 30’s, which has its own set of challenges for fertility, including delayed or non existent menstrual cycles or disruption of body fat and cycles during intense training.
According to the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) a woman’s best reproductive years are in her 20s. Women in their 30s have a 20% chance of getting pregnant and by age 40, a woman’s chance of getting pregnant is less than 5%.

With many women delaying pregnancy until their 30s and 40s, fertility issues are becoming a growing topic of concern.

According to Dr. Barbieri, women need to think ahead and have a game plan, as there’s many things women need to consider in their 20s, 30s and 40s.

“Whether you’re a new college graduate that is just starting out on your career path, or if you’re in an established relationship in your 30s and trying to get pregnant without success, there’s a variety of options available to women on their journey to parenthood. Knowing more can help people take control of their fertility so they can start a family when the time is right for them.”

Dr. Elizabeth Barbieri of Oregon Reproductive Medicine shares insight on:

1. What are the chances of getting pregnant for a woman in her 20s, 30s and 40s.

2. When should you seek medical advice on trying to have a baby? (How long should you be trying to conceive before getting support)

3. Why would a woman freeze her eggs?

4. Does freezing eggs mean less eggs to work with when you want to have a baby?

5. What is the best age to freeze your eggs?

6. What to consider when thinking about freezing your eggs… age, timeline, relationship status, health, family history, etc.

7. What would prevent someone from freezing their eggs?

8. What are the benefits of fertility preservation?

9. Why don’t most women seem to use the eggs they froze?

10. What is the egg freezing process? Can I still workout if I’m freezing my eggs?

For more information check out: https://www.oregonreproductivemedicine.com/

Homework:

1. Barkely’s Marathons documentary – The Barkley Marathons: The Race That Eats Its Young – Official Trailer (2015) Documentary

I’ll be talking to someone who tried to tackle this race and it’ll be fun if you’re familiar with it. And if you have a question for her – send it over!

The Barkley Marathons is an ultramarathon trail race held in Frozen Head State Park near Wartburg, Tennessee. Runners may elect a “fun run” of 60 miles (97 km) or the full course of 100 miles (160 km) (distances are approximate). The race is limited to a 60-hour period, and takes place in late March or early April of each year. (from Wikipedia)

2. Leave a rating and review for the show! Or tell someone about it!