Getty Images/STYLECASTER
“He’s going to ruin my life,” my friend wailed. “He’s going to waste another 10 years, and I’ll be childless and single,” she said furiously, practically spitting the words through the phone. She’s deep in the trough of an “off” phase with her on-and-off boyfriend of 13 years, who also happens to be the love of her life and?a very tired cliché, I know?terrified of committing to her, despite the fact they’ve dated for almost all of their adult lives, are now in their 30s, and have lived all over the world together. Let’s call my friend Cara (fake name, obvious reason).
We’ve had this conversation before, Cara and me, so I know there’s no point in telling her to swear off him and move on?she probably won’t, not for good anyway. Instead, I offer up what I consider to be helpful, practical, solid advice: “Why don’t you get your eggs frozen, and buy yourself some time"” My suggestion was met with a curt click as Cara, offended, disconnected our call. I understand it’s a sensitive topic, but egg freezing for women with medical issues, such as cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy, has been available for decades–then four years ago the American Society for Reproductive Medicine gave the go-ahead for all women anywhere to have their eggs frozen in a procedure called oocyte cryopreservation, and that changed everything. ...