Physician's personal egg-freezing story highlights systemic sexism in fertility industry

In an opinion piece, NYU assistant professor Pooja Yerramilli reflects on her own egg-freezing experience after Democratic Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez sparked a national conversation about reproductive rights. Yerramilli notes that while the public debate framed egg freezing as a feminist choice, her personal journey revealed a different reality.

The physician describes how her employer offered a modest subsidy for family-planning services, including egg freezing, IVF and adoption. She decided to explore the option with a fertility specialist, only to encounter high out-of-pocket costs, extensive medical procedures, and emotional strain that left her feeling disempowered.

Yerramilli argues that the fertility industry, despite marketing itself as supportive of women's autonomy, often operates in ways that undermine feminist goals. She calls for greater transparency and systemic change to make reproductive care truly equitable.