WOULD YOU FREEZEYOUR EGGS TO PURSUE A CAREER?

Apple and Facebook are adding a new perk for female employees: Free egg freezing that would let them delay parenting for a few years. Egg freezing (technically called "oocyte cryopreservation") as an elective process is still a relatively new trend, first pioneered in humans in 1986. It is designed to allow a woman to attempt to have children past her most fertile years (20-35, according to Mayo Clinic). The process generally involves having a woman in her peak fertile years take hormones to produce more mature eggs than the one that would result naturally during her menstrual cycle, up to 45 eggs, according to the NYU Fertility Centre. The mature eggs are then extracted or harvested in a procedure that takes 10 to 15 minutes under sedation, and the healthy eggs are then frozen in a fertility clinic and kept until a woman wants to have a child, up to 10 years, at which point they are unfrozen and fertilized with sperm, and then re-implanted into a woman's uterus. The technology hasn't been very reliable and was until recently considered experimental. It is also expensive, costing around $10,000 per cycle or "round" of egg production (http://www.theverge.com/2014/10/14/6976295/apple-and-facebook-pay-women-employees-egg-freezing )

Over the years we cannot deny the impact technology has had on our lives and the way we live. Some people believe technology is a blessing; others a curse and I am most certain each school of thought would have conflicting point of views on this subject matter.

According to reports, Facebook began giving out this option this year and Apple is scheduled to start theirs January 2015. Both Silicon Valley giants claim their goal is to give more women opportunities in the tech industry and help retain top female talents in the organizations. Whatever the reason for their action, it is still unsure if it can be classified as right or wrong.

It is said that already these tech giants amongst others are already offering other incentive to make the workplace more condusive such as;

·         unlimited vacation,

·         a casual work environment, and

·          Meals from five-star chefs.

·          Massage and on-site laundry (Google) services to keep employees working. a new extended maternity leave(Apple)

·         Adoption Assistance program, where Apple reimburses eligible expenses associated with the legal adoption of a child and so on

While this is the first time any company would offer egg freezing as an incentive, can this gesture be really considered innocent?

Are the organizations truly interested in closing the gap between the number of males and females recruited or are they motivated by selfish reasons. It would cost the organization $10,000.00 to harvest these eggs and $1,000 a year for maintenance. (Facebook and Apple are both covering costs of egg freezing up to $20,000.) While some people consider it an attractive offer (for those who are not really in having a family) it also seems like an indirect way of asking people to choose between a career and a family.

What this means in literal terms is that if you join the workforce at 26years old you can keep those eggs up until you are 36 years of age. However, the results of an analysis published in August 2013 in the journal Fertility and Sterility indicate that the chances of a live birth after egg freezing for women 30 and older are less than 25%. It seems these companies are encouraging the delay childbirth and reinforcing a workplace culture that isn't supportive of childrearing earlier in people's careers

Below is an example of what people some people think

“If you don't want us to step away from our desks at 30, why will it be OK at 40? Stick your egg freezing in the bin”.

— Freya (@Freyamsr) October 14, 2014

“Would much rather FB/Apple give me $20K towards a robot nanny”

— ▵ Jenna Wortham ▵ (@jennydeluxe) October 14, 2014

 

I personally believe that life is a choice and with every choice comes with its consequence. The best of life comes to you if you avoid staying on the extremes. The cycle of life should not be distrupted. Work life balance is possible and it’s probably be better if these companies invest this money in facilities that would enable these women have the best of both worlds. E.g a daycare facility in the office complex or managed by the organization, flexible working hours, nanny services, e.t.c.

Like I mentioned earlier, opinions vary some people might not feel that way. It’s a function of what your goals are (family-Career) at least Facebook and Apple are giving people an opportunity to make that choice now right! Or are the not?

Eyitemi Adebowale

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