“The trouble is, you think you have time.” - Buddha

For years, I thought I had time. Time to build a thriving career, find the right partner, and then settle down to start a family. But life doesn’t always line up with our perfectly laid plans. And when I realized how urgent it was to freeze my eggs, I was almost too late.

Looking back now, I wish someone had told me how critical it was to freeze my eggs while I was still in my 20s. But in reality, most women—myself included—don’t start thinking seriously about fertility until it’s almost too late. And that’s the crux of the problem. We live in a society where career aspirations, finding the right partner, and enjoying life take precedence over the ticking biological clock.

At 38, I had gone from blissful ignorance to the painful realization that I might have waited too long. My AMH was 3.4 pmol/L—alarmingly low for my age group. The doctor explained that my ovarian reserve was dwindling, and any chance of freezing eggs would be a challenge. Hearing that freezing just five eggs would be considered a success left me feeling defeated​.

Here’s something most women don’t realize until it’s too late: our fertility doesn’t age gracefully. While our minds, careers, and experiences mature, our eggs decline. By the time we hit 35, the chances of a successful pregnancy drop significantly.

What I didn’t know at the time was that the number of eggs you need to freeze to have a decent shot at future pregnancy varies based on age. Women under 35 might likely need just one cycle to freeze enough eggs because the quality will be higher. But by the time you hit 40, you may need multiple cycles to achieve enough eggs; even then, the quality may not be there. The older you get, the harder it becomes.

If I could go back in time, I would have frozen my eggs in my 20s, not my late 30s. But like so many women, I didn’t have the knowledge or foresight to prioritize my fertility when I was younger. And I know I’m not alone.

So, here’s my message to every woman reading this: Don’t wait until it’s almost too late. Take a fertility test, learn about your fertility, and consider freezing your eggs while you still can. It’s a gift your future self will thank you for.