“I never thought I’d be freezing embryos at 28.”

5 March 2025

Guest Contributor

Nathalie’s story of having a fertility review, then freezing her embryos

“I never thought I’d be freezing embryos at 28. If you’d told me a year ago that I’d be doing IVF before even trying to conceive naturally, I would have laughed. But here I am, six embryos safely stored, giving my future self a chance at a family.

It all started with an Instagram rabbit hole. Fertility talk seemed to be everywhere – influencers discussing their at-home AMH tests, women sharing their struggles, and a growing awareness that fertility isn’t something we can take for granted. I’m getting married next year, and while I wasn’t planning on having kids immediately, I thought, “Maybe I should just check where I stand.” It felt responsible, like a financial health check, but for my body.

So, I booked a female fertility review at The Evewell. I had no idea what to expect, but I went in with a vague confidence that all would be fine. After all, I was young, healthy, and had no reason to suspect otherwise.

The review involved two key tests: an AMH blood test (which I had a few days before) and an ultrasound scan. AMH, or Anti-Müllerian Hormone, is a marker of ovarian reserve – basically, it gives an indication of how many eggs you have left. 

A few days later, whilst sitting in the consultant’s room, I had an ultrasound to assess my follicles and overall gynaecological health. And I got my results. Low AMH for my age. I stared at the consultant blankly, my heart racing. What did that even mean? I had so many questions. I managed to gather myself together and left the clinic in a daze.

A quick Google search sent me into a spiral. “Diminished ovarian reserve.” “Early menopause risk.” “Infertility.” My mind raced through worst-case scenarios. I burst into tears.

I didn’t expect to be confronted with this reality at 28. I had assumed fertility would be something I’d deal with in my mid-30s, not something I’d have to panic about now.

My consultant at The Evewell was calm and reassuring. She explained that while low AMH doesn’t mean I can’t conceive naturally, it does mean I might have fewer eggs than expected for my age. If I waited too long to start trying, I could face challenges. She recommended I freeze my eggs sooner rather than later.

It took me months to get my head around it. I spoke to my fiancé, my closest friends, my mum and my godmother, who had been through several rounds of IVF. Freezing my eggs felt like a huge step – a kind of admission that I might struggle to conceive later. Another thought hit me: if I was in a committed relationship and planning a family with my fiancé, should we be freezing embryos instead of eggs?

That question was another emotional hurdle. Embryo freezing meant making a decision that, in my head, was still years away. It meant involving my fiancé in a process I had initially thought was just about me. We had long conversations about our future, our commitment to each other, and the “what ifs.” What if we split up? What if he changed his mind about kids? What if we used all our embryos and still couldn’t conceive?

Ultimately, we decided to go for it. Embryos have a better chance of surviving the thawing process than eggs, and if we were going to go through this, we wanted the best possible outcome.

The process was daunting. IVF – something I had always associated with couples who had been trying for years – was now my reality before I had even attempted it naturally. I had to start preparing my body: supplements like DHEA and Coenzyme Q10 to improve egg quality, cutting back on caffeine, and prioritising sleep. 

My fiancé quit drinking and smoking to improve his sperm health. We went from being a carefree, engaged couple going away every other weekend and planning a wedding to a couple doing everything we could to optimise fertility. It was surreal.

Then came the injections. I was terrified of them at first. The idea of sticking a needle into my stomach every day made me feel sick. But after the first few, it became routine – part of the daily checklist. Some days I felt bloated and emotional, others I felt completely fine. It was a rollercoaster, but I kept reminding myself why I was doing it.

Egg collection day was nerve-wracking. The procedure itself was straightforward – I was sedated, and when I woke up, it was done. We retrieved 11 eggs. Not a huge number, but enough. Then came the wait – would they fertilise? Would they develop?

A few days later, we got the call: six embryos made it to the freezer. Six potential future babies, waiting for us if we ever need them.

It’s hard to explain the feeling of relief that followed. I’d spent months feeling anxious, mourning the fertility I thought I had, and now, for the first time, I felt at peace. Knowing that we have those embryos stored gives me a sense of control over my future. If, when we start trying naturally, it doesn’t work, we have a backup plan.

I know how lucky I am. I had the financial means to do this – money that could have been spent on another holiday or a new handbag went towards protecting my future family. Not everyone has that privilege, and I don’t take it for granted.

If there’s one thing I want other women to take away from this, it’s that knowledge is power. I had no idea my AMH was low until I got tested. I had no symptoms, no warning signs – just a gut feeling that I should check. If I hadn’t, I might have waited too long and faced real struggles down the line.

Embryo freezing isn’t just for couples – if you’re single, you can freeze your eggs or even embryos using donor sperm. It’s an investment in your future, in your peace of mind.

This wasn’t the journey I expected, but looking back, it’s the best decision I’ve ever made. My embryos are in the tank, waiting. And for the first time in a long time, I feel calm about my fertility. I don’t know what the future holds, but I know I’ve given myself the best possible chance.

If you’re thinking about checking your fertility, do it. Don’t wait until it’s too late. I never thought I’d be here at 28, but I’m so glad I am. – before you start transferring embryos. Because if I could go back and do it all again, that’s exactly what I would do.”