1. A binational study was conducted to assess the socio-demographic characteristics and life circumstances of 150 healthy women who had undertaken at least one cycle of elective egg freezing (EEF) in the United States and Israel.
2. Women in both countries were educated professionals, and 85% undertook EEF because they lacked a partner.
3. The “lack of a partner” problem reflects growing international socio-demographic disparities in educational achievement, leaving many highly educated women without partners during their prime childbearing years.
The article "Elective egg freezing and its underlying socio-demography: a binational analysis with global implications" published in Reproductive Biology and Endocrinology aims to understand the socio-demographic factors that lead healthy women to preserve their fertility through elective egg freezing (EEF). The study was conducted from June 2014 to August 2016, assessing the socio-demographic characteristics and life circumstances of 150 healthy women who had undertaken at least one cycle of EEF in the United States and Israel.
The article presents an interesting perspective on the reasons why women choose EEF. While recent reviews suggest that women are intentionally postponing fertility through EEF to pursue careers and achieve reproductive autonomy, emerging empirical evidence suggests that women may be resorting to EEF for other reasons, primarily the lack of a partner with whom to pursue childbearing. The study found that 85% of women undertook EEF because they lacked a partner. This “lack of a partner” problem was reflected in women’s own assessments of why they were single in their late 30s, despite their desires for marriage and childbearing.
The article provides valuable insights into the growing international socio-demographic disparities in educational achievement. University-educated women now significantly outnumber university-educated men in the US, Israel, and nearly 75 other societies around the globe, according to World Bank data. Thus, educated women increasingly face a deficit of educated men with whom to pursue childbearing.
However, there are some potential biases in this article. Firstly, the sample size is relatively small (150 participants), which may not be representative of all women who choose EEF. Secondly, the study only focuses on two countries (the US and Israel), which limits its generalizability to other countries where EEF is offered. Thirdly, while the study highlights important socio-demographic disparities between men and women's educational achievements, it does not explore potential solutions or policy implications to address this issue.
In conclusion, the article "Elective egg freezing and its underlying socio-demography: a binational analysis with global implications" provides valuable insights into the reasons why women choose EEF. However, it is important to consider potential biases in the study and explore potential solutions to address the socio-demographic disparities highlighted in the article.