Clinical Takeaways

• The Procedure is Identical: Whether you freeze for "social" reasons or "medical" reasons, the stimulation, retrieval, and lab technology are exactly the same.
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• The Difference is Urgency: Medical preservation is often reactive (before chemotherapy or surgery), while social preservation is proactive (before age-related fertility decline).
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• The Insurance Gap: In many countries, "medical" freezing is covered by insurance, while "social" freezing is out-of-pocket. We are advocating to change this.
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• New Terminology: We prefer the term "Elective Fertility Preservation." It is not a lifestyle luxury; it is responsible biological management.

When it comes to fertility, society loves labels. Patients are categorized into boxes: "Infertility," "Onco-fertility," "Social Freezers."

At Ovom, we are deeply focused on inclusivity in fertility, and find the term "Social Freezing" deeply problematic. It implies that preserving your fertility is a casual "lifestyle choice," akin to buying a luxury handbag or taking a sabbatical.

It minimizes the biological reality of ovarian aging.

Whether you are freezing your eggs because you are facing chemotherapy, or because you haven't found the right partner yet, or because you are prioritizing your career — you are making a valid medical decision to protect your future autonomy.

At Ovom, we believe the distinction between "Social" and "Medical" is largely artificial. It should not matter why you are freezing; it only matters that you are freezing.

Here is the reality behind the labels.

Defining the Terms

To navigate the healthcare system (and often, your insurance policy), it is important to understand how the industry defines these two paths.

1. Medical Fertility Preservation

‍This refers to freezing eggs, sperm, or reproductive tissue when a medical diagnosis or treatment threatens immediate infertility.

• Common Scenarios: Cancer patients before chemotherapy/radiation, impending surgery for endometriosis or ovarian cysts, or gender-affirming hormone therapy (HRT) for trans or non-binary individuals.
• The Timeline: Often urgent. We may have only 2 weeks before cancer treatment begins.

2. "Social" Freezing (Elective Preservation)

‍This refers to freezing eggs to protect against age-related fertility decline.

• The Scenario: A patient (usually 28–38) wants to pause their biological clock to ensure they have the option of genetic parenthood later in life.
• The Timeline: Planned and optimized. We can choose the best month to start.

The Comparison: What Actually Changes?

Patients often ask me, "Is the 'medical' cycle better quality than the 'social' cycle?"The answer is no. The medicine is the same. The difference lies in the logistics.

At Ovom, you will receive exactly the same world-class quality of care, regardless of the reason behind your decision to freeze your eggs.

The only real difference is your personal timeline and how long you may have to choose when to start. Insurance will often also cover medical preservation, whereas elective preservation may be self-paid (although many corporate benefit programs are changing this).

Why We Need to "Retire" the Term Social Freezing

The phrase "Social Freezing" was coined by the media, not doctors. It carries a stigma that we don’t believe in.

Age-related fertility decline is a medical condition. We know that after age 35, chromosomal abnormalities in eggs rise exponentially.  There is clear evidence that people who freeze their eggs at younger ages with high numbers of mature eggs have higher chances of having a baby (Cascante et al, 2024).

By freezing eggs at 30, a patient is proactively preventing future poor reproductive problems  (infertility or recurrent miscarriage).

We don't call brushing your teeth "Social Dentistry." We call it preventative care. We should view egg freezing through the same lens.

The "Grey Zone": Endometriosis and Trans Health

The binary of Medical vs. Social falls apart when we look at complex cases.

Endometriosis:

‍Is freezing eggs because you have endometriosis "medical" or "social"?

• Technically, the disease lowers ovarian reserve. However, many insurance companies still classify this as "elective" unless surgery is immediately scheduled.
• The Ovom Stance: We view this as medical preservation and advocate for our patients' coverage wherever possible.

Transgender Fertility Preservation:

‍Is a trans man, trans-masculine person or non-binary person freezing eggs before testosterone "social"? Absolutely not. It is a critical component of Gender-Affirming Healthcare.

Yet, many insurers deny coverage.

• The Ovom Stance: We provide affirming documentation to help patients fight for coverage, classifying this as medically necessary fertility preservation.

The Cost Reality

Because the procedure is the same, the cost structure is generally the same. However, the funding source differs.

• Self-Pay: Most elective freezers pay out of pocket.
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• Corporate Benefits: This is the fastest-growing sector. Companies like Apple, Google, and many progressive European firms now cover "Social Freezing" as an employee benefit. Ovom Care Portugal is listed a clinic able to take benefits such as Carrot.
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• Ovom Financing: We believe cost shouldn't be the barrier. We offer payment plans  and third party financing to make preservation accessible for those who don't have corporate backing.

The Ovom Standard: Medical Rigor for Everyone

Some clinics run "Social Freezing" programs that feel like assembly lines — minimal testing, standard protocols, and lower attention to detail because the patient is "young and healthy."

We reject that model.

At Ovom, every patient, whether freezing for cancer or career, gets the full weight of our technology:

1. AI-Enhanced Diagnostics: We map your ovarian reserve with precision and with our egg calculator help you to know how many eggs will be retrieved based on your diagnostics and age.
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2. Customized Dosing: We don't over-medicate just because you are young. We aim for the best — enough eggs for success, without compromising safety.
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3. Ovom Egg Intelligence: Every egg is a assessed using computer vision to compare your eggs to millions of other eggs in a standardized way allowing you to understand your chances of live birth in the future. Think of it as an egg report card.

FAQ: Common Questions on Terminology

Do medical freezers get priority?

‍Only in terms of scheduling speed. If a patient has chemotherapy starting in 10 days, we will fast-track their intake. However, this never compromises the care or lab time dedicated to our elective patients. Ovom does not batch or waitlist patients, ever!

Are success rates different?

‍”Elective” patients usually freeze when they are healthy and have good ovarian function, whereas "Medical" patients may already be battling chronic medical conditions in addition to their cancer.

While data show that egg yield and maturity are equivalent between both groups, elective freezing allows one the time to plan so that if you desire more than one child, you can pursue multiple cycles to build your family the way you want to — as opposed to doing it under pressure.

The Next Step

Don't let the terminology distract you. Whether you call it social freezing or elective preservation, the science remains the same. And the best time to act is usually now.

Ready to explore your preservation options? Book Your Fertility Assessment.

Footnotes:

1. Cascante SD, Grifo JA, Licciardi F, Parra CM, Kelly A, Berkeley AS. The effects of age, mature oocyte number, and cycle number on cumulative live birth rates after planned oocyte cryopreservation. J Assist Reprod Genet. 2024 Nov;41(11):2979-2985. doi: 10.1007/s10815-024-03175-w. Epub 2024 Jul 2. PMID: 38955888; PMCID: PMC11621243.

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