UAE: More women are choosing to freeze their eggs despite social stigma; here's why

Khaleej Times

3 days ago

This year, 25-year-old Arab expat M.A. is making a bold and proactive decision of freezing her eggs. A communications professional based in the UAE, M.A. said it wasn't an easy conversation to have, especially coming from a conservative Arab background.
"It took me a lot of courage to broach this subject with my family. But my parents were open-minded and supportive of my decision," she shared.
"I am nowhere close to even meeting a partner, let alone getting married. That is why I decided that I want to take this step. I am the eldest of three girls and I think I am going to set an example for my sisters as well," she added.
M.A. is one of a growing number of women in the UAE exploring fertility preservation. In recent months, several events have aimed to educate and empower women about their reproductive choices. In May, science and technology company Merck partnered with femtech firm Ovasave to host an evening of discussion to encourage more women to take informed decisions about their fertility. Earlier this month, media agency TishTash followed suit with an event focused on IVF and egg freezing.
Growing interest
'I have seen a noticeable rise in interest from women seeking information about egg freezing,' said Cassie Destino, founder of IVF Support UAE. 'As fertility preservation becomes a more mainstream conversation, more women are learning about their options and recognising that this kind of proactive healthcare can be an empowering choice for their future.'
According to Dr Charles Badr Nagy Rafael, consultant obstetrics and gynaecology at Medcare Women and Children Hospital, he has seen more women opting for egg-freezing. 'More women are freezing their eggs in their late 20s and especially by 30s for various reasons such as focusing on career, waiting for the right partner, or managing health issues like endometriosis,' he said. 'It's an empowering option that gives women more control over their future.'
He added that many women learn about their infertility only when they start trying for a child and often times, it is too late. 'If women often have painful periods, discomfort during intimacy or ongoing pelvic pain, it could be a sign of endometriosis,' he said.
'The good news is, we have ways to detect it early like simple scans or minor procedures and explore options like egg freezing or treatment to help protect your future fertility. The key is not to wait talk to your doctor early if something doesn't feel right," he added.
Sarrah Barakat, government affairs – access and communications director at Merck Gulf said she wished she had known about the option to freeze her eggs when she was younger. "I had my son at 38, and the entire pregnancy was filled with anxiety — worrying about age-related risks like Down syndrome and other such issues that could show in late pregnancies,' she recalled.
She believes that as society encourages women to pursue careers and delay traditional paths like marriage and motherhood, it's essential they're made aware of their reproductive choices. "It is really just about giving them another option.'
Stigma persists
Despite rising awareness, many women still face challenges in accessing egg freezing and IVF — primarily due to cost.
'Because it's not considered an 'essential' healthcare in the way disease treatment is, many women hesitate to spend that kind of money, especially on something that feels uncertain or far off in the future. There's also a perception that the process will be long, painful, or overly complicated.
"In reality, it's far more manageable than many expect. But it can still feel like a major step, especially when you're not even sure if you'll ever need to use the frozen eggs. That emotional and financial unknown can be a real hurdle for many women," Cassie noted.
Dr Charles added that although things have gotten a lot better, there is still some stigma around the biological clock and fertility risks. 'There's still a long way to go,' he said. 'With all the talk about IVF and egg freezing, many young women think they can hit pause on fertility, but biology still plays by its own rules. Egg quality naturally declines with age, even if you feel perfectly healthy. That's why we encourage open, honest conversations early on so you can plan your future with confidence.'