Three out of five parents would pay to have daughters' eggs frozen

Three-fifths of UK parents say they'd consider paying for their daughter to freeze her eggs - with 21% already treating it as a financial milestone comparable to buying a home. A generous 59% of parents with daughters said they'd be willing to contribute to their child's future fertility preservation . Research revealed more than one in five (21%) parents already treat egg freezing as a financial milestone on a par with going to university or buying a home. According to the study, commissioned by TFP Fertility, among those already saving for their children's futures, 10% are already putting money aside for fertility treatment. When it comes to saving milestones traditional landmarks continue to lead, with 27% of parents saving for education, 21% for a house deposit and 18% for a wedding. Price remains the key barrier for women considering egg freezing with half (48%) saying cost is currently preventing them from doing it. Two-thirds (65%) of those quizzed in the study say they'd be more likely to consider egg freezing if it was more affordable. Overall, the fertility conversation is gaining traction, with parents eight times more likely to think fertility planning will become more common than less (34% vs 4%), while 62% think it will stay the same or are unsure. This comes amid a wider trend of women delaying parenthood for a variety of reasons, including to prioritise careers, travel and achieve financial security. On average, parents say conversations about fertility planning should begin at around age 22. The data suggests younger parents are driving the shift, with nearly four in 10 (39%) aged 44 and under seeing egg freezing as a financial milestone, compared to 17% of those over 44. Similarly, nearly seven in 10 younger parents (69%) would consider helping pay for egg freezing, compared to 46% of those aged over 44. With cost becoming such a barrier for women considering egg freezing, TFP has launched an egg freeze and share scheme. This allows women with healthy ovarian reserves to freeze a portion of their eggs, while donating some to another woman. On average, eligible women could pay around £1,000 for a cycle using the egg freeze and share scheme. This is a significant cost reduction on standard egg freezing cycles, which starts upwards of £5,000. Dr James Hopkisson, UK Medical Director at TFP Fertility, said: "We are seeing a clear shift when it comes to egg freezing and families are thinking differently. "An increasing number of parents are showing a willingness to provide financial support, reflecting a wider trend of delaying motherhood, as women prioritise other things like travel or their career. "It's good to see the conversation around fertility planning is moving forward, with many women open to discussing their options with loved ones. Proactive planning and open dialogue are healthy ways to approach future parenthood. "Our egg freeze and share programme allows us to improve accessibility to egg freezing, empowering more women to take control of their fertility, while also preserving and donating to someone in need." For more information about egg freezing, visit Egg freezing | Freeze your eggs with TFP | TFP Fertility