Female Fertility and Assisted Reproduction: Donas da Voz Guide

Fertility Preservation: A Conscious Choice

An alternative for postponing motherhood is egg freezing. This technique allows women to preserve their gametes at a younger age, maintaining the option to become a mother in the future, regardless of biological age. However, the cost in Brazil is still high. A human reproduction treatment can range from R$10,000 to R$30,000.

For public access, there are hospitals like Hospital Pérola Byington in São Paulo, but waiting lists can extend up to two years. Financial planning is essential for those who wish to pursue this path. Egg freezing is not a guarantee of pregnancy success, but it significantly increases the probabilities, potentially raising the chances from 1% to 40% after age 40 if the eggs were frozen earlier. It's like insurance: you get it to have the option, hoping not to need it, but happy to have it if the need arises.

The Role of Doctors and Support Networks

Ideally, gynecologists should address fertility preservation with their patients from an early age. While this movement is growing, it's still important for women to be proactive, ask questions, and seek information. An infertility check-up is a starting point and should investigate both the woman and the man, demystifying the stigma of male infertility, which is also a reality.

Fertility treatments bring significant psychological, physical, and financial impacts. ABRAFE (Brazilian Fertility Association), a patient association, offers multidisciplinary and free support for couples, with renowned professionals who operate without conflicts of interest, ensuring quality information and assistance. Cases like those of Ivete Sangalo and Karina Bacchi, who used assisted reproduction and egg freezing to achieve their dreams of motherhood, demonstrate the importance of openly discussing the topic, inspiring other women.

Fertility in the LGBTQ+ Community

The demand for assisted reproduction among LGBTQ+ couples has been growing. Specialized clinics are increasingly prepared to serve this demographic. For female couples, the use of sperm banks, both national and international, is common, where it's even possible to choose specific donor characteristics. For male couples, who do not have a uterus, options include egg donation and gestational surrogacy (known in Brazil as 'barriga solidária' or 'solidarity womb'), which differs from commercial surrogacy in Brazil by requiring the surrogate to have a familial or friendly relationship with the couple and that the process be non-profit. In both scenarios, legal counsel from the clinics is crucial for the safety of the process.

Information and Social Media: Allies and Pitfalls

Social media are powerful tools for disseminating information about fertility and assisted reproduction. They provide access to detailed knowledge about egg freezing, gamete donation, stages of in vitro fertilization, and the work of specialists. However, it's crucial to be cautious of "miracle cures" and always seek reliable sources, such as medical associations (SBRA, SBRH) and recognized clinics. Furthermore, therapy plays a fundamental role, helping women deal with social pressures and build the necessary confidence to make their own decisions, regardless of external opinions.

The final message is clear: women's empowerment comes through information and the ability to make conscious choices. There is no right or wrong in the motherhood journey, only what is best for you. Livia Matos and Donas da Voz continue to give voice to these topics, encouraging each woman's confidence and autonomy to be the owner of her own life.