Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is freezing her eggs to feel 'in control'. How does it work?

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is taking a personal step to gain control over her future by freezing her eggs. The 36-year-old congresswoman shared the news via Instagram stories, acknowledging the sensitive and private nature of the decision while vowing to document the process.

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It has taken me time to consider, weigh and save up for, and it is of a sensitive matter and a personal matter and usually I keep my private life quite private, but I have made the decision to start freezing my eggs.

"It has taken me time to consider, weigh and save up for, and it is of a sensitive matter and a personal matter and usually I keep my private life quite private, but I have made the decision to start freezing my eggs," she said. Ocasio-Cortez shared videos of her medications and administering the first injection, urging followers not to be "weird about this."

She framed the decision as a way to feel "empowered" and in control, particularly noting the public scrutiny she has faced since being elected at a young age. "This is a choice that I am making to feel more in control of my life and if people want to make assumptions about my decision, let them make those assumptions," she stated.

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Don't be weird about this, even though I know all of you will be.

Ocasio-Cortez also touched on the political implications, recognizing the "political risk" of sharing such personal information. She drew a parallel to how men's career prospects are not typically questioned based on their family planning. "This is just not something that men deal with," she observed. "Men run for office or frankly they interview for jobs and people don't think in the back of their mind, 'okay, this guy's running for office, how old is he? Oh well, is he going to want to start a family?'"

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This is a choice that I am making to feel more in control of my life and if people want to make assumptions about my decision, let them make those assumptions.

Furthermore, she criticized the Trump administration for its approach to reproductive rights, stating it was "dedicated to politicising women's bodies and taking our choices away from us." She asserted that the administration has made pregnancy more dangerous and vowed to "take our power back."

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I feel empowered to make this choice, I think it's a very privileged position that I've been able to make.