- Australian boxing champion Ruby Singh chose to freeze her eggs.
- Ms. Singh mentioned that her objective was to secure a world title and 'have several children'
- READ MORE: Australia's fertility rate hits a new record low
Australian boxing champion Ruby Singhhas disclosed that she has frozen her eggs, aligning with an increasing number of women who are focusing on their professional lives before beginning a family.
Ms. Singh, in her early 30s and listed among the top 10 globally, recently claimed the WBC title.AsiaChampionship title in April and is currently getting ready to travel to the United States in pursuit of her next world championship.
Although her main goal is to achieve success in boxing, Ms. Singh mentioned that she does not wish to jeopardize her future ability to have children.
She has recently finished an egg freezing cycle at AdoraFertilityin Australia - a step she mentioned has alleviated the pressure of the 'ticking clock' that many women in their 30s experience.
Saving my eggs had always been in the back of my thoughts,' she said. 'In my early 30s I began to consider it but I didn't take any action because I was traveling a bit.
The pivotal moment occurred after Ms Singh viewed comedian Andrew Schultz'sNetflixUnique Existence, where he freely addressedIVF and egg freezing.
"After I completed my match, I realized I would be staying home for a few months before returning to the US," Ms. Singh stated.
[The documentary] somewhat brought back memories and I felt it was ideal timing for me to freeze my eggs.
Ms. Singh decided to have the procedure done in Australia instead of disrupting her intense training routine while abroad.
"Australia is the top choice for me compared to all the other places I've been, regarding affordability and the support received," she stated.
I was aware I would be deeply involved in a training camp abroad, and once you gain momentum and are preparing for a world title, you can't stop for a few months, go get eggs frozen, and then resume the process.
It's a significant period for me and my boxing career. I can't afford to stop in the middle. Therefore, I decided, even before beginning the process of training for a world title, to freeze my eggs.
Ms. Singh mentioned that she hopes to have 'four or five children' one day—and this choice has given her a sense of calm.
"I don't need to worry about my biological clock while I'm concentrated and fighting, as it provides a bit more control," she stated.
I'm currently undergoing egg freezing, so I'm completing several sessions to ensure I have enough eggs by the time I'm ready to start a family, which provides me with a sense of comfort.
I understand it's not a certain result, similar to the likelihood of having a child based on the number of eggs you freeze, but as long as you are informed about it, I believe it's a wonderful concept.
Born into a conventional Indian-Australian household where marriage and parenthood typically signify achievement, Ms Singh mentioned that her decision to become a professional boxer was not consistently supported.
Her parents now support her from the sidelines but continue to inquire when she will get married.
Initially, when I told my mom, she said, 'Why don't you just get married?' said Ms Singh. "I explained that I can't just find a husband at a store and then immediately have children.
It provides her with comfort that I am genuinely considering starting a family and desire to have one, instead of simply letting time pass and reaching an age where it may no longer be feasible.
Her advice to women thinking about egg freezing is straightforward: begin preparing.
"You don't need to proceed with it right away, but locate a clinic and begin considering it so you can add it to your to-do list," said Ms. Singh.
Then you understand the cost and all related details, and when you're prepared to proceed and have the money, you won't need to spend months looking for a clinic or waiting for tests.
More and more people in Australia are choosing to freeze their eggs, with almost 7,000 procedures performed in 2022—almost twice the number of 3,500 recorded in 2020, as reported by the Australian and New Zealand Assisted Reproduction Database.
Dr. Charley Zheng, a fertility expert at Adora Fertility, mentioned that the clinic has observed a 20 percent rise in women choosing to freeze their eggs over the last two to three years.
'Anyone between the ages of 35 and 37, or younger, who has the chance to freeze their eggs, should,' said Dr. Zheng.
He mentioned that the process can enable women to feel "free from the biological clock" and is essential for individuals with endometriosis or those receiving cancer treatment.
Egg freezing is about securing the future," said Dr. Zheng. "It gives social situations, such as dating and locating a suitable partner, the opportunity to develop naturally.
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