WASHINGTON — New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez announced she is freezing her eggs, sharing the news in an Instagram video in which she said she understood the political risk of making the decision public. The 36-year-old Democrat, a potential presidential contender, is engaged to Riley Roberts, an Arizona native.
Ocasio-Cortez displayed the hormone syringe she would use and explained her decision to document the process, citing a lack of public information about it. She later injected her stomach on camera, describing the experience as "not so bad" after initial nervousness.
The procedure will cost $8,000 to $9,000, none of which her insurance covers, she said. She told her followers she had saved money for years to afford it.
Ocasio-Cortez said she wanted to "feel more in control" of her life and felt empowered to make the choice regardless of what others assumed about it.
Her announcement comes as elective egg-freezing cycles have increased sharply in the United States. Research from UCLA Health found a nearly fourfold rise between 2014 and 2021, from 4,153 to 16,436 procedures. The average age of women undergoing the procedure dropped from 36 in 2014 to 34.9 in 2021. Assisted reproductive technology contributed to more than 100,000 births in the U.S. in 2024.
The success rate of pregnancy using in vitro fertilization and frozen eggs depends on the woman's age at the time of freezing and the number of eggs preserved.
The Instagram posts drew debate about reproductive technology and Ocasio-Cortez's decision to delay marriage and motherhood despite her long-term engagement. Matt Walsh of The Daily Wire questioned her timing, saying her age places a pregnancy in the "geriatric" category. Other critics suggested she prioritizes her political career over starting a family, and some outlets highlighted her four-year engagement and the procedure's cost.
Ocasio-Cortez said on ABC's "This Week" that she aims to normalize conversations about the challenges women face professionally and personally. She said women "can do anything" and called it "badass" to give herself shots while preparing for public appearances. She also used the platform to criticize policies of President Donald Trump's administration.
Ocasio-Cortez confirmed she has not ruled out a future presidential run. She also left open the possibility of challenging Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer for his New York Senate seat in 2028.
