U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has announced she is freezing her eggs, sharing her journey through a series of Instagram stories this past weekend.
The 36-year-old New York Democrat said she would document the process to help fill an information gap she encountered, The Guardian reported.
"This is a choice that I am making to feel more in control of my life," Ocasio-Cortez said in one of the videos, as reported by The Guardian.
Personal decision, public process
In her posts, Ocasio-Cortez described saving for the procedure and explained her reasons for going public. She discussed the limited education women receive about their bodies across different life stages, from puberty through menopause, The Guardian reported.
The congresswoman showed her followers the medicines and tools involved in the treatment, which typically involves multiple injections over roughly 10 days or more. In one video, she prepared to administer a shot while joking about the situation, quipping about starting an "ASMR egg-freezing channel," The Guardian reported.
She also gave viewers a peek behind the scenes, filming herself preparing for a scheduled ABC interview.
"I want you all to see that," she said, according to The Guardian. "Because women can do anything. And I think it's badass that I'm gonna be giving myself shots in the green room, get my glam on, roll out, talk international events, domestic policy, elections, pop out, live my life, do my thing."
The decision comes with a significant personal cost. Egg cryopreservation typically runs between $10,000 and $20,000, and Ocasio-Cortez said she had been saving for the procedure for some time, The Guardian reported.
Shaw Local Enewspapers noted that Ocasio-Cortez, who earns $174,000 a year as a member of the House, asked "Can I afford it?" in a Vanity Fair interview about the procedure. The outlet also pointed out that the congresswoman is contemplating a challenge to U.S. Sen. Chuck Schumer in 2028 or a possible presidential run.
The decision to go public was, in part, a political one. During her ABC interview, Ocasio-Cortez said that in an environment where the administration is denying reproductive care to women across the country, it is important for leaders to share these processes to normalize them, especially for working women, The Guardian reported.
Reactions
Ocasio-Cortez's announcement drew praise from political figures and strategists.
Amanda Litman, co-founder and president of Run for Something, wrote on X: "I'm just so grateful for her honesty & vulnerability."
Democratic strategist Xochitl Hinojosa echoed those sentiments, writing: "We don't talk about women freezing their eggs... Thank you @AOC for your bravery."