The NHS only offers egg freezing to patients under 42 who are undergoing fertility-impacting medical treatment like chemotherapy, so most people end up going private. The Harley Street Fertility Clinic lists the average cost of egg freezing as:

Collecting and freezing eggs: £3,350
Medication: £500-1,500
Egg storage per year: £125-350

At the very least, you’re looking at an initial outlay of £4,000. But not everyone needs to find this cash down the back of the sofa. Some companies, including the BBC, Monzo and Diageo, are now offering egg freezing as a workplace benefit.

For 32-year-old Anna*, taking up the perk was a no-brainer. Her company offered £100,000 towards sperm freezing, IVF and egg freezing. “I had my eggs frozen as the quality of my eggs was starting to decline,” she tells Strong Women. “At my age, it’s better to be safe than sorry – a few friends went through the same process at the same time. While I’d rather take an increase in pay, it’s still an excellent benefit to have.”

The rise of workplace egg freezing: should companies be offering more generous fertility benefits?