Scarlette Douglas has revealed the powerful reason behind her decision to freeze her eggs, admitting it was the ‘best thing’ she’s ever done.
The A Place in the Sun star, 37, was initially reluctant to share the news with her fans last year when she underwent the procedure, but ultimately decided to open up in order to raise awareness about fertility.
In 2024, the presenter traveled to Barbados to visit a fertility clinic and explained why she felt compelled to take action as a black woman.
Speaking about her decision to open up about her journey, she told the Mirror: ‘I’m in the public eye as it is anyway and if I have a profile, I need to make sure that there’s an awareness, especially within the black community, because I think we don’t really talk about medical issues that much. So as a black female, I guess I took it upon myself to document it.’
Reflecting on the procedure almost a year after having it done she explained: ‘It was two days before Ideal Home Show and I’m not going to lie, it was a very difficult two days of the show because of everything I had just been through.’
Yet despite the challenges, Scarlette admitted that freezing her eggs was the ‘best thing’ she could have done and that she feels like a weight has been lifted off her shoulders.
Scarlette Douglas has revealed the powerful reason behind why her decision to freeze her eggs, admitting it was the ‘best decision’ she’s ever made (pictured in July 2024)
The A Place in the Sun star, 37, was initially reluctant to share the news with her fans last year when she underwent the procedure, but ultimately decided to open up in order to raise awareness about fertility
Hinting that being in her late 30s played a rold in her decision she added: ‘It means that I can continue focusing on my career. I can be over in Los Angeles and not have to stress that I need to find a husband really quickly and I need to find a man so I can have a child.’
She also shared how she wished she had more information about how eggs can degrade with age before embarking on her fertility journey.
Scarlette revealed she underwent the procedure at Harley Street Fertility Clinic which took in total nearly two weeks.
According to Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HEFA) egg freezing and thawing can cost an average between £7,000-£8,000 and eggs can be stored for a maximum of 55 years.
HEFA states that the success rates for frozen egg numbers tend to be quite low but due to the technology for egg freezing improving over the years older data isn’t comparable to current success rates.
Scarlette admitted it is an ‘intense’ few weeks but once the procedure is over their is nothing to ‘worry’ about and she urged more women to ‘talk about’ egg freezing.
The presenter told MailOnline: ‘Overall I would say book out about a month in your schedule, it took from injecting, to the eggs coming out about two weeks, maybe 10 days, it’s not too bad exactly, but they do monitor you as you go.
‘I got it done at the Harley Street Fertility Clinic and they were brilliant and they really took their time and they really made sure they kept monitoring me with different scans and blood tests.
Despite the challenges, Scarlette admitted that freezing her eggs was the ‘best thing’ she could have done and that she feels like a weight has been lifted off her shoulders
‘It sounds like it’s a lot and it is intense, but it’s just intense for that period of time you’re doing it. Afterwards it kind of settles and your eggs are out and they’re in the freezer and you don’t have to worry about them.
‘I know it’s very expensive but there are ways that you can do it where there are payment plans, but if anybody’s thinking about it, just ask the question.
‘Reach out to me or have a look online and have a consultation with a nurse or a doctor because I think it’s something that if we can do, we should or at least we should be talking about.’
At the start of April 2024, Scarlette took to social media to breakdown the cost of the fertility treatment for fans.
She wrote: ‘Omg I feel a million times better today! Rest and water have been my best friend! Thanks for all of your get well soon messages xx
‘Here’s the full cost breakdown: Consultation £250, Female Fertility Scan £300, Health Scan £250, Provera Hormone tablets £10 (2packs at £5 each), 2x 36 mcg pens £600 (£300 each), 1x 72 mcg pen £600
Meriofert (powder w/water injection) £210 (7x £30), One egg freezing cycle £3700, 2x trigger injection (2 powders at £60 each) £120, 5x post injections £150 (£30 each), 8 post tablets (1 tub) £10 < this one could be wrong as I can’t find the receipt so don’t quote me!
She admitted it is an ‘intense’ few weeks but once the procedure is over their is nothing to ‘worry’ about and she urged more women to ‘talk about’ egg freezing
‘*Forgot Progynova this is the HRT I took at the beginning I think it was £10, *Correction* Total £6210. Minus £300 for referrals and Grand total £5910 give or take.’
In March Scarlette was left in tears during a hospital visit as she started her fertility journey.
The star took to Instagram and told how she was in hospital for an egg-retrieval procedure that left her feeling emotional.
She told her followers: ‘Well, I’m going to be honest, I was very uncomfortable going in today ladies.
‘The trigger injection really did exacerbate the bloating and lower abdominal pain and the closer it was getting to my egg retrieval the more uncomfortable I was becoming. I had to sit on my left side for most of the day!’
Scarlette told how she became teary ahead of the procedure because no one could accompany her.
She wrote: ‘Everything was explained thoroughly and I felt in good hands. I did shed a little tear just before the sedation went in, mainly because I was scared and nervous, but also because you have to do it all on your own; no one can come in with you.
‘Anyway, best sleep I’ve ever had, came out, was in pain so they gave me some more pain relief, hung around for roughly an hour and a half afterwards and just as I was ready to leave the recovery room, I was told of my 24 eggs that were collected, 19 were viable for freezing!!!!! I was over the moon!
‘That was more than I could have ever imagined and so I was and am so so happy that, to this point, it has all been worth it.’
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