AOC Shares Egg Freezing Journey, Says She Feels 'Empowered' Despite the 'Political Risk'

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez recently opened up about her egg freezing process on social media.

The New York rep took to her Instagram Stories over the weekend to tell her followers that she has made “a decision that is very personal that I've made that has taken me time to consider, weigh and save up for.”

She also noted that, due to the current socio-political scenario that directly impacts women and their health, reproductive or otherwise, her decision to undergo the medical procedure has made her feel “empowered.”

AOC shared, “Normally, I keep my private life quite private. But I have made the decision to freeze my eggs. And I want to share this because I was weighing it for a very long time, and there isn't a ton out there, and it can feel very daunting.”

She also noted, “This is a choice that I am making to feel more in control of my life.”

The Democrat then showed herself opening up the box of medicines, including injections, she would need to take during this journey.

She revealed her motivation behind publicizing her journey, saying, “As women in general, we are not taught about our bodies; we are not prepared for our own lives, whether that is in puberty, whether that is in pregnancy, whether that is in perimenopause, menopause, whether that is in so many different aspects of our lives.”

By showcasing her journey, she wants to make at least one of those subjects approachable and the information more accessible for women around the world.

She also pointed out how women politicians are often held to different standards when they try to break out of the box that society and political pressure so often put them in.

"I am aware there is very strangely a political 'risk' or 'tax' that could come with sharing this information. I'm aware that in all of this swirling conversation that happens that I am now opening the door to this being part of that discussion,” she said.

“This is not something men deal with. Men run for office and interview for jobs and people don't think in the back of their mind 'how old is he, is he going to want to start a family?' People don't go down those rabbit holes and fixate on that for men the way they do for women,” she added.

The 36-year-old revealed that despite any criticism she might receive, she plans to document her journey and share it with her followers.

She took her first shot of the medicine on camera and said she would take her second shot on Sunday, August 9, in the green room, just before appearing for an interview with ABC.

“I want you all to see that,” she said, before adding, “Because women can do anything. And I think it’s bada– that I’m gonna be giving myself shots in the green room, get my glam on, roll out, talk [about] international events, domestic policy, elections, pop out, live my life, do my thing.”

The Congresswoman tried to make the moment lighthearted despite the gravity of the situation in her Stories.

“Don’t be weird about this, even I know though all of you will be,” she joked.

After injecting herself with the medicine, she remarked, “That wasn’t so bad!”

She also elaborated on her point of view on the matter more during her interview with ABC on Sunday.

“In this political environment where this administration is denying reproductive care to women across the country, from abortion rights to the ability to carry out a healthy pregnancy, I think it’s important for us as leaders to have these conversations and share these processes, especially for working women across the country and normalize them,” AOC said.