Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez says she will freeze her eggs and document the process

U.S. Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez said she will undergo egg-freezing treatment and will document the procedure on social media. The 36-year-old New York congresswoman posted a series of Instagram stories over the weekend explaining that the decision is meant to give her greater control over her reproductive future.

She noted that many women receive limited education about their bodies at various life stages, adding that information about fertility preservation is scarce. Ocasio-Cortez said she has been saving for the procedure for a long time and plans to administer the hormone injections in a dressing room before a scheduled ABC interview.

"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," she told the ABC interview.

The congresswoman also displayed the medication, syringes and other supplies used in the multi-day protocol, and remarked that the injection was not painful. The announcement received positive reactions from supporters, including Amanda Litman, co-founder of the progressive political action committee Run for Something, who praised Ocasio-Cortez’s openness.