Israeli Women Embrace Fertility Preservation with Personal Support at Pohe Institute

Dr. Muriel Yerachy, head of fertility preservation at the Pohe Institute, spoke with Haya Zaguri about her multi-year journey of fertility preservation and the emotional and medical support she received. Zaguri began considering fertility preservation at age 27, motivated by a proactive and optimistic approach despite skepticism from friends. By age 30, she initiated medical evaluations, drawing on her background in medical equipment to understand the process, though the emotional readiness took three years to develop.

Zaguri described the treatment as a personal gift to herself, marking a significant milestone and source of empowerment amid the challenging medical procedures. She emphasized the importance of tailored emotional and medical guidance, which the Pohe Institute provides to help women navigate bureaucratic complexities and reduce psychological burdens.

A key factor in Zaguri’s decision was the availability of halachic supervision over her eggs, leading her to choose Barzilai Hospital in Ashkelon over the closer Soroka Medical Center in Beersheba. The presence of a Pohe supervisor in the lab gave her peace of mind, making the longer travel worthwhile. The institute’s personalized care, including direct consultations with Dr. Yerachy, proved crucial during stressful treatment days.

Dr. Yerachy highlighted the uniqueness of each woman’s needs, noting that even siblings may have different approaches to fertility preservation. Zaguri reported that completing the process profoundly improved her quality of life and self-confidence, describing it as "removing a weight from her heart." Both women urged young women in their thirties not to delay fertility preservation, stressing that the best time to act is now, not waiting for a perfect moment.