My path to seeking reproductive healthcare outside the US began in the same way it would have at home: It started with life not going according to my neatly organized plan.

The writer in Oaxaca, where she went to freeze her eggs

Jessica Poitevien

In summer 2025, I found myself freshly divorced and looking out over the proverbial fertility cliff of turning 35. I suddenly felt the need to act fast. I was unsure about having children, but I wanted to keep that door open for the future.

As a self-employed writer with health insurance that leaves much to be desired, I knew going abroad for a more affordable option was my only choice—at least the only financially responsible one. That’s how I found myself in the office of Doctor Daniela Paz Cervantes , an OBGYN in Oaxaca, Mexico , who oversaw my care for two rounds of egg freezing just a few months later.

I’m not unique in my search for medical care abroad.…