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“Squad” Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has started the process of freezing her eggs — and is sharing parts of the experience on Instagram, including updates about taking hormonal injections.

Ocasio-Cortez, 36, revealed that she had been saving up for and considering the procedure for some time, saying she felt “empowered” to begin the process while Congress is on its August recess.

“This is a choice that I am making to feel more in control of my life,” Ocasio-Cortez said. “And if people want to make assumptions about my decision, let them make those assumptions. I feel empowered to make this choice.”

The New York congresswoman also appeared to address speculation surrounding a potential 2028 presidential run, arguing that political ambitions are not the only factor people consider when making major life decisions.

“The media will run up and ask a question like, ‘Are you going to run for this? Or are you going to run for that?’” she said.

“I think a lot of us actually approach these considerations or these decisions through the larger context of our lives as whole human beings and what is happening in our lives, as whole human beings.”

Ocasio-Cortez said she knew being so open about the process could potentially backfire politically, but she wanted to help inform other women about their options and normalize conversations surrounding fertility.

“I want you all to see that. And because women can do anything, and I think it’s badass that I’m going to be giving myself shots in the green room [as I] get my glam on,” she said.

Egg freezing allows women to have some of their unfertilized eggs retrieved from their ovaries and stored at extremely low temperatures for potential use later.

The process generally involves about two weeks of hormone treatments before the eggs are harvested.

“This is just not something that men deal with,” Ocasio-Cortez said.

She also pointed out what she sees as a double standard for women in politics, saying men are less likely to face questions about their age and plans for having a family when pursuing public office or other careers.

“Men run for office, or frankly, they interview for jobs, and people don’t think in the back of their mind, ‘Okay, this guy is running for office. How old is he? Oh, well, is he going to want to start a family,’” she said.

Ocasio-Cortez has been engaged to Riley Roberts since 2022.

“I got sworn into the House of Representatives when I was 29 years old,” she reflected. “There’s this flip side where you have to then grow up in the public eye in a time that most people usually get to grow more privately.”