Apple and Facebook will pay for employees to freeze their eggs so that they can put off having children. Facebook recently began covering egg freezing, and Apple will start in January. The firms appear to be the first major employers to offer this coverage for non-medical reasons.

If successful, egg freezing allows women to put their fertility on ice, until they’re ready to become parents. Normally it costs $10,000 for every round, plus $500 or more annually for storage. Apple covers costs under its fertility benefit, and Facebook under its surrogacy benefit, both up to $20,000. 

However it is risky there's no guarantee the procedure will lead to a baby. The American Society for Reproductive Medicine cautions against relying on egg freezing to extend fertility. Experts say the earlier a woman freezes her eggs, the greater her chances of success. Doctors often recommend women freeze at least 20 eggs.