Show Notes
The number of women freezing their eggs in the UK has gone up nearly 30 times in just over a decade, AOC is documenting her egg freezing process on Instagram, and more and more companies are covering the costs for their employees. Is egg freezing reproductive freedom, or just delaying the baby choice? Is it a solution, or a band-aid approach for a system that still doesn’t accommodate the working mother? And when reproduction becomes a private industry, does having a baby and a career become a class luxury reserved for the wealthy?
In this episode I’ll take you through the ethical complications of this private industry, the shady add-ons and misinformation to look out for, how the egg freezing process actually works, and what questions you need to ask a clinic (and yourself) before you hand over your money.
Guests:
Trudi Campbell - The Evewell Clinic
Jemma Kennedy
TikTok: lilyo.farrell
Instagram: lilyo.farrell
Substack: lilyofarrell
SOURCES:
All of the data in this episode came from the HFEA, the human fertilisation and embryology authority and the UK’s independent fertility regulator.
AOC’s Instagram
The Evewell Clinic
Ocasio-Cortez says she’s freezing her eggs as she considers her political career, Associated Press (2026)
Apple and Facebook will now pay for women to freeze their eggs, Fortune (2014)
Chelsea FC Women and Fertility Plus launch new partnership to support players and champion fertility awareness, Chelsea FC (2026)
Chelsea Women: Sonia Bompastor and Carly Telford discuss new fertility and player maternity policies in WSL first, Sky Sports (2026)
UK Egg Freezing and Embryo Banking Market Size & Outlook, Grand View Research (2024)
The Rise of Neoliberal Feminism, Catherine Rottenberg (2018)
AOC Is Freezing Her Eggs And The Right Is Being Very Normal And Not Weird About That, Wonkette (2026)
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez reacts to egg-freezing criticism: ‘Pretty funny’, The Hill (2026)
2017 FIFPro Global Employment Report: Working Conditions in Professional Women’s Football
‘The lack of childcare support for England players is disgraceful’, The Daily Telegraph (2017)
Motherhood on Ice: The Mating Gap and Why Women Freeze Their Eggs, Marcia Inhorn (2023)
Genesis Inc, Jemma Kennedy, Hampstead Theatre (2018)
If you’re struggling with infertility and want to talk to someone, the British Infertility Counselling Association can help you find a qualified counsellor who specialises specifically in fertility issues. Find them at bica.net. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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