The Truth About Egg Freezing

Your body doesn't work like you think...

How and when people are having kids is changing, but our bodies aren't. As we get older, it can get harder to have kids when we want to. So smart people figured out it’s possible to remove eggs, freeze them, and unfreeze them to use later. They can even fertilize those eggs to make embryos and freeze those. Basically, humans invented cryosleep! … Just for tiny cells.

It’s totally sci-fi - and you need to know about it. This is a level of control over our bodies no species has ever had before. It’s already changing people’s lives - and how our species can reproduce. But there are real concerns about whether it’s worth it. Because let me tell you, the process is not easy.

I’ve been taking medication for two weeks. And at the same time, I’ve been doing research, talking to doctors, and learning as much as I can about the cutting edge of fertility tech. In this video, I'm going to take you behind the scenes into my own process to answer three big questions: Why do egg freezing? How does it actually work? And what is the future here - if this tech keeps getting better - how might egg freezing be huge, if true?

Chapters:
0:00 What is egg freezing?
1:30 Why is egg freezing so popular?
2:55 What is egg quantity?
3:32 What is egg quality?
4:30 Why does egg quality decline with age?
5:59 This is hard to talk about
7:45 Why don’t we have cryosleep yet?
8:46 Why does egg freezing work?
9:28 How does egg freezing work?
10:37 Egg freezing timeline
11:57 My egg freezing process
13:45 Egg freezing side effects
15:13 Egg freezing cost
15:40 Egg freezing success rates
16:49 Why egg freezing is huge if true
18:30 Getting surgery
19:30 Feeling grateful
21:01 :)

Bio:
Cleo Abram is an Emmy-nominated independent video journalist. On her show, Huge If True, Cleo explores complex technology topics with rigor and optimism, helping her audience understand the world around them and see positive futures they can help build. Before going independent, Cleo was a video producer for Vox. She wrote and directed the Coding and Diamonds episodes of Vox’s Netflix show, Explained. She produced videos for Vox’s YouTube channel, was the host and senior producer of Vox’s first ever daily show, Answered, and was co-host and producer of Vox’s YouTube Originals show, Glad You Asked.

Additional reading and watching:

Gear I use:
Camera: Sony A7SIII
Lens: Sony 16–35 mm F2.8 GM
Audio: Sennheiser SK AVX and Zoom H4N Pro

Music: Musicbed, Tom Fox
Musicbed SyncID MB011LUBHZKIS4X

—
Welcome to the joke down low:

What’s wrong with the egg who never laughs?
He can’t take a yolk.

Find a way to use “laugh” in a comment to let me know you’re a real one who made it to the end of the description :)

[emilyhall]

As an embryologist (the people who actually do the lab work with your eggs) this was a fantastic explanation!!!! Thank you for raising awareness about egg freezing!!

[JFAOwner]

My wife and I went through this. It's a crazy process. I felt badly for my wife the entire time. We ended up with 17 eggs, but only one produced a baby. Our child is now three years old. We have one more embryo, and we're going to try that one soon. This video was amazing. Thanks.

[TadOfTajin]

As a 31 woman who is currently worried about the same issue and full of anxiety and questions about what to do, I TRULY TRULY appreciate the info you are putting out there

[mananagarwal]

My mom is an obstetrician and gynaecologist and she was really happy that you’re spreading awareness through these videos

[clintdogg]

IVF Dad here, my daughter was born from our very last chance frozen embryo. THANK YOU for helping to spread awareness and for sharing something so personal.

[hunt]

Before I was born, I was frozen for around 7 years as an embryo I believe. Thank you for talking about this.

[Jacobbunt]

I am a mid 20s single guy and yet this was one of the more fascinating YouTube videos I’ve ever seen. I thought I was relatively well versed but I had no idea the complexity and number of factors that went into this. Super fascinating and you documented it really well

[takeshi]

My wife and I, in our mid-30s, went through the process of freezing embryos and 6 IVFs in the last 4 years. We are fortunate to have a daughter and expecting another baby in a few months.

The cost would be a huge burden if you're living in the US. My wife and I decided to move back to Japan because it was too expensive in the US. These are serious decisions that probably affect many people including ourselves.

The clinic we go only transfers 1 embryos per IVF because having twins or triplets increases the burden + risk for the mothers. These policy may depend on your hospital and it is something to keep in mind when choosing how you want to go through this process.

Anyways, great video and I appreciate you for sharing your experience.

[Spodlude]

My wife lost a tube due to an ectopic. I was really confused when the doctor explained that both her ovaries still contribute eggs. Your animation of how the tubes work and are detached explained this really well. Thanks!

[thimojansen]

As a dad with 3 IVF kids (17 yo and 15 yo twins) this was quite emotional to watch. Brings back memories of the emotional rollercoaster we were on back then. It has been such an big toll on wife as well, with 3 times going through all the injections you showed, one failed pregnancy, two successful ones, two hospitalizations for overstimulation (12kg of additional liquid in her belly) and 7 failed attempts with frozen embryo’s. We were very lucky, but I can’t wish this on anybody. As a bit of a downer: the tech you showed does not seem really different from what we had almost 20 years ago.

[sugarplumsweet]

Thank you for this informative video! I am 36 and not in a position to have kids (single but want kids). I have been grieving watching family and friends around me experience what i want most and no one understanding. I just scheduled a doc appt the other day to talk about options (such as egg freezing). This video showed up at the right time. Thank you so much.

[CounterFleche]

As a dad, I would really worry about the mental health of any kids I would have from frozen eggs/sperm. Not because the process is in any way harmful (its not), but because I would be unable to resist the frequent use of "ice"/"freeze" puns. It would be horrible for the kids, like living with Mr. Freeze from the awful Batman & Robin movie.

[jaw]

The sand worm bit made me laugh abit too loud

[ilovelimpfries]

A bit unexpected, but I'm here for the lesson.

[funfettirapunzel]

I have a family history of early menopause, around 35. I’m currently 24 and single. More than anything I want to have a baby, but I don’t want to do it on my own. I’m constantly worried about my eggs and about whether I’ll be able to have a baby. Because three women in my family including my mom went through menopause around 35. I’m just praying that it doesn’t come to that for me, and then I can find the right person before it’s too late

[alee]

I’m 33 yo, never married and no kids. I had to decide right after breast cancer surgery whether I’d freeze my egg before chemo started. I had only a week or so to make the decision. I would say the mental load is still small compared with my whole cancer treatment process but I get what you mean. And I’m thankful for this technology

[AviralGautam]

Someone give cleo a hug ASAP
(Edit: thx guys, this is the 2nd most likes I've ever gotten)

[HauntedSheppard]

Sex ed: even looking at someone can get them pregnant.
To women trying to get pregnant: it's basicly a miracle if it ever even happens.

[leosmita]

Just froze my eggs at 34 with 4.408 AMH in one cycle :) Sooo soo happy and grateful!

[ThugByChoice]

I’m very glad you’re raising awareness about this and not shying away from the topic. You’re very brave for making and doing this. Thank you.