Egg freezing is something that myself and many of my friends and family members have talked about, especially in the last few years, as we’ve gotten older. It has always seemed to me like a magical insurance policy, a way to freeze time, and possibility, and postpone the decision or chance to have biological children. I’m kind of embarrassed to say that I knew very little about egg freezing, it was just one of those things that I knew <i>happened</i> whether I understood it or not — like flight, or the Kreb’s Cycle. I think I only know one person who has actually gotten their eggs frozen, but I do know several who have had difficulties on their fertility journey. When I heard about this book, immediately, I knew I needed to read it, and I’m so glad I did. 

<i>The Big Freeze</i> is a deep dive into egg freezing, embryo freezing, and a slice of the fertility industry, especially in the US. It’s also a reporter’s deeply personal journey as she tries to decide whether or not she should freeze her eggs. 

This book is meticulously researched, but written in a really accessible and fascinating way, so even when the author is writing about cervical mucus or hormonal changes, the reader is able to understand and contextualize what is being described. There are countless interviews and cited statistics and sources, and I felt that Lampert did a great job at painting a well-rounded, holistic picture of the idea of, the science behind, and the many, many factors surrounding making the decision to freeze your eggs. I learnt <b>so much</b> from this book. Things I had never heard of before, and information I wouldn’t have thought to ask for, or find out. 

Alongside the Science, there are also some really great personal stories. This includes the journeys of many people who weigh the decision about egg freezing, and even follows several people who end up making the decision, as well as a little bit about what happens next.  Alongside these individuals, we also follow the author’s personal journey. As a preteen, she had a medical emergency that resulted in the removal of one of her ovaries. Then, in her twenties and thirties, she was again faced with the possibility of losing her second ovary, and forced to consider what that might have meant for her future plans to have children. This (eventually) starts the author’s journey to understand fertility, and specifically egg freezing, as well as to try to decide if she should do it for herself. 

Written with thoughtfulness, compassion, and hard facts, this book turned so many of my perceptions on their head, over and over again. As with so many other “gimmicky” healthcare treatments and procedures, I learnt about who egg freezing can really work for, and the science and history behind where it came from. However, I also learnt about the often concerning and predatory marketing of egg freezing, especially to young women. I learnt about the extensive and occasionally dangerous process of the egg retrieval. I learnt about the relative uncertainty that your frozen eggs will be successfully fertilized or carried to term. I learnt concerning things about some of the lack of regulation and oversight in this booming business. I also learnt interesting things about the expense of the process, acting as a huge barrier for many. Most surprisingly, I learnt how few people go back for the eggs they froze. 

Ultimately, this book gave me a lot to think about - and did so in an engaging, accessible, and informative way. I finished it a few days ago, and have been recommending it left and right - in fact, I started recommending it before I even finished it! This book is a resource and a guide - while it may or may not tell you what decision is right for you in the end, it will give you incredibly valuable perspectives, insights, information, and tools, so that making the decision for yourself may be just that much easier. This was a compelling read, and I enjoyed Lampert’s sharp insights and tender explorations. 

I also highly recommend the audiobook version!

I received an advanced audio version of this book, from the publisher, in exchange for my honest feedback.