The Big Freeze: A Reporter’s Personal Journey into the World of Egg Freezing and the Quest to Control Our Fertility

Journalist Lampert debuts with a trenchant investigation of the egg freezing industry and the commodification of women’s reproductive health. Doctors first recommended Lampert freeze her eggs when she was in her early 20s, shortly after an emergency operation on her remaining ovary (the other had been removed because of unrelated complications when she was 12). Providing a critical look at the egg freezing industry, Lampert reports on the scientific conferences, medical consultations, and promotional events she attended while deciding on whether to undergo the procedure as she entered her early 30s. For instance, she recounts going to an educational seminar at a venture capital–backed fertility clinic and contends that its claims to provide “insurance” against infertility promise more than the clinic can deliver (one freezing cycle has only a 75% chance of leading to a live birth). Despite this, Lampert suggests egg freezing still has significant benefits and describes how one of her interview subjects felt less pressure to settle for a romantic partner because freezing her eggs afforded her time to find a better match. Lampert ultimately chose not to undergo the procedure, but her evenhanded reporting will help those considering it sift the science from the hype. This will open readers’ eyes. Agent: Elias Altman, Massie & McQuilkin Literary. (July)