Knowing she wasn't ready for children, Vicky Pattison began the process of freezing her eggs and made the decision to share her experience with the public.
Because there isn't enough accurate information available, she says, "I felt it was important for me to be transparent.".
The Essex-based 35-year-old TV star, however, was concerned that she had erred by being so open with her 50.4 million Instagram followers.
She says, "I received some really terrible messages.". "I didn't realize how angry this would make people. It's not always happy when a woman becomes pregnant; it can be triggering. Although I made an effort to be sensitive, I wasn't ready for some people to be so cruel. ".
Vicky, who became well-known in her hometown of Newcastle thanks to the reality series Geordie Shore, had to take a break from social media.
"Why don't you just have a baby now that you have a boyfriend?' It is so toxic and out of date. I am familiar with a lot of people who, out of fear that time was running out, had children with the wrong men.
We must all be aware that there are many different paths to becoming a mother, so why aren't we recognizing the women who say, "This isn't the right time, and I want to give my future children the best start in life? ".
She remembers the message that helped her realize she had made the right choice by being so open, breaking down in tears.
"This woman said, "None of my friends have experienced this, and I was feeling scared and alone. I hated the injections, but every night after I did it, I came on social media to see if you had done yours.
"I realized that I was, in a very small way, giving people comfort because it made her feel less alone. ".
The podcaster and author won I'm a Celebrity. Get Me Out of Here! in 2015 and made the announcement that she didn't want children on Loose Women shortly after.
She explains that she has never been a mother because she has always been very career-focused. "I kept looking forward to the time when I would be consumed by a burning desire to have kids, but that never really happened.
"As I grew older, I grew more concerned that it would start working at a time when my body couldn't naturally produce children. ".
Vicky began researching egg freezing in her early 30s after discovering she was once again single. She "became really happy" after meeting her fiancé Ercan Ramadan.
"I started to want things I had never wanted before, like a house in London rather than a flat, dogs, and a slower pace of life. I also started to consider having children.
Ercan is younger than me, but he isn't ready either, and while I'm in a happy relationship, it's still in its early stages. Each party agreed to it. Despite being in love, we don't want the pressure. ".
During an egg-freezing cycle, medications are used to increase your egg production. The eggs are then collected and frozen for later use while you are sedated or under general anesthesia.
From just under 230 treatment cycles in 2009 to nearly 2,400 in 2019, egg freezing has increased tenfold in the UK over the past ten years.
In 2021, 35 was the average age for egg freezing. Success rates were significantly influenced by the age of the woman at the time of egg freezing, with rates being higher in those under 35.
Source:. HFEA. Human Fertilization and Embryology Authority.
When it came to how many eggs she wanted Ercan's sperm to fertilize, Vicky had to make yet another difficult choice.
"Since I've been hurt before, it would be foolish of me to go without a backup strategy, so I chose to keep some to myself. I'm putting my future happiness in good hands," she claims.
"I was sure we'd have a awkward conversation, but Ercan was really encouraging. ".
The couple began testing at The London Women's Clinic in Brentwood last October, but treatment had to be put on hold when a cyst was discovered on one of Vicky's ovaries.
"I was devastated because I had such a grand plan. I was overtaxing both my physical and mental resources. Social media gave me access to this community, which is why I'm so appreciative of it. ".
They had to wait until April for the egg collection, but Vicky found it to be a difficult process.
"My follicles weren't where they should have been at day ten or so, so the solution is to increase your hormones.". Even though I was having trouble, I occasionally would sit and start crying. Your body and mind are going through such a difficult time.
"I did the best I could to depict the good and bad days. Despite my anxiety, the injections weren't too bad; however, I had no idea how difficult the hormones would be. " .
Vicky chose to keep three of her eggs as unfertilized eggs despite the fact that three of her eggs were transformed into embryos, each of which had a 20% chance of becoming a child.
The load pressure has been relieved. Planning a wedding and looking forward to a happy marriage. Because of this, we now have the luxury of time and choice, she claims.
The procedure is expensive, she continues, and the NHS only pays for egg freezing when it is necessary for specific medical conditions, such as in advance of cancer treatment.
"I'm incredibly appreciative to be in a position to do it. It ought to be accessible to more women, in my opinion.
"I had spent my entire life trying to win someone's love so that I could carry out the tasks I believed women were created to perform, but now that I'm acting on my own terms, I feel incredibly empowered. ".
Vicky recorded a video journal of the entire process, and Lorraine on ITV1 will air it.
"My hope is that it will assist women who are struggling with their own journeys, as well as promote a little more understanding and compassion surrounding the topic and aid women in realizing their own options. ".
Watch . The Motherhood Journey of Vicky Pattison. Tuesday, June 20, at 9:00 a.m. on Lorraine on ITV1 and ITVX.
