The Truth About Egg Freezing

[@emilyhall6866]

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!!

[@user-xr3yq8qo1h]

Thank you for the work you do! You are a vital component to this personal part of someone's life. Hats off to you and all embryologists

[@slayer666321]

​@@SimCo-tm8qican i get a medal?

[@jaydeepbose4501]

@@SimCo-tm8qi always that one dick head in the comment who has to project his jealousy over something his mind interpreted incorrectly unprovoked

[@hylianro]

​@@SimCo-tm8qican i get a medal?

[@alex.g7317]

@@SimCo-tm8qiare you handing them out? I’d like a chocolate one wrapped in gilded tinfoil.

[@clintdogg01]

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.

[@The-KP]

N.b. U.S. states are moving to ban IVF, empowered by the Supreme Court's Dobbs case.

[@vass0922]

"brilliant people have made this possible" agreed, unfortunately dumbasses are voting to take it away. I'm also an IVF father and very proud of my children. I hope people pay attention and vote to keep this science available.

[@rueyen3044]

Gross

[@Paulo-py4mm]

Congratulations mate! Treasure your child, she will stand with you when you die, she will be your legacy.

[@-Turbulent-]

​@@rueyen3044 that's why condoms were invented , so people like you wouldn't be born but it seems like condoms failed

[@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

[@Infinitecontinuum]

Is comments enabled

[@ashleykim4106]

Augh ikr it sounds scary- I am praying for you and sending a digital hug! ♥️🥺

[@Chicano_pistolero]

The longer you wait after age 32 the risk increases exponentially each year, if you think you'll want children stop hindering you happiness and just have them. It's harder yes, but that's life, it's tough.

[@dawnonthefarm]

Thissss

[@naimasophie]

​@@Chicano_pistolero"just have them" well you gotta find a man for that 😅

[@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.

[@luizaluiiza]

Good luck!

[@danielaoliveira8281]

Great to hear it worked out for you!

[@mirsiedlund]

If you accept pagan prayers: I pray Freya helps you have success with this last one.

[@The101damnations]

If you accept Halo prayers: I pray Master Chief helps you have success with this last one.

[@mirsiedlund]

@@The101damnations cute. :)

[@hunt0583]

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

[@oeliamoya9796]

Partially frozen you say? You wouldn't happen to be Dr. Evil from the spy who shagged me?

[@leonardschubert3897]

Are you an airbender by chance?

[@Sahil.1]

Hello I'm under the freezer pls help me eeehhhh

[@suggie16]

​​@@leonardschubert3897great one 😅.. I would have happily accepted that compliment if I was frozen... Also people forget that a frozen egg is technically only half of their existence in frozen state (the other half which was swimming freely, was not sure of his destination)... Don't know if fertilized embryos are frozen/not.

[@regulardegular5]

are you 7 years older perchance?

[@Jacobbunt]

I am a mid 20s single guy and yet this was one of the more fascinating KZbin 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

[@MrKidstone1]

I second that, so glad this video was made

[@MrKidstone1]

I second that, so glad this video was made

[@ChorizoFungis]

You’re 20 and still single 💀

[@Jacobbunt]

@@ChorizoFungis id rather the money in my bank account and free time lmao

[@ChorizoFungis]

@@Jacobbunt I guess we all have different priorities

[@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!

[@WaveRider1989]

My wife had a cervix ectopic few months ago. It's scary, nothing was lost but she's super scared now to even try and it was our first. At 30 these graphs aren't helping lol

[@356z]

Were about to talk about ectopic pregnancies. 30yo male and im just finding out about this 😵

[@WaveRider1989]

@@356z bro im 34 and I only heard of this when my wife had it. Actually I learned a lot on women's bodies since I got married. Unbelievable stuff really. Never realized what females went through as I was growing up.

[@S3verance]

Ectopic pregnancies are terrifying

[@conlon4332]

I thought it was a weird animation. The ovaries tend to sit behind the uterus and the fallopian tubes bend back to meet them. The ovaries are generally next to each other, and the fallopian tubes definietly don't move half way across the body to receive an egg.

[@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.

[@stoic521]

pfp checks out

[@MegF142857]

That's really successful cycles. Frozen was not as high success rates back then. We were trying back then too, but never had a child. Just a miscarriage. Congratulations to you.

[@LAE-7]

@@stoic521why man? Why did you feel the need to say something like this to someone who’s clearly gone through a lot of pain in this process?

[@antonianagels2658]

I have a feeling the technology can't go much further. Well done you guys what a strong couple and I'm sure awesome parents. We just went through our 2nd cycle

[@psychohist]

@@MegF142857 Sorry to hear that, Meg.

[@sugarplumsweet88]

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.

[@brifer_350]

What’s the likelihood insurance would cover any of this??

[@thedeloraine]

I know this is not doable for many reasons, but theres plenty of single parents that have ivf just because they want a child! Alexandra Lugaro in Puerto Rico is a lawyer and ex political candidate who had a child ~14 years ago through ivf, because she wanted to and had the means, and the love to do it. Eventually she got a partner who adopted the kid they were together for many years and even though they separated this partner is still the kids dad and its beautiful to see from afar

[@aditdesai4187]

Cleo, I'm super proud of you for making this video. It takes guts to talk about something so personal in a public forum but I think its something people have to consider more and more. I'm so happy that you were able to put together a well balanced and accurate video about the potential pros and cons of a Huge, if True, change to the way we think about birth and raising children in modern society!

[@seun35]

I also like how we can extrapolate that maybe waiting is not the best idea or at least it's not as straightforward as we'd like to think. Those odds are quite low!

[@ThugByChoice]

Well said this took some serious guts!

[@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.

[@Alex-zi1nb]

Ya unfortunately the fertile ones are often the dumbest. It's idiocracy come to life

[@aggiewoodie]

The real concern is why fertility has gotten so bad…

[@SpaceMango]

@@aggiewoodie well, she said in the beginning that more people have children later in life. that's.. basically the premise of this whole video. Since she is over 30 and is worried about her fertility in the future. People don't have time to have kids as early today as before.

[@orckingcreations8401]

@@aggiewoodie Bad chemicals in the water

[@Aksarallah]

@@orckingcreations8401 no.. ppl had kids at teenage or 20s. Not 30s and 40s like today

[@takeshi0229]

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.

[@robbertzzzzz]

The wildest thing to me is how many Americans travel to different countries in Europe for their IVF treatment. It's cheaper to take several flights back and forth, pay for accommodation for at least several weeks, etc etc, than it is to have this treatment near home. Even here in the UK my wife and I have looked at going to the Czech Republic for IVF treatment after our funding would run out because of how much cheaper AND more advanced IVF treatment is over there.

[@psychohist]

At the time we did it, 17 years ago, the cost was about $10,000 per full IVF cycle including one egg retrieval cycle. A few years later it was down to $5000. Compared to the cost of raising a kid, IVF is cheap.

[@mananagarwal7002]

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

[@jamespurchase4035]

I have no doubt she's happy..IVF is an exceptionally lucrative hustle, giving false hope to women who proceastinate on vital life decisions. Thy are the faced with a very poor success rate later. I know both success stories and failures. There are too many failures. This is not a panacea. Life is a b1tch for chicks, best get to grips with reality early.

[@AndrewPonti]

What a rollercoaster! As a 36 year old man who does not want to have kids, I was still glued to the video. Cleo always knows how to make an amazing presentation, but this personal touch made it. Good luck with it!

[@alee63027]

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

[@arimax888]

hope you're doing better, have a nice day!

[@butymo22]

Get well soon! God bless your health!

[@RutoMustGo-i6u]

Let me marry you please

[@AviralGautam31]

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

[@Plantbasedhuman]

Love this comment❤

[@sandeepmaharshi]

She has one

[@AviralGautam31]

@@sandeepmaharshi what? That makes no sense

[@nbain]

For real!

[@ak_hoops]

She's great can't lie!

[@ilovelimpfries]

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

[@Beanisbosssty]

God loves you and Jesus Christ died on the cross for you

[@Dillinger.John-123]

​@@BeanisbossstyAnd no one asked him to do so.

[@yashyadav571]

Exactly my feeling lol

[@ValouroverFear]

@@Dillinger.John-123that’s exactly why Jesus dying on the cross is so fantastic.😜

[@masterwatch]

that's what I thought but Cleo is very good here.

[@lotte-072]

My mum lost a tube when she was 29. They said she would never have children, especially since she started trying with IVF at 34. She defied all odds not once, but twice. She’s one of the strongest people I know ❤️ You are amazing for doing this Cleo!

[@Patience7813]

God be praised

[@TommiSRP]

24yo dude here. My girlfriend 28, is on some medication that complicates getting kids within the next 3 years. Im greatful that you made these videos, hearing the ods and options was valuable to us!

[@jaw1002]

The sand worm bit made me laugh abit too loud

[@Johannes]

A very unexpected laugh in a very serious video. :)

[@lunaborea]

The instant the sound started playing I knew what was coming lmao

[@ascendesuperius6363]

The moment the tube moved I knew...

[@eccenux]

I actually didn't know this is how it works, so surprising 😅

[@thomasjoychild4962]

I did NOT know they could move to pick up eggs from the opposite ovary!

[@BrownJedi87]

I’m a 37yo male who pauses the video a few minutes in to call my GF to tell her “did you know your left fallopian tube can reach over to your right ovary to grab the egg?!” …she did not

[@4cournersalign]

I don't think any of us knew. And mind you I'm on a TTC journey and have seen hundreds of videos lol

[@deeb13243]

"I'm really frustrated by people who pretend like this data isn't real" I feel like this quote is really great in the way that it shows how painful ignorance can be to those who want to live a great life. Amazing video!

[@genesisPiano]

Same sentiment only talking about bipolar disorder.

[@high-captain-BaLrog]

As for the political and military "wings": "There is no heinous duplicity in Ba-Sing Se"

[@roamwell9174]

As a girl dad, this has been a very special episode for me. thank you so very much for sharing. This will change "the talk" I will have with my daughter when that time comes and being able to give her the "right" information means everything to me... thanks again!

[@MegaMathnerd]

As a girl dad whose daughter is Cleo, I could not agree more!

[@AparnaVenkatesan]

@@MegaMathnerdyour daughter is cool af (as a daughter of someone who looks up to your daughter)

[@jamespurchase4035]

I hope you will be very straight with your daughter. Telling her she can put off the choice to have a family for a (evolutionarily too) long time is to set her up for big dissapointment. IVF is very unreliable. They'll tell you about all the success stories, I'm happy for these lucky few. But they will not tell you on the casino-like odds for success (low) Don't gamble on your grandchildren. Find the stats and be honest with your daughter. Tell her also motherhood is considerably easier when you're young, strong and energetic. Egg freezing just ain't awsome, unless you are a doctor then is is a great cash cow

[@spooders8424]

@@MegaMathnerdyou did a fantastic job as a dad 👍🏻

[@RTXWorld-m2h]

What's a girl dad?

[@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

[@Hadi_ansab]

That's actually so scary 😨

[@sagars861]

best of luck dont die alone

[@Infinitecontinuum]

Bro stop hate comments. U r blessed, this means you are gonna have a strong body post 35. I get you'll become strong post 35.

[@MsAmeriCanadian]

It wouldn't be the worst idea to go get your AMH levels checked at your regular Gynocology appointment so you can, with confidence, know whether you should consider planning egg freezing. If your AMH number is lower than average for your age it would be worth considering doing an egg harvest and freezing a round of eggs (if you have any coverage or you can afford it on your own or afford a loan for it). That way whether you find someone in a year or ten years, you know you've got eggs that are younger (which is often associated with better quality) and can have them as back up if you have difficulty conceiving naturally with your Significant other. At the very least, ask to get your AMH levels checked so you can at least know where you stand and possibly plan for the future.

[@jjuniper479]

Wow I didn't even know that was a thing

[@kousalyamohan6971]

I’m 27 and planning to freeze my eggs soon due to my PCOD condition. Ever since I started researching, the process has felt incredibly daunting and isolating. The sheer amount of information, the medical procedures, and the emotional weight of making such a significant decision have been overwhelming. Today, I watched something that truly resonated with me. It was so emotional to see a story that reflects my own journey and struggles. It made me feel seen and understood, something I desperately needed. Thank you Cleo for posting this. It’s comforting to know I’m not alone, and it gives me hope and strength to continue.

[@shubham_srt]

all the best :)

[@someone9922]

Do you have any leads from India ?

[@juliamccoey7496]

Don't stress! I froze mine because of PCOS too. It's pretty okay. Getting my wisdom teeth out was way worse. You're more likely to get more eggs if you have polycystic ovaries too, so that's a bonus!

[@siddharthchauhan3661]

​@@juliamccoey7496 How does egg freezing help with PCOS can you tell?

[@ba3725]

What is your career? I'm interested in learning about its income.

[@JunaidAzizChannel]

I feel like this video will help a lot of people

[@lizraydrew]

Yes

[@pandajmj]

I literally started crying when you started the injections, i can only imagine how intimidating and scary that is to actually start the process. You are so frickin brave, thank you for being so vulnerable and i hope this technology goes well for not only you, but all women who are able to do this

[@Titanisz]

I got my eggs frozen at the age 34, then got pregnant naturally at age 35. The things that I have not considered, that how much harder it is to raise kids physically at a later age. Of course this is very different person to person, but I wish I could have had kids way younger when I was more energetic and in a better physical health.

[@mariusvanc]

Yeah, nobody wants to be changing diapers in their 40s. Not even their grandkids, that's a job for parents.

[@FS02012]

So now what are you going to do with those children or eggs you frozen?

[@zlac]

Same here.

[@justiceifeme]

​@@FS02012 The children, she'll hopefully raise them till adulthood; the leftover frozen eggs, probably the same thing nature would do, dispose them.

[@Titanisz]

@FS02012 They are eggs only, not embryos, but I might donate them if we can concieve for a sibling naturally.

[@smay745]

As an IVF mom, I know this process can be so overwhelming and lonely. The woman is required to sacrifice so much for a chance of transfer. But when you see those little cell clumps, it’s just breathtaking. The road can be so hard, but we’re cheering you on! It’s worth it. If a wimp like me can do it, I know you can.

[@thunderboltpenetrator8498]

Sound like you wimped out of having sex! Weak

[@merg-vh5sx]

How many of the breathtaking little cell clumps get killed?

[@KoreyThatcher]

@@merg-vh5sxall of them 😈

[@matthewjohnson2281]

​@@merg-vh5sx I decent amount. But IVF gives women that couldn't have children naturally the opportunity.

[@JimBalter]

@@merg-vh5sx They aren't alive yet.

[@ThatMakesSenseToMe]

This is how one of my closest friends had their kids who I can no longer imagine my life without. Thank you for covering this. I’m not usually crying at the end of a video but am now. Just gratitude for your work and vulnerability and scientific hopeful honesty. KZbin is better with you here.

[@MarkMacRae]

Incredibly personal video, but super relevant. Most intense, indeed! Thanks for sharing.

[@kindlin]

@@ashleyobrien4937 Then why are you even here? The video title was pretty self-descriptive of the content you're about to be delivered. This was informative, interesting, funny, and, tho not really helpful yet as I'm a guy, if/when I have a wife and we think about this, well, I'll know a lot more than I did 30minutes ago.

[@robertoswalt319]

Thank you for allowing yourself to be vulnerable in order to share your journey with thousands of internet strangers.

[@manzhanita]

The lack of comprehensive and approachable content covering egg freezing is beyond ridiculous! Thank you so much for being vulnerable in sharing your journey and making it not feel so scary

[@LexWijker]

As a dad of 2 IVF kids, i definitely know about all the struggles. It feels so good that you made this video, this could definitely need more attention

[@MegF142857]

No, you don't know about all the struggles because you have 2 kids. Try doing this over and over and over and over and over and over.... and over... and over... then never having a child from it. More needs to be told that it doesn't always work no matter how much you try vs comments just full of happy endings.

[@meghaha8966]

@@MegF142857i’m really sorry you experienced this but i dont think he meant it that way. There absolutely should be space for people to share their negative experiences. But i think he was just trying to name his own experience, which was a positive one. There should be room for both experiences

[@jeremygarst394]

​@MegF142857 agreed. People only want to share when their baby makes it to birth, but we know that is a vanishing small percentage of these babies. It is an industry built on millions and millions of dead children, and people get so upset when you point that out.

[@jffmrk]

We did IVF. Frozen embryo. It took a few tries before implantation. It’s definitely a process. Daughter is in high school now. 👍

[@debarshiraj9025]

Nice to hear that @jffmrk

[@Chrisvillasr]

As someone who worked in a fertility institute for five years about six years ago, I really don’t know how to feel about the excruciating process being exactly the same for the patient as it was back then. Hopefully it gets better soon! Terrific video, very sincere, honest and accurate.

[@renvill]

As a 40yo single woman, I’ve thought of freezing my eggs 2-3 years ago. But upon learning the ‘estimated’ cost which includes paying every year for the storage, I didn’t bother to continue researching this anymore. 😢

[@RutoMustGo-i6u]

Let me marry you please

[@DemiMurgos]

I am one of those people who accepted to become the awesome childless auntie of the family due to a whole plethora of medical, mental and financial reasons. I am extremely thankful for you to shedding light on female reproduction questions because for some reason, we are still handled as "men with boobs" in medicine and so much is not understood, not to mention taboo to talk about. Thank you so, so much for using such a vulnerable time of your life to mentor millions! The whole cryogenics is an added plus for me. I really am rooting and hope the procedure will work for you! Also, what in the everloving horror is going on with the grippy fallopian tube fingies, goodness! :D

[@oliviavanbrink]

Men with boobs is a great way to put how women are treated, and I hope and pray that it changes soon. I’m tired of the “your fine” comments from doctors that refuse to acknowledge that different ways the body works is different for men and women

[@brteyes8423]

So VERY COOL that you included us on your personal journey!!! I’m in AWE of you!

[@possiblyben]

My wife and I have a 1 year old son and he was conceived through IVF! I remember giving my wife all those shots. We did two rounds of egg retrievals and fertilization, and our first implant was a success. Thank you for sharing your journey and being so candid. ❤

[@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.

[@crhu319]

Yes you would be making Dad jokes of the worst kind

[@Honreony]

Mental health causative factors are usually vital during embryogenesis and phases later than that. As long as the chromosomes are complete, and normal (which is checkable) it is still about what happens during the 9-10 months of pregnancy and childhood experiences. So it is safe to

[@Uufda651]

I mean I feel like that's just a category of dad joke

[@Ja2808R]

Arnold Schwarzenegger version haha!

[@MaddyIndia]

Lame

[@kbar6644]

thank you for sharing your story Cleo! im 36 i did egg freezing last year, and ive been thinking about doing another round. i consider myself lucky for being knowledgeable about this and having the means to get it. im hoping egg freezing gets more mainstream and affordable especially for us living in a southeast asia

[@Conundrum191]

"The tube actually can move to suck up the egg"...what in the Lovecraftian horror..... lol

[@enadegheeghaghe6369]

As a doctor, there are many things inside the human body that still freak me out. LOL

[@Vventure23]

Right??? I was like, whaaaaaaat??????

[@hopegold883]

I love her reaction right after that! Her personality is coming out more.

[@etdizzle10]

This blew my mind!

[@lifeofmichal]

As someone who comes from a medical family, I’d consider myself more knowledgeable than the average person in terms of medical knowledge. However, most of the stories I’ve heard were second-hand, not first-hand. So, hearing (and seeing) a first-hand story from you hits differently. I didn’t realize how much my perspective on this procedure would change. I’m in awe, Cleo, and I thank you for sharing your experience (which is quite private, I should add) with us. Huge respect to you. ❤

[@leosmita]

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

[@Infinitecontinuum]

I'm not very fortunate to even feel the need to do such thing. What passion motivated you to take this decision? Is it your career?

[@leosmita]

@@Infinitecontinuum Not really the career. But a lot of brown parents (Indian family) pressure to "settle down and marry at the right age". Via the arrange marriage route, i have met tonnes of men and none have really clicked for me. The concept of right age, while its debateable, i just wanted to ease tiny bit of pressure off me. Not sure I have fully succeeded but I dont regret the step i took.

[@MegaGun2000]

​@@leosmita beautifully explained!

[@Infinitecontinuum]

@@leosmita Don't know how to express my concern. I understand as a fellow Indian 22yo. The current world is based on individual success, wish it could have been like a society based lifestyle. Ie, the difference in lifestyle of ants vs great white Shark (note: they are cannibalistic, they eat their siblings in the uterus)

[@Via-e9u]

may i ask how many eggs? i’m the same age

[@sarifin5227]

Thank you, Cleo, for sharing your personal experiences with egg freezing. After 8 years and 7 miscarriages, my wife and I have twin daughters from frozen eggs and the IVF process. My wife went through the same complex process multiple times to get her body ready for egg extraction and months later for implant. She went through 4 rounds of IVF, and finally, it worked for us. The 4th time doctors used embryo glue for gluing the embryo. Like us, I know many people trying so hard to have children after their 30s and 40s; this may be the best solution.

[@toseltreps1101]

it's insane and utterly idiotic to have children this late. nature tried telling you, but you just had to have your way. your genes weren't supposed to be in the pool

[@jimmackey2909]

My Mom was 44 when I was born in 1947, last of 6. It was hard on her and Dad raising a child through all the 'wonderful' stages. I regret the trauma a teen put through at their ages. (Dad was six years older than Mom) I later was able to appreciate what they sacrificed for me.

[@elizppppppp]

same situation here. .. my mom was 44 when she had my sister. you shouldn’t feel guilty. children are a blessing no matter the age you have them.

[@someone-ja]

I mean it was their decision to have u

[@pablozuma1200]

I have a friend who told me not long ago that she were considering freezing her eggs and I was naive enough to say, 'yes, do it, I think it's a great idea'. 'You don't know what you're talking about ' was her answer. And I obviously didn't. Now I know. Thank you for the thorough explanation. ❤

[@raaghavt]

This is so cool! You can tell your kids they were in cryostasis

[@slacc_does_stuff]

and that they were made in a lab

[@ericaugust1501]

well not really. only half their DNA was in cryostasis.... and i mean that's not really that much different than being in 'biological stasis' inside the female body.... so ...yeah, i'm a nit picker!

[@bsgk-red]

Then waking up like Demolition Man

[@slacc_does_stuff]

@@ericaugust1501 but it is still in a lab, and unnatural

[@ericaugust1501]

@@slacc_does_stuff humankind does many things unnaturally. we are always seeking to control our environment which is, by your definition, unnatural. But, then, living in a house is unnatural. using a car to travel around is unnatural. so this lab-storage, is just another one of these minor controls over nature we do. As i don't consider it unnatural to drive a car, i disagree with your definition. Maybe...when a person is gene edited into existence... maybe then it is unnatural, however even so, any creation is ultimately natural, since the creators are an act of nature, evolution and technological advancement, all of which are part of the natural laws of the universe. if you consider 'natural' to only be animal and plant behaviour... you have an extremely narrow definition of what is 'natural'. if anything is the opposite of 'natural'.... we call it 'supernatural' (which is associated with magic.... which is ofcourse nonsense... ergo, so far, there is only the natural world, and we are all part of it, regardless how we control it) but hey, she can tell her kids, you were, in small part, created via a natural lab and natural human science, in a very natural universe.

[@montieverett4983]

Thank you for sharing this journey. I had a baby at 42. After seeing all of this, i feel so blessed!

[@gilao]

I am 30 years old, and I am just getting started with this. I have friends who done it, and they all talk about this like an errand they needed to run. I felt weird being as scared as I am. Thank you for showing the more complex and harder time you had. It makes it a bit easier for me.

[@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.

[@bobbolieu9013]

Oh my, I don't doubt that you have been told this almost a thousand times in this video alone...you have incredible bravery. I had what was a vague idea of what people went through. Now because you took the massive step, and a hugely personal step to bring us along on your journey scores of us are much more informed and educated about this very dynamic and important process. I had huge respect for you before this video, now it's over the moon. I look forward to learning more as I journey along with you in your videos.

[@MC75448]

I was a fresh embryo and my sister was frozen. We are both in our late twenties, healthy, and she is finishing her PhD in Neuroscience. My mom is also doing great and has never had complications. This video brought me to tears, not only because this is the reason i'm alive today, but also because I am now going through this decision process myself. Finding a partner has been difficult for me due to my career as well. Thank you so, so much for putting this out there for everyone to see. ❤

[@TheNinjaFam]

This was so informative, authentic and entertaining. Here’s to future tiny Cleo’s!

[@ascendesuperius6363]

Never thought that an informative science and tech story could also be so intimate and touching. I nearly cried. Thank you for sharing this part of your life with us

[@robin.watermelon]

I’m 20, and when I was 18 I froze my eggs. I am transgender (he/they) and I was about to start hormone replacement therapy. I decided to freeze my eggs because testosterone can decrease egg quality. It was an incredibly emotional experience, with ups and downs. The injections were very difficult because I had a phobia of needles at the time. Being so young, I definitely felt isolated because no one else I knew had gone through the same thing as me. At the clinics and OB/GYN I felt out of place as everyone else was a cisgender woman, and a lot of things had gendered language. I feel incredibly grateful I was given the opportunity to freeze my eggs, because it’s something I never would have been able to afford if it weren’t for laws in California completely covering the cost of egg retrieval if you’re becoming infertile. I wish I would’ve seen this video two years ago, because I feel like my journey and thought process was similar to yours. It feels good to have some more control over my future despite my circumstances. I feel similarly about the cost (now of keeping my eggs frozen, which is $750 a year, because my insurance does not cover it) especially being a young person without a career and little financial support from my family. I think more insurance plans should see this as a necessary thing instead of an “elective” choice. Thank you for making this video and bringing awareness to the difficulties around egg freezing. I think it’s important to tell how many people come from so many different backgrounds and freeze their eggs for different reasons, but with the same end goal in mind. We will always try to lift each other up, and we can empathize with each other despite our differences because we’ve gone through the same experiences. It’s beautiful in a way c:

[@bryancohn9406]

I had a HUGE "laugh" at your reaction to the fallopian tubes as giant sea creatures. All that was missing was a reference to "Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea!" This was a fascinating topic and it took real bravery to use yourself as the subject. Well done.

[@tiagula]

*giant sand worms

[@Revilo240]

your face is so expresive it makes it so much more enjoyable to watch thank you for making science easy and enjoyable to learn and take in

[@penelopeslays]

Thank you!! I’m a teenager and have absolutely no qualifications. But your videos are fascinating

[@jamewakk]

The reason the second needle hurt was probably because you hit a nerve. Been there, done that. Great video.

[@kierstynsaoirse]

yeah but the medicine going in hurts too

[@jamewakk]

@kierstynsaoirse yeah but that's nothing compared to hitting a nerve, it's like a bee sting.

[@Meatpipeify]

This was a great video and I'm glad it worked for you! My wife and I went through IVF twice last year, so I'm familiar with how exhausting this entire process is. Follistim, menopur, lovenox, lupron...ugh what a mess. It's grueling but worth it. Fortunately we are (finally) expecting our first. Also, if you want a weird story, read about the origins of Gonal-F/Follistim (same med).

[@krishaalmorjaria6729]

Man not only you are great and smart at science and tech related stuff but also a great video editor and screen presence! Will definitely be with the channel for as long as possible. Much love and wish you the best!

[@ChanelChong]

I’m currently 35 and did my egg freezing last year. I’m surprised that I’m still learning new knowledge from this informational video. I totally agree with Cleo that giving ourselves the peace of mind by freezing the eggs felt so awesome. Hope this video could reach out to more ppl who are unaware on the benefits yet

[@RutoMustGo-i6u]

Let me marry you please

[@LaXxBe]

I hope you know how amazing it is that you teach about this. No matter how you feel about this, Cleo needs to be commended for bringing this subject to us. Thank you!

[@ImBarelyMe]

I’ve seen Cleo so much through social media, just bitesize pieces of her content, I today started finally searching to watch her full content and her posts etc and I came across this now, it is really impactful having such a personal journey shared with us and honestly feels beautiful seeing Cleo share her real fears with this, but she feels it’s right for her and again. Beautiful So proud of you Cleo, and all the women out there making this journey to protect their futures without feeling pressured to hurry up 🥰🥰

[@maverickr0han]

My wife and I went through a 4-month IVF cycle ... most folks have no idea how involved this is including dealing with multiple entities for insurance, prescriptions, medication, timing, etc. or what it is, you should make a part two of this someday which completes the story from the frozen egg to baby.

[@aviationist]

Don't you think that maybe we've been giving kids an incomplete narrative in school when it comes to the decision surrounding pregnancy? We've essentially almost demonized pregnancy, I think that's a bad narrative.

[@appliedfacts]

As teenagers kids are not mentally or emotionally ready to raise children. How would you suggest we approach them to convince them to wait?

[@User-1939t9]

​@@appliedfacts I'd say that when it comes to pregnancy, just knowing the real truth of it is enough to stop a lot of teens from going through with it. Ignorance is the problem when it comes to teen pregnancy I believe.

[@mustabeenbari6329]

My wife and I are currently considering egg freezing, and it's been so overwhelming to understand the whole process, let alone weigh the odds! This was incredibly informative, Cleo, thank you so much!

[@StoneLegion]

This is really fascinating. Thanks for not only go into a subject that is not always easy for people to talk about but also go through the process yourself.

I`m a 38 year woman, I never though about having kids, but things changed 3 years ago. I`ve been doing a fertility treatment since then, i has been stressfull, frustrating and expensive, i wish i knew abou freezing my egss earlier, it would have helped a lot. Tnks for the video, i really think it will help yonger women.

[@Hope_Rich-Ly]

It is not late. Freeze as much as you can.

[@carlosdominguez3108]

Do you feel like at this point in time you're thinking to yourself at all that you were lied to? That you shoukd be a boss babe and who cares about marriage and having kids, you can always do that later! You're a strong and independent woman! Just wondering, truly from a honest place.

[@yassluvcat7924]

@@carlosdominguez3108 what’s the problem with being independent? I want to be independent but I also want to be a mother and a good wife

[@nyamani9190]

I am also 38 year and start doing it now. there is a stress about the quality of the eggs that will be frozen.

[@meghaha8966]

@@carlosdominguez3108 your recent comments are about “boss babe era is over” & how men dont care about our degrees. Are you really asking out of genuine curiosity? Bc you seem to have your mind made up on women We do not care about what men think of our degrees or careers. Women can change their minds on motherhood and it still doesn’t have to have anything to do with the opinion of a man. Maybe she started making more money, is in better health, in a better place in life or just simply reconsidered her views on the concept of motherhood. For the first time in history women get to make their own decisions relating to healthcare and the choice to be a mother. Whatever the choice is, it is a valid one and deserves to be listened to. Women not having to be forced into motherhood and being independent is a good thing. Ridiculing them for it and narrowing it down to a “boss babe” mentality shows you don’t understand much about this topic and the pressures that women, both those who choose to be mothers and those who choose not to, face. Do you personally feel you were being lied to when your mom told you you were a big important boy growing up? Just asking, considering how you center men in women’s lives, and you keep telling this youtuber you have a crush on her?

[@khushipabari31]

This was a bold move, sharing the whole thing, thanks Cleo!

[@justin_time]

This was extremely important content. Words can not express how thankful I am that you took us all along with you on your journey. Thank you, genuinely, so much for sharing this with the world.

[@T-rexBreath]

Just a fantastic video. It's a subject matter people shy away from and for Cleo to put herself out there and expose very personal feelings and beliefs is worthy of praise. I've been following this channel for years but this one is your best video so far.

[@CristinaSilva-lp5ds]

Not enough people talk about how sperm quality also decreases over time.

[@Dre2Dee2]

because it doesnt matter, we just keep pumping till it sticks Eggs on the other hand go rotten

[@kesagatame]

A woman over 35 gets AMA screening but not one time will a question about age be asked about the male partner (from experienced).

[@princememphis7726]

Because it decreases from billions to millions lmao

[@princememphis7726]

​@@kesagatame because eggs are limited but men can continue to have children literally up until they die. Bad "quality" doesn't equal infertile. It's just not as potent as when you're younger. But it's still viable. The seed is strong

[@akj3344]

@@kesagatame Dont you think there is a reason for that? Or is that 'sexist'? Be grateful for once that a procedure like this exists for you.

[@dwanehoughtaling419]

This isn't a topic someone in their early 70s but I found this interesting and informative. Thank you. Take care and good luck if or when you decide to use your frozen eggs.

[@CELLPERSPECTIVE]

I'm glad that you focused a lot on the emotional side of this process. The fact that science allows you to freeze eggs in the first place is a huge deal on its own, but the range of emotions that are involved usually don't get as much attention. Thanks for this.

[@kaseymerriott6654]

Thank you for making this video. Infertility and IVF is difficult and isolating because so few people understand it. I’m grateful that more people like you are willing to share about it.

[@reyon2673]

The algorithm did right by me, for once. A few shorts here and there grew into a satisfying curiosity and enjoyment of this channel. I'm glad you're keeping positive, Cleo!

[@starjessicafang]

So proud and grateful for your sharing of this deeply personal story. I remember the Glad You Ask episode on having kids or not you did when you were at Vox, and how much it resonated with me. As a woman close to your age, I share and understand the uncertainty (if not anxiety ) one can feel knowing the biological clock is ticking, and appreciate the options we have to still make that decision later in life. Thanks for taking us with you on this journey. Wishing you all the best ❤❤❤

[@ndanh1]

My wife and I just went to the clinic this morning and decicided to init the IVF procesa. End of the same day, while browsing youtube, I catch this video without searching for it. Given the fact that I've been your follower for quite a time and never know of this journey of yours. Wish you all the best luck!

[@monicareid8858]

On the street where I live, I know of THREE women older than me that waited to have children and couldn’t. They had multiple miscarriages-and became suicidal with grief. Then finally, FINALLY they had ONE child. That kid became their WORLD. Two girls, one boy-on our street, all near my daughter’s age. I have three kids. My first with autism, then a typical (bright, even) girl then boy. My first at 29, my last at 35.

[@arpitjain2591]

This is the power of the internet at work. Legendary video right here

[@garyb6893]

Huge props for your level of vulnerability and authenticity to share this with the world!

[@EshaanSathe]

So grateful that you would open on such an important but personal topic!

[@josepheridu3322]

I guess that is why so many cultures had goddesses of fertility. Imagine living 4000 or even 200 years ago, not having any of this tech, unable to have kids in a world where kids were your retirement, your caretakers, and also your family (yes, it all was expected from them, and still is, but we pool now resources in taxpayers. It will get worse as population go down to keep a working country).

[@muhcharona]

because it was rare as there was no contraception and they understood the value of continuing their line.

[@Joseafrica]

They started working on a family in their late teens, so it was rarely an issue

[@jess7260]

Hey Cleo, i rarely comment on youtube videos but this was an incredible video! Seeing a woman's firsthand perspective and such high quality production on a youtube video is amazing -- I look forward to seeing more tech videos from you and that feature and inform us about our bodies!

[@TaylorBell]

Wow what a well-made and informative video. You crushed it 💪🏼 and thank you for this

[@markkithinji2666]

The dedication it takes to do this is astronomical

[@jordicanedo4398]

0:45 no other species had me dying🤣🤣 of course not… would imagine

[@RutoMustGo-i6u]

I mean it just sounds being more educated which is cool

[@emilnielsen3177]

im a guy, dont know you personally, but i am proud of you. Will send this to the important women of my life

[@mikosoft]

We (my wife) went through the hormone stimulation and I remember the amount of boxes of medications she went through. It's not a very happy experience knowing you need help to reproduce since we're taught it's the most basic of instincts and functions. That's why you don't hear a lot about people who went through IVF (for whichever reason). Apart from us I also know two other pairs that went through IVF, all three of us for different reasons. I think it's high time this issue is destigmatized.

[@toseltreps1101]

it's high time for the exact opposite, IVF and having kids late in life is peak idiocy, letting this go on only litters the gene pool with shit from people whose lineage was supposed to go extinct. there's a reason people are infertile.

[@imkeyfur3943]

To you young lady, my hat's off. You would be a great Mom. Wish you success when you are ready.

[@burada8993]

21:07 mom's explanation face

[@hauntedmasc]

Gonna think about the Shai-Huludpian tube for a longer than expected...

[@_Nex0n_]

Very cool that you are covering this!! I was actually created this way and so was my brother!

[@Mlac93]

As someone who works from home, I just found it refreshing to see a human wearing a different shirt everyday @13:22. Amazingly informative video.

[@adventurecrews]

Absolutely loved this episode!! Thank you for being so vulnerable in this video. Hugs! 💕

[@No_One-d9z]

Thank you so much for his video! I'm about to turn 30 and it's been such a heavy cloud on my mind. I said all my life I want to have kids, but as I'm getting older I just don't know. I'm also a big proponent of adoption. I myself and a few of my relatives were adopted and it's never been a problem with love or connection. My mother is always been the one that raised me, my family is the one that is my last name. I even look like them. Even though I both know and talk to my birth mother on occasion. But you change so much, and I still want that option. This deff made me feel a bit better!

[@laurawright63]

As a woman who is fairly confident she doesn’t want kids but is also constantly doubting herself, this was terrifying and necessary. Thank you for doing what our education system unfortunately doesn’t.

[@sniffles8655]

Growing up I wanted to have kids, I was excited about it. But after becoming an adult and traveling the world, I decided to wait on it, perhaps have none at all. The world is a beautiful place, but it is just as hostile. Now in this day and time, I'm glad I didn't, as unfortunate as it may seem. I would not want to take a chance of putting a child into this word where people are already starving to death everyday. So many without water, facing horrendous wars. Low paying jobs and extremely high pricing on housing and rent. It's a scary world. 😢

[@RutoMustGo-i6u]

Let me marry you please