Video: BBC uncovers massive deception by Britain’s ‘social egg freezing’ clinics

egg freezing series business main kh
Credit: NBC News

Egg freezing for non-medical reasons, also known as social egg freezing, is an increasingly popular method for women to preserve their fertility in order to have children at a later date.

Mis- and disinformation are distorting science and public policy. Subscribe to our Daily and Weekly Digests for incisive coverage of ‘disruptive’ innovations in AI, agricultural biotechnology, food, chemicals, nuclear energy, vaccines, and other disruptive innovations.

The BBC analysed the websites of the 78 fertility clinics that advertise private egg freezing in the UK.

We found 32 websites (41%) didn’t make clear a patient’s chance of successfully having a baby in the future.

Of that group, most of the websites were advertising successful thaw rates of 80-95% – a process where eggs are defrosted to be used in fertility treatments.

But these clinics did not make clear that the chances of having a baby are dramatically lower because there are multiple stages of the process before an embryo is successfully implanted, through fertility treatments such as IVF.

…

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), the government watchdog, has guidance about the information which should appear on clinic websites.

It says egg freezing is a “significant financial and emotional commitment” and patients must be “properly informed” about success rates and costs.

This is an excerpt. See the full article here

Related Articles

Infographic: Global regulatory and health research agencies on whether glyphosate causes cancer

Infographic: Global regulatory and health research agencies on whether glyphosate causes cancer

Does glyphosate—the world's most heavily-used herbicide—pose serious harm to humans? Is it carcinogenic? Those issues are of both legal and ...

Most Popular

ChatGPT-Image-Mar-10-2026-01_39_01-PM
Viewpoint—“Miracle molecule” debunked: Why acemannan supplements don’t work
Screenshot-2026-09-17-at-1.07.08-PM
'We are dangerously addicted to antidepressants': Should we heed RFK Jr.’s sobering warning?
ChatGPT-Image-Sep-2-2026-02_03_32-PM
How much of a problem is AI’s water use?
Screenshot-2026-09-03-at-10.51.20-AM
Viewpoint: Why do online health lies outlive the evidence that debunks them? Read "Everyone Else Is Lying to You"
ChatGPT-Image-Sep-22-2026-10_32_46-AM
There has been a slew of recent reports of food recalls and foodborne outbreaks. Do we face an escalating problem?
Screenshot-2026-09-10-at-12.20.19-PM
'Jet fuel didn't melt the steel': 9/11 conspiracy theories debunked
ChatGPT-Image-Sep-10-2026-01_44_53-PM
Viewpoint: Why medical and health nonsense spreads so casually on pop culture media
Screenshot-2026-09-22-at-11.40.28-AM
After Idaho criminalized abortion providers in 2022, one-third of obstetricians fled. Health care advocates are making rural health the case for repealing the ban
glp menu logo outlined

Get news on human & agricultural genetics and biotechnology delivered to your inbox.