Conservative MP Miriam Cates has voiced her concerns over the exploitation of women by large corporations through the offering of financial incentives to freeze their eggs. During her address, Cates pointed out the risk of women being misled into delaying motherhood with the notion that egg freezing is a fail-safe method for future pregnancies. She brought attention to the statistical improbability of successful pregnancies from frozen eggs, especially highlighting the significant decline in egg quality post the age of 35.

Cates extended her criticism to the Scottish Government for their promotion of egg donation campaigns, labeling these efforts as unethical. She drew attention to the associated risks and the traumatic experiences women could undergo during the egg donation process. Furthermore, she expressed deep concern regarding the well-being and rights of children born through surrogacy, indicating a need for a comprehensive consideration of their welfare.

In response to the broader concerns about societal pressures leading women to delay motherhood, Cates suggested implementing policy changes aimed at alleviating these pressures. Proposals included measures to improve housing affordability and introducing regulations to shield young individuals from harmful online content. Specifically, she proposed raising the minimum age for owning social media accounts to 16 and advocating for phones with limited features for children to restrict their exposure to potentially damaging information.

Cates’ remarks underline the ethical complexities and potential health implications surrounding reproductive technologies like egg freezing, egg donation, and surrogacy. Her call for governments to consider the broader societal impacts and to implement policies supporting families underscores the nuanced debate around fertility treatments and parental planning in the modern context.