Former Geordie Shore star Vicky Pattison has candidly addressed the significant backlash she encountered after deciding to freeze her eggs at the age of 35, while also revealing she remains uncertain about whether she will have children. The 38-year-old television personality is set to front a new Channel 4 documentary titled Maybe Baby?, alongside her husband Ercan Ramadan. The series follows the couple as they explore various paths to parenthood and contemplate starting a family.
Opening Up on This Morning
During an appearance on This Morning with hosts Alison Hammond and Dermot O'Leary, Vicky discussed the upcoming documentary, which includes scenes of her visiting her frozen eggs. She opened up about the negative reaction from some fans following her decision to freeze her eggs three years ago, describing it as including 'abuse' from other women online.
Vicky explained her reasoning, stating, 'It was about three, four years ago when Ercan and my relationship, in my opinion, was just in its infancy. We wanted to give our relationship a chance to develop and see what was there before we rushed our timeline and had kids, and that was our choice.'
Addressing Societal Pressure
She further elaborated on the societal pressures faced by women, saying, 'I was also aware of this ticking biological body clock, the pressure that's put on you by society to have it all figured out as a woman, so we thought we'd do in our head the responsible thing, and the privileged thing quite rightly, and freeze my eggs.'
Vicky expressed her surprise at the backlash, noting, 'We were really excited, but fertility in general is a very sensitive subject, and infertility too understandably, and we anticipated it being quite triggering for some but what we didn't anticipate was that our decision would create negative backlash.'
Criticism from Women
When asked if the criticism primarily came from women, Vicky responded, 'It always hurts more when it is women, and it was a lot - and like I say, in certain circumstances I get it because I'm in a privileged position to be able to do it.'
She acknowledged the financial barriers to egg freezing, adding, 'I do understand, I look forward to the day when egg freezing is more affordable and more accessible, but I think there is a lot of stigma and shame surrounding alternative fertility journeys.'
Call for More Open Conversations
Vicky emphasized the importance of discussing alternative fertility options, stating, 'I don't think they are discussed enough, and they're not talked about enough because when women do talk about it and do stick their head above the parapet they are met with like in my case, abuse.'
She continued, 'I think it's important we do continue to have these conversations whether it be about adoption, surrogacy, egg freezing, IVF or remaining child free, whatever it is, in the hopes the more sunlight these conversations get it'll help people foster empathy and there will be less judgement.'
Slamming Medical Terminology
Earlier this month, Vicky criticized doctors for using what she called 'misogynistic language' by referring to her eggs as 'geriatric'. Speaking to the Radio Times, she said, 'It's misogynistic language, and I think it's deliberate, adding to the hysteria and fear.'
She reiterated her advocacy for egg freezing, saying, 'I feel passionately that egg freezing should be more affordable, and we should be more open about the process. Women deserve to have security and a backup plan.'
Documentary Details
In the documentary, Vicky and her husband of two years, Ercan, return to television following their 2024 reality show, My Big Fat Geordie Wedding. The couple openly discuss whether they want a baby, with Vicky seen crying in the trailer as she admits, 'As a woman you are conditioned to really want kids.'
Vicky has been transparent with her fans about her fertility journey, documenting the process of freezing her eggs, which began when she was 35. The treatment resulted in three embryos being frozen.
Personal Reflections on Motherhood
In a 2025 interview with Women's Health UK, Vicky admitted she has a 'huge question mark over motherhood' and described the pressure to have a baby now that she is married as 'suffocating'.
She explained, 'I'm a huge advocate for egg freezing, although I'm saying that from a position of financial privilege. Women shouldn't be beholden to this invisible timeline. We're fed this narrative that we can have it all and do whatever we want, but it's not necessarily true. In women's lives, there has to be a lot of compromise involved.'
Support from Family
Vicky also shared advice from her mother, saying, 'My mum told me 'If not having children is your trajectory, that's fine,' which I thought was powerful. I think we're coming around to the idea as a society that a woman doesn't have to have children to be fulfilled – and, for me, there's still a huge question mark over motherhood.'
She added, 'I've worked to finally get to a place where I'm proud of who I'm becoming, and the thought of taking a break… it scares me.'
Documentary Premiere
Maybe Baby? airs tonight (March 31) at 9pm on E4. The two-part special explores the pressures on women to have children, celebrates alternative routes to motherhood, and addresses the fertility issues many women face, all while providing a glimpse into Vicky and Ercan's post-wedding life.
