Vicky Pattison, 38, criticises ‘misogynistic’ doctors for adding to ‘hysteria and fear’ around women’s fertility by calling her eggs ‘geriatric’

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Vicky Pattison criticized doctors for potentially causing unnecessary worry about women’s fertility by using the term ‘geriatric’ to describe her eggs. She believes this language contributes to fear and panic around the issue.

Strictly Come Dancing star Gemma Atkinson, 38, is the subject of a new Channel 4 documentary called Maybe Baby?. The show follows her as she thinks about having a family and explores different ways to become a parent.

Vicky’s doctors told her she had low-quality eggs, and she believes the term used was intentionally sexist. In an interview with Radio Times, she explained that the language contributes to unnecessary panic and fear surrounding the topic.

I strongly believe egg freezing should be cheaper and that we need to talk about the process more openly.

‘Women deserve to have security and a backup plan.’

She’s appearing on the show with her husband, Ercan Ramadan, whom she’s been married to for two years. They’re back on television after previously starring in the 2024 reality series, My Big Fat Geordie Wedding.

In the trailer, the couple talks about having a baby, and Vicky becomes emotional, sharing that society often leads women to believe they should want children.

Vicky has openly shared her experiences with fertility treatments with her fans. She began freezing her eggs at age 35, explaining she wanted to proactively manage her options and the process successfully created three frozen embryos.

She shared news of the show with her Instagram followers, explaining that she and her husband had spent the last six months preparing for it, building on the success of their popular wedding showcase.

This two-part documentary explores life after marriage, including the expectations placed on women to have children, the various forms a family can take, and the challenges many women experience with fertility. We also celebrate different paths to motherhood.

We’re thrilled to share what life has been like lately – the busy days, time with friends and family, our adorable pets, and navigating the first years of marriage. We’ve been very open about our hopes and worries as we plan to grow our family, and everything else that comes with it! We’re so glad you’re joining us on this journey!

We hope this show sparks open and honest conversations about fertility, fosters understanding for everyone’s unique choices, and helps viewers learn more about all the possibilities available to them. We’ve strived to approach these sensitive topics with care and respect.

Last year, Vicky shared that she visited the embryos she has frozen at her fertility clinic for an upcoming show. She excitedly announced the visit on Instagram, writing, ‘I WENT TO VISIT OUR EMBRYOS!!!!’

In a 2025 interview with Women’s Health UK, she shared her uncertainty about having children, admitting she has ‘huge questions’ about motherhood. She also described the pressure to start a family now that she’s married as ‘suffocating’.

She shared that after working tirelessly to build her career, the thought of taking a break is frightening to her.

She strongly supports egg freezing, but acknowledges that it’s a financially accessible option for her personally.

Women don’t need to feel pressured by unwritten rules about when things should happen in their lives. While we’re often told we can achieve anything and everything, that’s not always realistic. For women, finding balance often means making compromises.

I met Ercan when I was thirty-one, and we decided to take things slow to give our relationship room to grow. It turned out to be the best decision I ever made. Before, I felt trapped and like my life was on autopilot, but now I feel completely free.

The former Geordie Shore star also explained that she and Ercan are on the same page about wanting more time to decide if they want to have children.

Vicky shared on the Women’s Health Just as Well podcast with Gemma Atkinson and Claire Sanderson that her mother gave her comforting advice: ‘If you don’t have children, that’s okay,’ which she found very empowering.

It seems like our society is increasingly accepting that women can live fulfilling lives without having children. Personally, I’m still unsure about whether or not I want to become a mother.

I’m finally happy with the person I’m becoming, so the idea of stopping my progress is frightening.

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2026-03-24 04:18