Overview

Canadian laws that criminalize payment to egg donors perpetuate stigma and secrecy, create uncertainty and a shortage of eggs in Canada. At the heart of The Secret Society are women who are desperately searching for healthy ova – human eggs – to fertilize with sperm. They face many barriers in creating a baby: the shame of being infertile, the high costs of in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatment, the emotional confusion of choosing an egg donor, the exhaustion of IVF cycles, fertility drugs and surgery.

Told from the point of view of an egg donor, the film also follows women who are willing to help by donating their eggs – and who also often feel hidden, isolated and alone. Experts in medicine, physics, ethics and low provide a broader context, while subjects/advocates like Senator Lucie Moncion lead the charge to changing Canadian laws.