Alternative ways to conceive a child have gained massive popularity in the last few years. One such method that can help women escape the taboo and burden of running out their biological clock is freezing their eggs.
According to Johns Hopkins Medicine, the process of freezing your eggs is called cryopreservation in which your eggs are extracted and then stored for future use. This method can help women conceive later in life especially if they are undergoing medical treatments like chemotherapy, treatment of severe endometriosis or gender-affirming surgery, or suffer from autoimmune diseases that make conception difficult for the time being.
Indian Celebrities Who Froze Their Eggs
Vouching for the efficacy of egg freezing, the following Indian celebrities opened up about their experience:
- Ekta Kapoor: Famous producer Ekta Kapoor, who is the creative head of Balaji Telefilms Limited opted for egg freezing at the age of 36, so she could prioritise her career without compromising on the likelihood of motherhood.
- Diana Hayden: Former Miss World Diana Hayden has often advocated for freezing your eggs. She has gone through the process twice and even conceived her first child through In Vitro Fertilisation (IVF).
- Mona Singh: Actress Mona Singh famous for her titular role in ‘Jassi Jaisi Koi Nahi,’ and for ‘3 Idiots,’ froze her eggs at the age of 34. Much like Ekta Kapoor, she also chose this route to not compromise her career instead of societal expectations.
- Richa Chadha: One of Bollywood’s biggest names, actress Richa Chadha has been quite open about freezing her eggs, advocating for women to free themselves from the burden of being a mother before they are mentally prepared for it.
- Priyanka Chopra: Now a Hollywood actress as well, Bollywood actress Priyanka Chopra opted to freeze her eggs in her early 30s on the advice of her mother Dr Madhu Chopra, who is a gynaecologist.
- Sania Mirza: Tennis player Sania Mirza underwent egg freezing at the age of 29. She opted for the procedure so could balance her tennis career without giving up the possibility of being a mother later in life.
Also Read: Egg Freezing: 7 things You Need To Know About About Egg Freezing From A Specialist
What Is Egg Freezing?
To understand what exactly egg freezing means, the team of OnlyMyHealth spoke to Dr Anu Sadashiv, Reproductive Medicine Specialist, Milann, KumaraPark. According to Johns Hopkins Medicine, by the age of 43, almost 90% of your eggs develop abnormalities.
Dr Anu commented, “Therefore, it is best to freeze your egg as soon as possible. The best time is between the ages of 27-34. This can offer new hope to women to do not want to be tied down by their biological clock, or can not conceive currently due to treatment treatment for serious illnesses that may reduce fertility.”
She explained, “Egg freezing, also called human oocyte cryopreservation, entails removing and safely preserving a woman's eggs. Freezing your eggs does not compromise the health baby.”
Also Read: Egg Freezing Is A Great Way For Fertility Preservation, Here’s Everything You Need To Know
Although the decision to freeze your eggs may seem daunting, consulting your gynaecologist and educating yourself about this topic can help ease your doubts. These Indian women, who are privileged enough to have access to the best medical advice are a testament to the fact that egg freezing can give you the independence to conceive a child on your own terms.