Actor Kriti Sanon's recent comments about freezing her eggs have brought a once-taboo topic into the spotlight. As more women choose to prioritise their education, careers, personal goals or simply wait until they feel ready for parenthood, conversations around fertility preservation are becoming increasingly common.
In a recent interaction with Humans of Bombay founder Karishma Mehta, Kriti revealed that she froze her eggs a few years ago. "You have one life. You have to get to live it the way you want to live it. It's your story to write. Nobody else can write it," she added. Experts say this growing openness is a positive step because it encourages women to understand their reproductive health early rather than making rushed decisions later. While egg freezing offers more flexibility in family planning, it is important to know what the procedure can and cannot do.
Why are more women choosing egg freezing?
According to Dr Santosh Gupta, Clinical Director & Fertility Specialist, Nova IVF Fertility, Koramangala, Bengaluru, one of the most common concerns women express is wanting children in the future but not feeling ready for motherhood just yet. "One of the most common things we hear from women in their thirties is, 'I want children, but I am not ready yet.' The tricky part is that while life plans can be shifted, ovarian ageing can't be postponed," says Dr Gupta.
Unlike career goals or personal milestones, the body's biological clock continues to move forward. Egg quality and quantity naturally decline with age, particularly after the mid-thirties, regardless of lifestyle or relationship status.
What exactly is egg freezing?
Egg freezing, medically known as mature oocyte cryopreservation, involves collecting healthy eggs from the ovaries, freezing them and storing them for future use. According to Dr Priyanka Reddy, Consultant – Infertility Specialist, Motherhood Fertility and IVF, Kothanur and HRBR Layout, Bangalore, women are born with a fixed number of eggs, and both their quality and quantity decrease over time.
"Ovarian egg freezing allows women to effectively put the brake on time and preserve healthy eggs while they are younger," explains Dr Reddy. If the woman decides to conceive later, the frozen eggs retain the reproductive potential they had at the time they were preserved.
Is egg freezing a guarantee of pregnancy?
This is one of the biggest misconceptions surrounding fertility preservation. Dr Gupta stresses that egg freezing should not be viewed as an insurance policy. "How well it works depends mostly on the woman's age at the time of freezing, how many eggs were preserved and her overall reproductive health," he says. Because younger eggs generally have better quality, fertility specialists often recommend considering the procedure before the age of 35 if a woman is planning to delay pregnancy.
Fertility awareness is just as important
Experts believe that not every woman needs to freeze her eggs, but every woman should understand how fertility changes with age. Dr Gupta recommends basic fertility assessments, including ovarian reserve testing and counselling, to help women make informed decisions based on their own reproductive health rather than assumptions or social pressure.
Having access to accurate information allows women to make choices proactively instead of reacting when fertility becomes a concern.
What should women know before choosing the procedure?
Egg freezing is a medical procedure that requires planning and realistic expectations. Dr Reddy explains that the process involves hormonal stimulation to encourage the ovaries to produce multiple eggs before they are retrieved and frozen. During this time, some women may experience hormonal changes, bloating or mood swings.
She emphasises that understanding both the benefits and the physical aspects of the procedure helps women make well-informed decisions.
It's about having more choices, not delaying motherhood forever
Experts say the conversation around egg freezing should move beyond celebrity headlines and focus on fertility awareness. For some women, egg freezing offers reassurance while they pursue personal or professional goals. For others, it may not be necessary at all.
What matters most is making the decision based on medical advice and accurate information rather than fear or social expectations.
As conversations like Kriti Sanon's become more common, fertility specialists hope more women will feel comfortable discussing reproductive health, understanding their options and making choices that are right for them.
Disclaimer: Tips and suggestions mentioned in the article are for general information purposes only and should not be construed as professional medical advice.
Also read: Should older Gen Z start thinking about egg freezing? Fertility specialist weighs in
