Kriti Sanon's egg-freezing journey: When to do it and what it costs
Kriti Sanon said she froze her eggs while preparing for Mimi and called it a smart personal decision. Her remarks have renewed attention to when egg freezing works best, what it involves and what it costs.
Actor Kriti Sanon has revealed that she chose to freeze her eggs while preparing for her film Mimi, calling it one of the "smartest" decisions she has made for herself.
Her comments have brought attention to egg freezing, a fertility preservation option that is becoming increasingly popular among women who wish to delay motherhood.
Speaking to Humans of Bombay, the 35-year-old actor said she decided to undergo the procedure when she was asked to gain weight for Mimi, as the hormonal treatment involved in egg freezing can cause bloating and temporary weight changes.
"I spoke to someone who told me this is the best thing you can do for yourself if you can. It's the best gift that you can give yourself. It stayed on my mind. Then, when I was told to gain weight, I thought this was the right time to do it," she said.
Sanon also shared that the treatment caused hormonal changes and was emotionally and physically demanding.
WHEN IS THE RIGHT TIME TO FREEZE EGGS?
Doctors say the ideal time to freeze eggs is between your mid-20s and early 30s, when both the quality and quantity of eggs are at their best.
According to Dr Tripti Raheja, Director, Obstetrics and Gynaecology at CK Birla Hospital, Delhi, women should understand that both egg quality and egg quantity decline with age, but quality is the more important factor in determining future pregnancy success.
"As women age, especially after 30, egg quality gradually declines. This increases the risk of chromosomal abnormalities, which can affect embryo development and pregnancy outcomes. Eggs frozen at a younger age survive thawing better and have a higher chance of resulting in a successful pregnancy," she explained.
Women are born with all the eggs they will ever have, around four lakh at birth. This number steadily decreases over time, with hundreds of eggs naturally lost during every menstrual cycle.
By menopause, only around 1,000 to 2,000 eggs remain, and these are generally no longer capable of leading to a pregnancy.
Dr Sunil Eshwar, Lead Consultant and Laparoscopic Surgeon at Aster RV Hospital, said fertility begins to decline more rapidly after the age of 35.
"It becomes more difficult to conceive after 35 because both the quality and number of eggs reduce with age. Older women are also more likely to develop medical conditions that can further reduce the chances of a successful pregnancy," he told India Today.
While egg freezing can preserve younger, healthier eggs, doctors stress that it is not a guarantee of future pregnancy.
Instead, it offers women an opportunity to preserve their fertility while delaying childbearing for personal, medical or professional reasons.
WHAT DOES THE PROCEDURE INVOLVE?
Egg freezing, also known as mature oocyte cryopreservation, involves stimulating the ovaries with hormone injections over 10 to 14 days to produce multiple mature eggs.
Once the eggs are ready, they are retrieved through a short procedure performed under mild sedation. The mature eggs are then frozen and stored for future use. When a woman decides to have a child, the eggs are thawed, fertilised with sperm in the laboratory, and the resulting embryo is transferred to the uterus.
HOW MUCH DOES EGG FREEZING COST?
The cost of egg freezing varies across hospitals and fertility clinics in India.
Doctors estimate that one cycle typically costs between Rs 70,000 and Rs 80,000, although the total expense can rise to Rs 3 lakh or more per cycle, depending on the medications used, investigations, egg storage charges and whether multiple cycles are needed to collect enough eggs.
Women considering the procedure should discuss their age, ovarian reserve, future family plans and expected success rates with a fertility specialist before making a decision.
Actor Kriti Sanon has revealed that she chose to freeze her eggs while preparing for her film Mimi, calling it one of the "smartest" decisions she has made for herself.
Her comments have brought attention to egg freezing, a fertility preservation option that is becoming increasingly popular among women who wish to delay motherhood.
Speaking to Humans of Bombay, the 35-year-old actor said she decided to undergo the procedure when she was asked to gain weight for Mimi, as the hormonal treatment involved in egg freezing can cause bloating and temporary weight changes.
"I spoke to someone who told me this is the best thing you can do for yourself if you can. It's the best gift that you can give yourself. It stayed on my mind. Then, when I was told to gain weight, I thought this was the right time to do it," she said.
Sanon also shared that the treatment caused hormonal changes and was emotionally and physically demanding.
WHEN IS THE RIGHT TIME TO FREEZE EGGS?
Doctors say the ideal time to freeze eggs is between your mid-20s and early 30s, when both the quality and quantity of eggs are at their best.
According to Dr Tripti Raheja, Director, Obstetrics and Gynaecology at CK Birla Hospital, Delhi, women should understand that both egg quality and egg quantity decline with age, but quality is the more important factor in determining future pregnancy success.
"As women age, especially after 30, egg quality gradually declines. This increases the risk of chromosomal abnormalities, which can affect embryo development and pregnancy outcomes. Eggs frozen at a younger age survive thawing better and have a higher chance of resulting in a successful pregnancy," she explained.
Women are born with all the eggs they will ever have, around four lakh at birth. This number steadily decreases over time, with hundreds of eggs naturally lost during every menstrual cycle.
By menopause, only around 1,000 to 2,000 eggs remain, and these are generally no longer capable of leading to a pregnancy.
Dr Sunil Eshwar, Lead Consultant and Laparoscopic Surgeon at Aster RV Hospital, said fertility begins to decline more rapidly after the age of 35.
"It becomes more difficult to conceive after 35 because both the quality and number of eggs reduce with age. Older women are also more likely to develop medical conditions that can further reduce the chances of a successful pregnancy," he told India Today.
While egg freezing can preserve younger, healthier eggs, doctors stress that it is not a guarantee of future pregnancy.
Instead, it offers women an opportunity to preserve their fertility while delaying childbearing for personal, medical or professional reasons.
WHAT DOES THE PROCEDURE INVOLVE?
Egg freezing, also known as mature oocyte cryopreservation, involves stimulating the ovaries with hormone injections over 10 to 14 days to produce multiple mature eggs.
Once the eggs are ready, they are retrieved through a short procedure performed under mild sedation. The mature eggs are then frozen and stored for future use. When a woman decides to have a child, the eggs are thawed, fertilised with sperm in the laboratory, and the resulting embryo is transferred to the uterus.
HOW MUCH DOES EGG FREEZING COST?
The cost of egg freezing varies across hospitals and fertility clinics in India.
Doctors estimate that one cycle typically costs between Rs 70,000 and Rs 80,000, although the total expense can rise to Rs 3 lakh or more per cycle, depending on the medications used, investigations, egg storage charges and whether multiple cycles are needed to collect enough eggs.
Women considering the procedure should discuss their age, ovarian reserve, future family plans and expected success rates with a fertility specialist before making a decision.
