So, Your Partner Is Consider Egg Freezing?

Does it empower women or leave them with doubts? We asked experts to let us know everything about freezing your eggs

- By Sukriti Shahi

If I could list one side-effect of marriage that I still haven't found a way to navigate, it's the relentless discussion and narrative around fertility. Ever since I got married, questions about planning a family and having a child have been an active part of my life. And because I got married late, according to the societal norms, my 'biological clock' is anyway on a tight timeline, they say! 'And for women like me and those who don't want to give up on their careers and independence, egg freezing has come up as a solution that sounds like everything we wanted. However, once I went down the rabbit hole, I realised that it's not as glossy and feasible as it sounds. And for the men who have their partners and friends talking about it, here's what we all need to know.

According to a report by the Egg Preservation Institute of Asia (EPIA) in 2024, 40 per cent of Indian women between the ages of 25 and 30 are considering egg freezing to preserve their fertility. Therefore, according to Grand View Horizon research, the India egg freezing and embryo banking market generated a revenue of USD 206.0 million in 2023 and is expected to reach USD 632.5 million by 2030. Needless to say, why we have witnessed a whopping growth in the numbers of fertility and IVF centres across India, including Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities. And while the topic remains a taboo in society, celebrities like Ekta Kapoor, Priyanka Chopra Jonas, Rita Ora, Rebel Wilson, and Chrissy Teigen have spoken about and advocated egg freezing. Although it supports the idea of choosing motherhood on your own terms, is it that easy in practicality?

When I started reading about it, apart from the enormous physical and mental challenges that come with it, I decided to turn the page on it because of its cost. But before we get into it, it's important to understand the process.

The Process