Egg freezing, or Oocyte cryopreservation, is a medical process in which a woman’s eggs (Oocytes) are extracted, frozen, and stored as a method to preserve reproductive potential in women of reproductive age. The first human birth from a frozen oocyte happened in 1986. Oocyte cryopreservation has advanced over the past few years with the increased overall success of eggs surviving the freezing process. The techniques leading to enhanced gamete survival, potential fertilization, and live birth rates allow women a much greater degree of autonomy.
So far the preservation of sperms has been widely known and accepted but women, on the other hand, tend to hide the fact that they are preserving their eggs for the societal taboo around a woman’s fertility. In a patriarchal country such as India, even men’s impotence is imposed on women.
But times are changing and Indian women are breaking off their cocoons and flying high. Modern women now prioritize their own well being and do not take impositions for granted. Like men, women too have slowly taken their own time in choosing their own right age to marry or have kids.
This very change has been exemplified by television and film star Mona Singh. In a recent interview, Mona Singh revealed that she is in no hurry to have a baby. The actress, who got married to Shyam Gopalan last year, says she got her eggs frozen five years ago when she was 34. She reasoned her decision by saying that she wanted to enjoy her marital bliss for a while.
Sharing her plans for motherhood, she said in an interview with The Times of India, “I have frozen my eggs and now I am free. I did that at the age of 34. Because I have gotten married now, I want to chill with my partner and travel the world with him. I haven’t done that yet. I have always traveled with my family or friends. I want to do that with my husband now. Even though I love kids, if you ask me now, I am not mentally prepared to have one. Later in life, I would definitely think about it.”
Women are often pressurized to reproduce in their fertile age which happens to be in the ’20s. Freezing eggs is a way to cheat that favorable period and be free to have a child at any age as long as one is healthy.
What added more joy to Mona’s decision is that her own mother took her side.
“My mother was so happy when she heard about my decision to freeze my eggs. We both went to my gynecologist in Pune and I had to take a few months break from work as the process involves a lot of mood swings. It took about 5 months for the process and now, as I said, I am free,” Mona said.
Mona loves each and every moment of her married life despite marrying at 39.
“We are living in a new world where there is no age to get married. I was in no rush. I feel this was the best age for me to get married because a person is more evolved, experienced, and has seen his/her share of ups and downs, and you know that this (marriage) is important and this should stay. You get married now because you want to and because you think it is time to get married.”
Mona Singh made her acting debut in 2003 with Jassi Jaisi Koi Nahi, an adaptation of Colombian telenovela, Yo soy Betty, la fea. Post that, she went on to feature in a number of hit shows including Kavach…Kaali Shaktiyon Se, Pyaar Ko Ho Jaane Do, Kya Huaa Tera Vaada, and Radhaa Ki Betiyaan Kuch Kar Dikhayengi.
She recently worked in M.O.M. Mission Over Mars, a web series on ALT Balaji where she played the lead scientist. In 2006, she won the dance reality show Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa. Mona Singh was also seen as Kareena Kapoor’s elder sister in 3 Idiots and will work with her and Aamir again in Laal Singh Chaddha. Besides that, Mona will next be seen in the upcoming Zee5 series, Black Widows.