Upasana's Egg Freezing Advice Sparks Fierce Debate

Entrepreneur Upasana Konidela recently advised women students at IIT Hyderabad to freeze their eggs to better balance career aspirations with motherhood. Her statement, shared widely online, quickly drew criticism from medical professionals and the public, who highlighted the significant financial burden and the lack of guaranteed success with fertility treatments.

Responding to the backlash, Konidela described the ensuing discussion as a 'healthy debate.' She shared her personal experiences, explaining her decision to freeze eggs at 29 and welcoming children later in life, asserting that marriage and career are equally important and that women should control their own timelines.

Critics, including doctors, argued that such advice ignores the realities faced by many women, emphasizing the high costs of procedures and the emotional toll. Others, like Zoho founder Sridhar Vembu, advocated for earlier marriage and childbirth as a societal duty, further fueling the polarized conversation around career, fertility, and privilege.