Priyanka Chopra on Why Freezing Her Eggs Was a Game-Changer

Priyanka Chopra, the renowned actress and producer, is currently relishing her motherhood journey with her first child, Malti Marie, alongside her husband, Nick Jonas. However, Chopra revealed that the decision she made in her early 30s played a crucial role in making her motherhood journey a fulfilling one.

Chopra decided to freeze her eggs after her OB-GYN mom encouraged her to do so.

Priyanka Chopra, the former Miss World, opened up about her struggles with anxiety due to the societal pressure of starting a family at the age of 35.

“I also hadn’t met the person I wanted to have children with nor I didn’t see that,” Chopra admitted. She further revealed that her mother, who happens to be an OB-GYN, advised her to freeze her eggs when she turned 36." [I was] 35, and my mom’s an OB-GYN who’s like: ‘(At) 36, just do it,’" Chopra said. She also took her successful career into account while making her personal timeline for starting a family.

The accomplished actress and producer had reservations about starting a family with her then-boyfriend Nick Jonas due to their significant age difference. “I always knew I wanted kids, which was one of the big reasons I didn’t want to date Nick at that time,” she revealed.

Despite her concerns, Chopra always had a strong desire to have children. “But I’ve always wanted kids. I love kids,” she added.

Egg freezing is one way of preserving a woman’s fertility.

The process of freezing a woman’s eggs is a medical procedure that involves collecting the eggs and preserving them in liquid nitrogen tanks. When the woman is ready to use the eggs, they are thawed and fertilized to initiate a pregnancy.

As per experts, a woman’s egg count and quality begin to diminish by the age of 37, and freezing them before the age of 40 enhances the chances of a successful pregnancy. However, this procedure comes with a hefty price tag. According to a recent report, the cost of a single cycle can range from $8,000 to over $14,000, which includes medical fees, medication, and storage fees.

Chopra and Jonas welcomed their first baby through surrogacy.

In 2022, the celebrity duo introduced their precious daughter Malti Marie to the world. However, the couple faced some backlash for choosing surrogacy as a means of having a baby. Despite the criticism, Priyanka Chopra, the doting mother, fiercely defended her family’s decision.

“I had medical complications,” she revealed. As a result, surrogacy became a necessary step for the couple. Despite the initial criticism, they were grateful to have had the means to pursue this option. “Our surrogate was so generous, kind, lovely, and funny, and she took care of this precious gift for us for 6 months,” Chopra shared.

Now, the couple cherishes every moment with their adorable little Malti and often shares glimpses of their bonding moments on social media.

Chopra now encourages her younger friends to consider egg freezing — “The biological clock is real.”

During a podcast, she shed light on the challenges of pregnancy and the impact of age on a woman’s reproductive system. “It gets so much harder to get pregnant after 35 and to carry to term and all of that. Especially with women that have been working all their lives,” she explained.

Chopra further shared that she felt liberated after freezing her eggs in her early 30s. She could pursue her career goals without worrying about the biological clock ticking away. “I felt such freedom. I could continue on an ambitious warpath that I wanted to achieve. I wanted to get to a certain place in my career,” she added.

“I tell people, ’You save money to buy a car every month. Do it for Christmas,’” she advised. According to Chopra, egg freezing is an investment in oneself that comes with long-term benefits.

“It’s the best gift you’ll give yourself because you’re taking the power from your biological clock, and you can work until however long you want. Your eggs will still be the same age as when you froze them,” she explained.

As Priyanka Chopra takes control of her reproductive health, she joins a growing group of celebrity mothers who have defied societal norms. Stay tuned to learn more about the inspiring women who have proudly embraced motherhood after 40.