Upasana Kamineni clarifies egg-freezing remark after backlash

Upasana Kamineni Konidela has spoken out after facing criticism for her remarks on egg freezing during an event at IIT Hyderabad. She clarified that her intention was to encourage meaningful discussion about women’s reproductive choices, not create controversy.

As online debate grew, Upasana shared a detailed note on X, saying she welcomed the exchange of views. “I’m happy to have sparked a healthy debate, and thank you for your respectful responses,” she wrote on Wednesday evening.

She added that she plans to talk more about the “pleasures and pressures of privilege,” and encouraged people to review the facts she shared. She also called on employers to work toward increasing women's participation in the workforce.

Upasana also posted a personal “fact check,” outlining her own decisions around marriage and fertility. She wrote that she married for love at 27, chose to freeze her eggs at 29 for personal and health reasons, had her first child at 36, and is now expecting twins at 39. She emphasized that both marriage and career matter to her, and the timeline for each is her personal choice.

During her IIT Hyderabad talk, Upasana had described egg freezing as a kind of “insurance” for women, allowing them to make decisions about marriage and motherhood on their own terms. She also noted that more men than women in the audience expressed interest in marriage, calling it an indicator of changing mindsets in “Progressive India.”

Her comments drew mixed responses. Some medical professionals and working women supported her emphasis on autonomy and planning, while others argued that egg freezing remains financially out of reach for many women in India.

Upasana has said she will continue engaging in the ongoing discussion, framing egg freezing as one of many options available to women balancing biological, professional and social expectations.