(SINGAPORE) The age limit for elective egg freezing (EEF) in Singapore will be extended from 35 to 37, effective from July 1, announced the Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF) and the Health Ministry (MOH) on Monday (May 15).
The decision comes after a recent comprehensive review of local and international evidence, which revealed that the success rates of egg freezing and subsequent usage of the eggs remain relatively stable for women up to the age of 37.
Presently, elective egg freezing is only permitted for women with medical conditions, such as cancer, who wish to preserve their fertility. This includes cases where the treatment is known to have an impact on fertility or situations where the removal of ovaries and fallopian tubes is necessary due to the risk of ovarian cancer.
Last year, Singapore announced its plans to legalize egg freezing for women aged 21 to 35 by introducing the Assisted Reproduction Services Regulations under the Healthcare Services Act.
With the upcoming changes, Singapore will allow women between the ages of 21 and 37 to undergo elective egg freezing. However, the use of the frozen eggs for procreation will be limited to legally married couples.
The ministries emphasized that current research indicates a decline in success rates when using eggs from women older than 37. Associate Professor Sadhana Nadarajah, head of the department of reproductive medicine at KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital (KKH), explained that as women age, their fertility declines. The quantity and quality of eggs diminish, making it increasingly challenging to achieve a successful live birth.
The Health Ministry (MOH) stated that it will continue to monitor both local and international evidence to evaluate the age limits for egg freezing and its subsequent utilization.
In a press release, the government reiterated its commitment to encouraging and supporting Singaporeans in pursuing their aspirations for marriage and parenthood as early as possible.
During a doorstop interview on Monday, Minister of State for Social and Family Development and Home Affairs, Sun Xueling, was questioned about the possibility of allowing unmarried women to use frozen eggs for procreation in the future.
Ms. Sun responded by emphasizing that elective egg freezing is an individual choice for women. While they have the freedom to decide on the fate of their tissue, including donating or disposing of it, the use of frozen eggs for conceiving a child will be limited to married couples, requiring the husband’s consent.
Ms. Sun expressed her hope that raising the age limit for elective egg freezing by two years will support more women in realizing their life aspirations and enable more couples to start families.
