Starting a family is not an easy decision. It involves other decision-making factors such as career, financial capacity, personal goals, and others. For women who want to take control of their reproductive future, egg freezing is an attractive option. In this article, we discuss egg freezing in Singapore – what it is, its process, restrictions, and cost.
What Is Egg Freezing?
Egg freezing or also known as oocyte cryopreservation, is a medical procedure that involves preserving a woman’s eggs (oocytes) to use in the future for conception. It is designed to allow women to retain their reproductive potential and have the option of having children later in life, even if they may face age-related fertility decline or medical conditions such as cancer that could affect their fertility.
How Is Egg Freezing Performed?
The process starts with ovarian stimulation, wherein fertility medications are administered through injections to produce multiple eggs. Once the eggs have matured, a minor surgical procedure called follicular aspiration or egg retrieval is performed. A thin needle is inserted into the ovaries under ultrasound guidance to retrieve the eggs from the follicles. The harvested eggs are then rapidly frozen using a technique called vitrification.
When the patient decides to use her frozen eggs, they are thawed and fertilized with sperm through in vitro fertilization (IVF). After fertilization, the resulting embryos are cultured in a laboratory for a few days before being transferred into the woman’s uterus for implantation.
While egg freezing offers benefits, it’s essential to know that it is not a guarantee of pregnancy. Success rates of egg freezing may vary based on several factors such as a woman’s age at the time of egg freezing, the number of eggs retrieved, and their overall quality of eggs.
What Are The Restrictions For Egg Freezing In Singapore?
Egg freezing in Singapore is subject to some restrictions. In July 2023, Singapore raised the age limit for elective egg freezing (EEF) from 21 to 35 years old to 21 to 37 years old. It is in light of the recent review of local and international evidence showing that success rates of egg freezing remain relatively stable for women up to 37 years of age.
Furthermore, egg freezing in Singapore made careful shifts from allowing egg freezing for only medical reasons to also allowing women (regardless of marital status) with non-medical reasons to undergo egg freezing. However, it is to note that only legally married couples can use their frozen eggs for procreation. These new regulations were announced by the Ministry of Health in Singapore.
How Much Does Egg Freezing Cost In Singapore?
The cost of egg freezing in Singapore is based on the number of egg retrieval cycles. According to online sources, the cost per egg retrieval cycle is around S$7,000 to S$9,000 at a public hospital. On top of this, there is an annual storage charge of approximately S$500.
For private clinics and hospitals, the cost per egg retrieval cycle is around S$10,000 to 15,000. Annual storage charge is around S$900.
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This article is informative only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment, and should never be relied upon for specific medical advice.