Proposal to Increase Egg Freezing Age Limit to Benefit More Women

Miss Cheng Li Hui asked the Minister for Health with regard to egg freezing in Singapore (a) whether the age limit can be raised to 40 so as to benefit more women; (b) whether appeals will be considered for egg freezing for those over the age of 35; and (c) if so, what are the considerations.

The current upper age limit for elective egg freezing (EEF) is determined based on international scientific evidence and professional consensus that egg quality declines significantly after 35 years of age and considering that egg freezing is an intrusive procedure that is not without downsides or risks to the women undergoing it.

Hence, the age limit helps manage expectations, avoids giving false hope and safeguards women against Assisted Reproduction (AR) providers promoting the retrieval of frozen eggs beyond the age limit. MOH will continue to monitor medical advances and review the age limit from time to time.

Nevertheless, we will consider appeals from women who miss the upper age limit slightly. Women may seek their AR practitioner's assistance to appeal on their behalf when EEF is implemented. More details will be provided to AR centres in due course.