Taipei: A growing number of Taiwanese women are choosing to freeze their eggs to preserve the option of having children later in life, amid concerns over the country's declining fertility rate.
Taiwan's fertility rate currently stands at 0.89 children per woman, significantly below the replacement level of 2.1 and among the lowest in the world.
One such woman is Vivian Tung, a 33-year-old brand marketing director from Taiwan. Despite being single, Tung decided to freeze her eggs as an "insurance policy" for her future. Many women in Taiwan, like Tung, value their independence and careers and are not solely focused on finding a husband solely for the purpose of having children. However, under current laws, women can only use their frozen eggs if they are in a heterosexual marriage, which excludes unmarried women and same-sex married couples, reported Reuters.
Tung and many others are hopeful that Taiwan's regulations will change in the future, allowing unmarried women the opportunity to have children using frozen eggs. As Taiwan is a democratic island and has made strides in recognising the rights of the LGBTQ+ community, there is optimism for policy changes related to egg access.
The demand for egg freezing in Taiwan has surged, with a significant increase in the number of women between the ages of 35 and 39 opting for the technology over the past three years. Several centers offering egg-freezing services have opened recently, and some local governments have started subsidizing egg-freezing. Despite these developments, the cost of egg freezing remains a barrier for many women, with the procedure and annual storage fees being relatively expensive.
The issue of egg freezing and access to artificial reproduction is considered a complex ethical, medical, and legal matter that requires careful evaluation. While there is a great chance of a policy change based on discussions between the Taiwan Reproductive Association and the government, it may take time to form a societal consensus.
For women like Tung, freezing eggs provides peace of mind, knowing that they have the option of having a child in the future if they choose to. As the trend continues to rise, policymakers in Taiwan are facing the challenge of finding a balanced approach that addresses the declining fertility rate and provides women with more reproductive choices.