Approval Rates for Egg Freezing Applications Among Women Above Age 37 and Consideration to Remove Age Limit

Mr Kenneth Tiong Boon Kiat asked the Coordinating Minister for Social Policies and Minister for Health (a) how many applications for egg freezing by women above 37 have been received since the age limit was reviewed and how many were approved; (b) what criteria the approving authority uses to assess these applications and whether these criteria are published; and (c) whether the Ministry will consider removing the age limit.

Mr Ong Ye Kung: The Ministry of Health receives about 40 appeals per year from women above 37, which are then assessed on a case-by-case basis. About 70% of them were approved based on individual circumstances.

It is not advisable to remove the age limit completely. The quality of a woman's eggs declines over time and egg freezing allows women to freeze their eggs when younger, to improve the chances of pregnancy if used later. We should not remove that signal completely. That said, a successful pregnancy will still depend on many other factors, such as the age in which the implantation was conducted and the health of the couple.