Age limit for Elective Egg Freezing raised to 37 years old by MOH

The age limit for Elective Egg Freezing (EEF) will be raised to 37 years old from Jul 1, up from the previous limit of 35 years, said the Ministry of Health (MOH) on Monday (May 15).

This comes after a recent review of local and international evidence showed that the success rates of egg freezing “remain relatively stable for women up to 37 years of age”, said MOH.

This includes the subsequent usage of eggs.

The EEF was first outlined in a White Paper on Singapore’s Women’s Development in March 2022. The White Paper proposed that the age limit for women intending to undergo EEF be set at 35 years old, under the Assisted Reproduction Regulations under the Healthcare Services Act.

This was tied to the prevailing age limits for egg donors.

While the EEF will soon be available to women aged between 21 and 37 regardless of their marital status, only legally married couples can use their frozen eggs to try for a baby through in-vitro fertilisation (IVF).

MOH shared that the upper age limit has only been increased by two years as research shows a decline in the success rates when using eggs from women older than 37 years of age.

Currently, EEF is only allowed for medical reasons, such as women with cancer who want to preserve their fertility.

The procedure will involve an initial medical consultation, where patients will be counselled on the process, associated risks, alternative options and financial charges. There will also be an assessment of ovarian reserves through an ultrasound and blood test.

While the actual procedure only takes about 30 minutes, the patient will require about a week of medical leave to recover.

Minister of State for Social and Family Development Sun Xueling shared that the Government recognises some women desire to preserve their fertility because of personal circumstances.

“Raising the age limit to 37 years will support more women in their life aspirations and allow more couples to start families.”