In a significant change to fertility laws, Singapore will soon allow women to freeze their eggs for reasons unrelated to medical conditions. Women between the ages of 21 and 35 can now choose elective egg freezing under new Assisted Reproduction Services Regulations, effective early next year.
This move is a milestone for those seeking more control over their reproductive futures, such as 38-year-old Melissa Yambao, who froze her eggs in 2015 after being diagnosed with Stage 1A breast cancer. At 31, Melissa was focused on advancing her career in banking, not starting a family, but the cancer diagnosis prompted her to consider fertility preservation. As cancer treatments can severely affect fertility, Melissa sought advice from her oncologist and pursued egg freezing.
The procedure was initially daunting, involving hormone injections and multiple tests, but Melissa describes the egg retrieval process as straightforward. “It took about half an hour, and I went home feeling tender but relieved,” she recalls. Over two rounds of egg harvesting, she managed to freeze 20 eggs, giving her hope for future motherhood.
Melissa has since recovered from cancer and continues to thrive in her career. Although she hasn’t yet used her frozen eggs, she finds comfort in knowing the option remains available. She emphasizes that egg freezing isn’t just about science interfering with nature, but offering women a chance at motherhood, even if the process can be emotionally taxing.
Experts advise that egg freezing requires thorough consideration and support, as the process involves daily medication, clinic visits, and the uncertainty of how many eggs will successfully mature. Despite the challenges, for Melissa, having frozen her eggs was one of the best decisions she could have made for her future.