Equality promotes both social and economic prosperity for any nation. To strengthen the fairness for women in the workplace and encourage more female representation in leadership, the Singapore government released a set of outlines that details concrete actions to promote a fairer and more inclusive society. The White Paper details 25 action plans for Singapore Women's Development to be implemented...
Equality promotes both social and economic prosperity for any nation. To strengthen the fairness for women in the workplace and encourage more female representation in leadership, the Singapore government released a set of outlines that details concrete actions to promote a fairer and more inclusive society.
to be implemented over the next ten years. One of the action plans is to give women a choice to freeze their eggs.After years of discussion, Singaporean women might be able to freeze their eggs – regardless of marital status. If the introduction of the Assisted Reproduction Services Regulations under the Healthcare Services Act is successful, women between 21 and 35 years will be allowed to freeze their eggs from 2023. However, only legally married couples can use their frozen eggs for reproduction through in-vitro fertilisation . Pre-procedure counselling will be provided to women so that they can make an informed choice with regard to freezing their eggs. The session will highlight the invasive nature of the procedure, the risk of late pregnancy, the cost of elective egg freezing, among other things. If this action plan is approved, elective egg freezing is a significant step towards equality for women. Previously, egg freezing was only allowed for medical reasons that might affect one's fertility. Reasons include chemotherapy treatments or the risk of ovarian cancer that might require one to remove ovaries and fallopian tubes.Egg freezing is also known as oocyte cryopreservation. It is a process in which one's eggs are retrieved, frozen and subsequently stored for later use. Egg freezing safeguards fertility as the age of the egg remains unchanged from the moment they are frozen. When a woman is ready to use the egg, the frozen egg will be thawed and combined with sperm. After which, the embryo is implanted in her uterus. Doctors recommend that women freeze their eggs before turning 35 years old. But why do women want to freeze their eggs? Firstly, the quality and quantity of egg supply decrease with age, and some women might want to preserve their eggs while they are younger and of better quality. It allows them to protect their fertility. Secondly, it permits women to conceive in the future. Some might not be able to find a partner while they are younger but still wish to start a family if they choose to marry later.Phase one: Ovarian stimulation: The woman would meet with her doctor on the second or third day of her menstrual cycle to do a blood test and ultrasound. If there is a potential for success, injections are given by the doctor to stimulate egg production. She would have to administer the series of injections every day for about two weeks. Regular ultrasound scans and blood tests are done to see if she is responding well to the injections. The final shot that the woman will receive is known as the trigger shot, which completes the egg's maturity. Phase two: Egg retrieval: About 36 hours after the trigger shot, the doctor will perform the egg extraction. The egg extraction process is performed under sedation or a general anaesthetic. Phase three: Freezing of eggs: An embryologist will assess the eggs are the egg retrieval. The mature eggs are frozen at -196 degrees Celsius in under one minute through vitrification. The eggs are frozen until the woman wants to use them.Risks of egg freezing Medical procedures usually come with some level of risk, and egg freezing is not spared. Here are common risks associated with egg freezing: Pregnancy is not guaranteed – Medical research has shown that the chance of a frozen egg that results in the birth of a baby is between.The success rate is usually dependent on two factors – a woman’s age when she freezes her eggs as well as the number of eggs she freezes. Though egg freezing provides hope for future pregnancy, success is not always guaranteed. Egg retrieval process complications – Though rare, using an aspirating needle for egg retrieval can cause bleeding or infection to one's bladder, bowel or blood vessel. Risk of Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome – Ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome occurs when a woman takes injectable hormone medication to promote egg development in the ovaries, causing one's ovaries to swell. As one has to take hormones before starting the egg freezing process, this is a possible risk that one might face.Egg freezing can be pricey. In Singapore, you are looking at an average cost of about S$10,000 for one cycle. Typically, one egg freezing cycle is between 10 and 14 days, beginning with medication on the first day and ending the process with egg retrieval. If your egg freezing package does not include egg storage costs, be prepared to incur additional fees. Due to hefty costs and the previous ban on social egg freezing, some Singaporeans go overseas for the procedure. Popular countries include Malaysia, Thailand, and Australia.Egg retrieval process
Please follow us on Google to support usSingapore Latest News, Singapore Headlines
Similar News: You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
S'pore allows social egg freezing: What the procedure entails and why women do it
Read more »
The Real Financial Cost of Critical Illnesses in Singapore - The Independent Singapore NewsHaving seen the financial distress that critically ill patients and their caregivers face, it is evident that a critical illness insurance plan can greatly lessen the financial burden one faces in the event that they are diagnosed with a critical illness.
Read more »
Lim Tean claims egg prices have increased by 2.5 times in 3 years - The Independent Singapore News“Has your income increased by 2.5 times in the last 3 years, which is how much the price of eggs has increased? For that matter even, has your income increased by 10% recently, which is how much SP’s electricity tariffs are going to increase by from April to June?” — Lim Tean
Read more »