Controversy erupts over plan to let single women freeze eggs, undergo IVF

"This is not just about a woman’s right to motherhood, but also a child’s right to grow up in a complete family," she wrote on her personal page.

Now single women can only freeze their eggs or access in vitro fertilization (IVF) with a doctor’s approval, but Decree No. 207, effective October 1, changes all that and they can undergo these procedures on their own. They can also receive donated sperm, embryos and even eggs.

The announcement immediately sparked two opposing camps. One welcomed the move as a step forward in women’s reproductive rights while the other warned of psychological, ethical and societal consequences.

Uyen sides with the critics. She fears the new policy will normalize having children outside marriage, diminish the role of men in families, and shift the financial and caregiving burden entirely onto women. She cites studies that suggest children raised by single parents are more likely to repeat the same family structure.

"Humans are born with an instinctive need to know their origins. IVF removes half of that from the very beginning."

Thuy Quynh, 28, of HCMC also opposes the change, fearing it will turn women’s bodies into a commodity, may lead to illegal surrogacy and raise questions about the legitimacy of children born through IVF.

Quynh rejects the idea that egg freezing or IVF is a miracle solution for single women. She points to the risks of hormone injections to stimulate the ovaries and the possibility that donated sperm may carry undetected genetic defects.

"I’m not sure who suffers more from this change, women or men."

Dr. Thuy Duong provides consultation on IVF to a single woman. Photo by courtesy of Thuy Duong

Dr. Pham Thi Thuy Duong, head of the IVF Hong Ngoc Reproductive Support Center in Hanoi, calls the new decree a major step forward for women’s reproductive rights.

"This is not about loosening restrictions, it is about giving single women a chance to fulfill their dream of becoming mothers right here in Vietnam, instead of looking for risky and costly options abroad."

She points out that the process of donating and receiving sperms, eggs and embryos follows strict anonymity regulations: A sample is used for only one woman; donors must be healthy, aged under 35 years in the case of women and undergo comprehensive health, genetic and infectious disease screenings.

"This is not just a health policy; it’s a declaration of women’s rights. Motherhood is a right, not a privilege."

Dr. Khuat Thu Hong, a psychologist and director of the Institute for Social Development Studies, says the decree is a part of a solution that addresses some demographic issues in Vietnam like declining birth rates delayed marriages, decision not to marry or have children, and late childbirth.

"It simply offers another option for women in need. If you don’t like it, you can marry and raise children the traditional way. There’s nothing here worth arguing about.

"A child born through IVF is not at fault. They deserve to be treated equally and cared for like any other child."

Asked about the transactional nature of surrogacy, she points out that this has been a long-standing issue, not a consequence of the decree, and medical ethics and legal enforcement are key to addressing it.

Duong Thi Xuan, Nha Trang, had a child via IVF in 2024. Photo by courtesy of Xuan

Women in Japan and South Korea have full agency over their reproductive choices and are even assisted with financial support. China has a more conservative stance, banning freezing of their eggs by single women on the grounds that it contradicts traditional family values and could further slow the birth rate.

The center for reproductive support and tissue technology at the Hanoi Medical University Hospital freezes eggs for around 100 women each year, primarily single women.

The Post and Telecommunications Hospital is storing the eggs of 350 women, a number that is increasing by five to seven each month.

Thanh Lieu, 30, a self-employed woman in Hanoi, spent VND 60 million to freeze her eggs, and pays another VND 7 million annually for storage. She has no plans for marriage but wants to preserve her fertility while she still can.

Some turn to IVF because of same-sex relationships, others do so after a failed marriage or troubles with infertility. Some face health issues, others live with physical disabilities and many reject the idea of marriage altogether. Each might have a different reason but all share the dream of becoming a mother.