Preserving fertility: Single women increasingly turn to freezing eggs

In mid-August she went under anesthesia at a hospital in Hanoi, and, when she awoke, was informed that eight eggs had been retrieved and advised to undergo another round of stimulation. This meant a month of hormone injections, monitoring ovarian development and managing side effects like breast tenderness and nausea.

"Despite the challenges, freezing my eggs feels like a gateway to freedom," she says.

The freelance entrepreneur spent VND60 million (US$2,400) on the procedure, and has to pay another VND7 million annually for storage. Though this represents several months of income for her, she views it as a worthwhile investment. Observing financially secure women around her struggling with fertility due to age made her realize the importance of freezing eggs at the right time.

"Two years ago my sister had her second child after 35, but conceiving was incredibly difficult. That made me realize the importance of freezing eggs early."

Thanh Lieu, 30, a freelance entrepreneur in Hanoi. Photo courtesy of Thanh Lieu

Anh Thu, 36, a purchasing manager in HCMC, got her eggs frozen in December 2023. She spent VND80 million to retrieve 20 eggs and chose to freeze 16. After six months she began paying VND9 million a year for storage.

"Freezing eggs is like buying insurance; no one hopes to use it," she says philosophically.

"But if I end up as a single mother, I can feel secure knowing I can still have a child with the eggs I stored while in good health."

Lieu and Thu reflect a growing trend among single women of storing their eggs to control their reproductive futures. Major IVF centers have seen a sharp rise in clients over the last two years. At Hanoi Medical University Hospital’s Reproductive Support and Tissue Engineering Center, the number of single women seeking to store away their eggs has risen sharply to six to eight a month. Tam Anh Hospital’s IVF center reports a significant rise since late 2023, with around seven new clients coming each week, 90% of them single women.

The development of reproductive technology in Vietnam has contributed to this trend. It has become a multimillion-dollar industry that was worth US$132 million in 2022 and is projected to reach $200 million by 2028, according to Research and Markets. There are now over 50 IVF centers nationwide, all capable of freezing women’s eggs.

Dr. Do Thuy Huong, an expert and resident doctor at the Reproductive Support and Tissue Engineering Center (Hanoi Medical University Hospital), says single women freeze their eggs for various reasons. Some are focused on their careers, while others have yet to meet the right partner or are uncertain about marriage, she says.

"Regardless of their reasons, these women share a commonality: they are financially independent, career-oriented and self-reliant."

Ngoc Ha, 34, who works at an international preschool in Hanoi, chose to freeze her eggs since marriage does not seem imminent though she has no shortage of suitors and occasionally romantic relationships. Storing her eggs gives her the luxury of time while she waits for the right person to come along.

Similarly, Lieu has no immediate plans to marry as her business is still developing. She also has concerns about marriage, having seen friends rush into it without adequate preparation or financial security, only to end up in conflict.

"Freezing my eggs allows me to focus on my business and prepare for marriage at my own pace, if it happens at all."

Dr. Do Thuy Huong advised a single woman on egg freezing in July 2024 Photo by Hong Chinh

Dr. Huong points out that women’s biological clock is essentially stopped once their eggs are frozen, allowing them use the eggs to conceive even after menopause, though this is not recommended due to the health risks associated with late pregnancies.

Originally, Hanoi Medical University Hospital only offered this procedure to couples undergoing IVF and women preparing for cancer treatment. But it has expanded it to include women with low ovarian reserves and those prioritizing careers over starting a family.

Single women account for a fifth of people choosing to store their eggs at the center. Many more single women are interested in having their eggs stored, with social media discussions on the topic drawing hundreds of thousands of views, but cost is a big concern. Depending on the facility and an individual’s health, the procedure could cost VND50-100 million and annual maintenance another VND6-8 million.

Dr. Huong says the optimal reproductive age for women is between 25 and 30 years, and having eggs frozen before 30 may be unnecessary.

"Young women don't need to freeze their eggs immediately, but they should check their AMH (ovarian reserve) and get an ultrasound done. The total cost is only about VND1 million to assess their ovarian health."

Anh Thu feels liberated since freezing her eggs. With a stable career and financial security, she no longer feels pressured to rush into marriage or parenthood. She now looks forward to traveling the world and exploring new opportunities, unconcerned about the traditional timeline for marriage and children.

"Now, I don’t worry whether I will have children before or after marriage. Getting married isn’t even a priority. I have time to find the right person."