Egg freezing, a fertility preservation method that allows women to store healthy eggs for future use (Image courtesy of North Chungcheong Province)
CHEONGJU, Oct. 15 (Korea Bizwire) – In a significant move to address declining birth rates and support family planning, South Korea’s Ministry of Health and Welfare announced plans to extend egg freezing subsidies nationwide starting next year, building on a pioneering program launched by North Chungcheong Province.
Egg freezing, a fertility preservation method that allows women to store healthy eggs for future use, has gained popularity in South Korea as more women delay marriage and childbirth.
The procedure has recently entered the public discourse, with several female celebrities, including Lee Ji-hye, Sayuri, and Ahn Young-mi openly discussing their experiences with egg freezing. Television personality Seo Dong-joo even documented her egg freezing journey on the Channel A program “The Great Birth.”
Under the new national program, women can receive up to 2 million won in subsidies for egg freezing procedures, including the initial storage costs. Men are eligible for up to 300,000 won for sperm freezing.
Additionally, the ministry will offer up to 2 million won in support when frozen reproductive cells are used in actual pregnancy attempts, boosting the program’s effectiveness.
North Chungcheong Province introduced South Korea’s first egg freezing subsidy in August 2023. The province expanded the program this year, offering up to 2 million won regardless of income or ovarian function.
Medical experts note that women’s fertility begins to decline more rapidly after ages 35-37. Advanced maternal age can make it difficult to produce healthy eggs, lowering the chances of pregnancy and increasing the risk of miscarriage even if conception occurs.
The egg freezing process involves ovarian stimulation to retrieve eggs for cryopreservation. Some patients may experience ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome, which can require hospitalization.
Studies suggest that women who freeze 20 eggs between ages 34 and 37 have over an 80% chance of having at least one child in the future. Women who start the process later may need to freeze more eggs to achieve similar success rates.
Fertility specialists advise that women’s fertility steadily declines after age 25, with a sharp drop after 37. They recommend that women considering future pregnancies should freeze their eggs at a younger age if possible.
M. H. Lee (mhlee@koreabizwire.com)
