At the moment, paying through the roof to freeze your eggs doesn’t mean you get the privilege of choosing when to defrost them. Currently, the maximum storage period is 10 years in the UK, after which people must decide whether to have fertility treatment or have their eggs, sperm or embryos destroyed.
But today, the government has announced it is reviewing the time limit and considering extending the period. This is good news for women whose choices have, until now, been restricted by the limit.
A change in these laws could help ease the pressure felt by some women to start a family earlier. At the moment, only eggs that are stored for medical reasons, such as cancer treatments and premature infertility, can be preserved for longer – up to 55 years in total.
Caroline Dinenage, the minister for social care, says: ‘Every person should be given the best possible opportunity to start a family, which is why it is so important that our laws reflect the latest in technological advancements. Although this could affect any one of us, I am particularly concerned by the impact of the current law on women’s reproductive choices. A time limit can often mean women are faced with the heartbreaking decision to destroy their frozen eggs, or feel pressured to have a child before they are ready.’
A time limit can often mean women are faced with the heartbreaking decision to destroy their frozen eggs, or feel pressured to have a child before they are ready.
The number of women freezing their eggs has soared by 257 per cent since 2012, with 1,462 egg freezing cycles in 2017 compared to 410 in 2012.
According to the Department of Health, if a woman freezes her eggs in her twenties when her fertility is at its peak, she has a better chance of achieving a healthy pregnancy. However, then the 10-year storage limit will expire in the woman’s 30s, which may be before she feels ready to start a family. Currently, the most common age for women to freeze their eggs for treatment is 38, but chances of a successful pregnancy from using these eggs at this age are much lower. The consultation will also consider arguments about whether women are disproportionately affected by the current time limit.
Dinenage adds: ‘As the number of people seeking this storage rises, we want to hear from the public about whether the law is fair and proportionate, and ensure everyone is empowered to choose when they become parents.’
READ MORE: Will Extending The Egg-Freezing Limit Help Women To Have Babies When They Want Them?
READ MORE: Is Freezing Your Eggs A Waste Of Money?