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In the recently unveiled White Paper on Singapore Women’s Development, one of the most highly anticipated legislations is the introduction of the Assisted Reproduction Services Regulations under the Healthcare Services Act early next year (2023). Under this legislation, it will allow women in Singapore to undergo elective egg freezing, also known as oocyte cryopreservation.
Before this, egg freezing was only allowed in Singapore for medical reasons i.e., chemotherapy, radiotherapy. Singaporean women who had no choice but to head to neighbouring countries to preserve their fertility will soon be able to undergo the 2-week procedure in the comfort of their own community.
In our survey with N=1000 females aged 21-34 years old in Singapore, conducted in March 2022, Milieu Insight looked into how Singaporean women feel about this move.
Women’s fight against time and infertility
Many women in Singapore are delaying marriage and childbirth for a variety of reasons, such as progressive gender roles or simply not having met a suitable life partner. Women’s egg count decline as they age, and concurrently genetically abnormal eggs increase exponentially after age 30.
Our survey found that 75% of Singaporean women have expressed they are strongly/somewhat concerned that they are unable to conceive by the time they decide to do so.
Positive response towards elective egg freezing
Majority of Singaporean women, aged 21-34, are in support (85%) of the legislation of egg freezing for non-medical reasons. Only two out of five women surveyed have expressed firm intentions of giving birth in the future.
Of those that have indicated that they are unsure or have yet to decide about giving birth in the future (63%), over a third (35%) of them expressed that they would consider undergoing egg freezing.
This legislation offers women who are worried about infertility the option to preserve their fertility and expand family planning choices, increasing their chances of parenthood at a later age.
Only 1% of women surveyed found the legalisation of egg freezing to be bad news.
Uplifting women in Singapore
Gender roles in Singapore have slowly progressed beyond its traditional form. Over half of households in Singapore are dual-income families. Many women and families in Singapore are finding that the decision of childbirth comes with higher stakes as compared to the past. 92% feel that the legislation is a positive step towards female empowerment, providing women with reproductive freedom, and more control over charting their own timelines.
Benefiting Singapore
Singapore is one of the most rapidly aging countries in SEA, with the past decade of its population growth being at its slowest since independence. 84% of respondents think that this legislation will be very/somewhat effective in helping to increase Singapore birth rate. Elective egg freezing will not only offer women increased autonomy over their bodies, but also help Singapore address our population woes.
Methodology
Based on a Milieu Insight survey with N=1000 females aged 21 – 34 years old in Singapore, conducted in March 2022.
