More people have recently been undergoing egg-freezing procedures. Women who want to postpone marriage and pregnancy and focus on work while young are freezing their eggs like insurance. In the past, egg freezing was chosen before cancer treatment, but it is now drawing attention as a way to maintain a career.
◇"Let's freeze them in advance"… 170,000 frozen eggs
According to the Ministry of Health and Welfare on the 12th, the number of frozen eggs stored at medical institutions nationwide rose 282%, from 44,122 in 2020 to 168,414 last year. In five years, it nearly quadrupled. As women's economic activity becomes more active, marriage and pregnancy are being delayed, and cases of freezing eggs even without specific illnesses are increasing.
Professor Kang Eun-joo of the Department of Biomedical Science at CHA University said, "If you freeze eggs in advance and use them in your late 30s to 40s, the biological state of the eggs remains paused," adding, "Even if marriage and pregnancy are delayed, the egg age stays the same."
According to the Ministry of Data and Statistics (MODS), in 2024 the average age at first marriage in Korea is 31.6 for women and 33.9 for men. With the trend of late marriage, some are freezing not only eggs but also sperm. Han Se-yeol, director of Magok CHA Hospital, said, "There are cases where men who plan to delay having children consider sperm freezing to secure options," adding, "However, age and health status need to be considered individually."
◇Hundreds of thousands of won per procedure… side effects after ovarian stimulation shots
To freeze eggs, you need to receive ovarian stimulation shots, a type of hormone injection, for about 10 days. Usually under sedation, eggs are retrieved from the ovaries with a needle and rapidly frozen below zero. During this process, ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome, abdominal bloating, pain, vomiting, and nausea can occur.
The expense is in the hundreds of thousands of won per procedure. Under current law, there is no limit on how long eggs can be stored frozen. It is possible to use eggs stored in your 30s in your 40s. However, freezing eggs does not guarantee pregnancy 100%. Professor Kang Eun-joo said, "It increases the chances of pregnancy," adding, "It can reduce the risk of miscarriage or chromosomal abnormalities."
Some people naturally conceive after storing frozen eggs or see their childbearing plans fall through. In such cases, with the donor's consent, the eggs can be used for research.
Some say ethical issues require caution. An official at the Ministry of Health and Welfare said, "There must be no financial compensation when donating frozen eggs," adding, "To avoid affecting the donor's health, retrievals should be spaced at least six months apart and limited to three times."