Let’s face it. Our fertility drastically decreases every year that we get older. In my mid-20s, I only have 20 per cent of my eggs left, and not all of them are even usable. In my 30s, I only have a 20 per cent chance of getting pregnant, and in my 40s, that likelihood plummets to just 5 per cent. If these figures are not depressing enough, may I remind you that it is statistically proven that the remaining eggs in older women are more likely to have abnormal chromosomes, which further reduces the likelihood of pregnancy. By the laws of nature, women are pitted against a cruel biological clock that ticks louder every year that we are not dating, married or pregnant.

If anything, we are profoundly selfless. For many women, we feel a need to delay motherhood because we know just how difficult it is, mentally and financially, to raise a kid. We want the best for our future children and if that means freezing our eggs and waiting a few years until we are able to provide to the best of our abilities, then… why not? Why are we not utilising the advantages of science? As a species, we’ve always used technology to make our lives better. Why are we drawing a line here?

Educate before you legislate

According to an MSF media room statement, the Government “(has) to take into account the ethical and social concerns over legalising social egg freezing, including inadvertently causing more to delay marriage or parenthood based on a misperception that they can have a child whenever they wish to. The risks of developing complications during pregnancy also increase with age, even if the child is conceived through a frozen egg.”

But do I not have a smartphone and by extension, access to all the knowledge under the sun, at my disposal? Would I really not do all the research I can before electing to undergo a seriously invasive procedure that requires a lot of money, two weeks of hormone injections and a whole host of potential side effects after? This is not ordering dinner on a food delivery platform for crying out loud—even that, I will usually research extensively before deciding on a restaurant. This line of reasoning is incredibly presumptuous and makes no sense for one simple reason: education.

Prior to undergoing IVF treatments or abortions, counselling is mandated by law. Surely we can do the same for egg freezing if the ban were to be lifted? If we are encouraged and trusted to have children, why are we being treated like children? 

My eggs, my time, My eggs, my choice

Finally, I would like to address the assumption that legalising egg freezing would cause women to delay marriage and parenthood. I have news for you: women are already delaying marriage without egg freezing being legal. In fact, Channel News Asia recently reported that singlehood “has become more prevalent across multiple age groups over the last decade”.   

The argument that legalising egg freezing will cause women to delay marriage is incredibly problematic because it posits that the only goal of marriage is childbirth and that the only important role of women in society is to deliver babies. There are many married couples who choose not to have children (environmental issues, overpopulation etc) and there are many single women who would be more than happy to raise a child on their own… when she is ready. There are also many single women who choose not to get married or have kids because their careers are their calling.

I understand that Singapore holds on to its conservative values but if we want to actually be a progressive, first-world nation, then we need to acknowledge and accept that the traditional familial structure is changing, and adapt accordingly.  

I agree that social egg freezing is a larger issue and not as simple as “my body, my choice”. (Although that being said, cigarettes and alcohol have been legal for centuries now so…)

A few weeks ago I had the opportunity to chat with egg freezing advocate, MP Cheng Li Hui, and she mentioned several points I hadn’t thought of. For instance, if we legalise egg freezing, will it be purely privately funded, or will the government offer a subsidy? If so, is the choice to delay pregnancy the responsibility of the taxpayer? There are, indubitably, many other issues surrounding social egg freezing that needs discussing before we can take steps to legalise it, and the conversation is going to be a long one, but don’t forget that at the crux of it, this is a conversation about women’s rights.

Is that not a conversation worth having?

Emma Zhang is a content strategist specialising in all things digital. @myeggsmytime is the first time she’s marrying her work skills with something personal, and she hopes the page will create change for the next generation.