Single Chinese women seek fertility treatment in Hong Kong
The first trip Sophia made after Beijing reopened its borders this year was to a clinic in Hong Kong to freeze her eggs. The procedure, along with other fertility treatments, is only available in mainland China to married women.
“During the lockdowns, I felt very lonely for the first time in my life. I realised I might be single forever and needed to plan my life. Even if I don’t find a partner, I am sure I want to have a child,” said the 34-year-old tech worker from Shenzhen, one of many women to head to a clinic in the Chinese territory in search of fertility treatment.
Single mothers have long been stigmatised in Chinese culture and by a communist party keen to promote the nuclear family. Until recently, single mothers were unable to include their children in their household registration, a critical step to unlocking access to benefits.
The Instagram-like Chinese social media app Xiaohongshu is filled with recommendations for the best clinics in the city. There are about 20 licensed fertility clinics in Hong Kong.
One administrator at a Hong Kong fertility clinic targeting mainland clients said they had seen a surge in demand after Beijing shed its border controls. Appointments are booked for next month, and the administrator said the “wait could be even longer as we’re seeing an uptick in appointments”.
Hong Kong fertility clinics charge between HK$80,000 and HK$100,000 (US$10,000-US$13,000) for one round of egg freezing. IVF success rates vary widely according to age. About one-third of women under the age of 35 become pregnant after IVF, according to UK figures. Lord added that egg freezing was not a “fail-safe option” since it is “more difficult to get pregnant with a frozen egg”.
While it is possible for single or gay women to freeze their eggs in Hong Kong, only married heterosexual couples can access IVF treatment. In practice, that means eggs are stored until women get married and begin the IVF process.
This story originally appeared on: Financial Times - Author:Eleanor Olcott
