In Beijing, a court ruled against an unmarried Chinese woman’s right to freeze her eggs, ending a six-year battle for reproductive services. Teresa Xu, 36, was denied access to egg freezing services at a hospital in 2018 because she was not married, as Chinese regulations require. Despite exploring options abroad due to the high cost, Xu fought in court for her right to freeze her eggs, ultimately losing the case in 2022. Xu, who expected the outcome, wanted to pursue the case for its potential societal impact. The court’s judgment acknowledged a potential adjustment in medical and health laws, regulations, and ethics as the country’s policy on births evolves. Xu’s experience highlights the challenges unmarried women face in accessing reproductive services in China and the need for changes in regulations and attitudes towards reproductive choices.
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Chinese court rules against unmarried woman’s lawsuit against hospital for egg freezing rights
