Hunan recommends better laws on frozen eggs

The Hunan provincial Health Commission published a response on Wednesday to a proposed regulation that would allow unmarried women to freeze and thaw their own eggs if they are eligible to give birth. Members of the Hunan Political Consultative Conference had suggested allowing the practice.

At present, unmarried women in China are not allowed to freeze eggs — a problem for those who are willing to give birth and whose ovarian activity is declining.

The commission recognized the proposal's feasibility and said it would recommend that national authorities improve the rules governing reproductive technology — including the donation and freezing of eggs — and establish an access and supervision system related to fertility.

It acknowledged that establishing a closely supervised ovum bank would help infertile patients in need of assisted reproductive technology while containing a potential black market dealing with illegal egg trafficking.

Nowadays illegal reproduction techniques are on the rise — surrogacy, sex selection and egg dealing. Some infertile patients even go to foreign countries for surrogacy and smuggling services from illegal agencies.

Illegal practices have led to health damage among mothers and babies and are compounded later by social problems. In recent years, Hunan has coordinated efforts to crack down on such practices.

However, the commission said, strong penalties are still lacking, and the creation of better laws and regulations is urgent.

In recent decades, national health authorities have issued regulations to guide clinical applications, create uniform standards and establish ethical supervision in the field of assisted reproductive technology.

Feng Xiaojie contributed to this story.