Photo: VCG

 China's National Health Commission (NHC) will formulate technical guidelines for egg freezing technology and clarify the application conditions, and will also promote legislation for the management of assisted reproductive technology, the commission said recently in response to suggestions that unmarried women should be allowed to use assisted reproductive technology.

The NHC said it would continue to closely follow the development of the egg freezing technology, research guidelines and standards for the technology, clarify the application conditions and suitable groups and standardize the clinical application for medical purposes, according to the Southern Metropolis Daily. 

The NHC's response came after several political advisors said during the annual two sessions in 2020 that the country might consider allowing single women to freeze their eggs or use other forms of assisted reproductive technology. 

The NHC has conducted research into standards and the application and ethics of egg freezing technology as well as the feasibility of clinical application of the technology. It also said it would pay close attention to public opinions, strengthen research and push forward the legislation on assisted reproductive technology and supervision of the technology. 

However, it said that freezing eggs for the sake of delaying childbearing is not in line with current Chinese regulations due to the risks the technology poses for women and their fetuses, the NHC said. 

Global Times