A court in Beijing has ruled against an unmarried Chinese woman's right to freeze her eggs, concluding a six-year legal battle that has garnered national attention. The Beijing Third Intermediate People’s Court upheld the ruling on Tuesday, stating that a hospital did not violate the woman's rights when it denied her access to egg freezing services.
The woman, who is 36 years old and identified as Teresa Xu, announced the court's decision during a livestream on Wednesday. Xu had initially sought egg freezing services at a hospital when she was 30 years old in 2018. However, she was informed that she could not undergo the procedure because she was not married.
In China, hospital regulations mandate that a woman must be married to freeze her eggs. Despite exploring alternative options such as seeking egg freezing services abroad, Xu found the costs prohibitive. She also faced challenges in getting the court to accept her case, with delays exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Xu expressed disappointment with the court's ruling but acknowledged the potential societal impact of her legal battle. She highlighted a positive aspect of the judgment, which suggested that changes in the country's birth policy could lead to adjustments in relevant medical laws and standards.
Throughout the legal process, Xu had been vocal about her desire for reproductive autonomy and access to fertility services. Despite the unfavorable outcome, she remains determined to advocate for changes in the existing regulations surrounding egg freezing in China.
