More women in Japan are turning to egg freezing as they delay plans to have children.
The technology, which involves freezing eggs at a younger age to preserve their quality for future use, is increasingly supported by companies and local governments through financial assistance programs.
However, while the practice is emerging as a new option for women, experts are urging individuals to carefully weigh its benefits and drawbacks.
Egg freezing involves extracting eggs from the ovaries and preserving them at hospitals or specialized egg banks. Originally used by women undergoing cancer treatment who might struggle with natural conception later, the practice has recently gained popularity among fertile women. Depending on the number of eggs, the process of egg retrieval and freezing can cost between ¥500,000 ($3,300) and ¥600,000, with annual storage fees ranging from ¥50,000 to ¥100,000. When the woman decides to conceive, the eggs are thawed, fertilized with sperm through in vitro fertilization, and implanted in the uterus.
“It makes me feel reassured,” said a 30-year-old employee at Panasonic Connect in Tokyo. After recovering from a serious illness, she decided to freeze her eggs through the company’s program, which covers up to ¥400,000 of initial costs. “You never know what could happen. I want to preserve my healthy eggs now.”
Trading house Itochu introduced a program last year to subsidize egg storage fees for employees stationed overseas, following a proposal from staff. “We wanted to provide an option that allows employees to take overseas assignments with peace of mind,” a company representative said. One beneficiary of the company’s subsidiary said, “I was considering freezing my eggs already, so the financial aid is greatly appreciated.”
The rise in egg freezing’s visibility is partly attributed to more celebrities sharing their experiences and Tokyo’s introduction of financial assistance in fiscal 2023. Due to overwhelming demand, the metropolitan government plans to double its budget for the program to ¥1 billion in fiscal 2025. Tokyo Gov. Yuriko Koike, a key advocate, said, “I wish this option had been available when I was younger.”
Other local governments, including Yamanashi Prefecture and the city of Ikeda in Osaka Prefecture, are offering subsidies, with Minato Ward in Tokyo and the city of Kashiwa in Chiba Prefecture set to launch similar programs this year.
However, egg freezing comes with not only significant financial costs, but physical strain on the body. It does not guarantee pregnancy, and older pregnancies carry higher risks. The Japan Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology does not warn against egg freezing for healthy women but refrains from recommending it unconditionally.
“There are multiple ways to have children, and egg freezing is just one of them,” said Yukiko Katagiri, a professor at Toho University. “I hope women carefully consider whether they truly need it after fully understanding its pros and cons.”
With your current subscription plan you can comment on stories. However, before writing your first comment, please create a display name in the Profile section of your subscriber account page.