A 36-year-old Chinese woman named Teresa Xu fought for six years for the right to freeze her eggs in Beijing, but a court recently ruled against her. Xu first requested the procedure when she was 30, but was denied because she was unmarried, which is a requirement in China due to hospital regulations. She felt frustrated by the doctor’s insistence that she should have a child instead of focusing on her career.
Xu explored options abroad for egg freezing, but the cost was prohibitive. After facing delays due to the pandemic, the court upheld the hospital’s decision to deny her access to the procedure in 2022. Despite the verdict, Xu decided to appeal to highlight the societal impact and potential need for changes in medical and health laws, regulations, and ethics standards as the country’s policy on births evolves.
She recognized the low chance of success in her appeal, but wanted to continue fighting for reproductive rights. Xu expressed disappointment with the court’s decision but felt that the process had come to an end after years of struggle. She hopes that her case will bring attention to the issue of unmarried women’s access to reproductive services and potentially lead to changes in the future.
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