In a six-year legal battle, a court in Beijing ruled against a 36-year-old unmarried Chinese woman’s right to freeze her eggs. Teresa Xu had initially sought the procedure at a hospital in 2018 but was denied because she was not married, as per China’s regulations requiring women to be married to freeze their eggs. Despite considering alternative options like egg freezing abroad, Xu eventually took her case to court in 2019. After multiple delays, the court upheld the hospital’s decision in 2022, stating that it did not violate Xu’s rights. Despite knowing her chances of success were low, Xu decided to appeal the ruling, citing potential societal impact. She expressed disappointment at the outcome but acknowledged the positive language used in the judgment, hinting at the possibility of changes in medical and health laws and standards as the country’s birth policies evolve. This case has drawn national attention in China, shedding light on reproductive rights and the challenges faced by unmarried women seeking fertility services in the country.
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