关键词: 低温保存, 卵子, 伦理学, 医学, 生育力, 社会性卵子冷冻, 年龄因素

Abstract: More and more healthy women ask for the egg preservation in recent years, in order to preserve their fertility for future demands for child(ren). This technique preserves fertility for women who do not want to be mothers just now, giving them the opportunity to have their own genetic babies when they are older. However, women tend to cryopreserve oocytes at the age over 35 years. In this age, their oocyte quantity and quality have been decreased, and the success rate of healthy live birth diminished, while pregnancy-related complications significantly increased. For the socially-oriented egg freezing, the professional field and the public have different opinions. Opponents consider that the social egg freezing is unjust, excessive health care and low cost-effective, and that it is against children′s will. Advocates believe that women have childbearing freedom, and that the social egg freezing can avoid the single mothers while save their fertility. They also believe that the benefit of oocyte freezing is better than oocyte donation. There are some ethical controversies of the social egg freezing in its social practice, including the role of qualified parents, the autonomous right of women, medical risk, cost-effectiveness and other issues.

Key words: Cryopreservation, Ovum, Ethics, medical, Fertility, Socially-oriented egg freezing, Age factors