Delaying Motherhood: The Ethics of Social Egg Freezing

Pregnancy and childbirth play a significant part in a woman’s life. Nonetheless, for some women, the dream of having a child needs to be postponed or forgotten due to medical and non-medical reasons. A woman’s ability to carry a child to term may be compromised due to health issues such as the need to undergo medical treatment that may affect their fertility. In addition to health issues, non-medical factors such as the inability to find a suitable partner or spouse or a career commitment can also impact a woman's chances of having a child. Now, with the help of technologies, women may opt to postpone pregnancy by choosing to freeze their eggs for future use. While the practice of egg freezing on medical grounds may be tolerable and less problematic, its use for social reasons invites further scrutiny. Therefore, it is necessary to carefully discuss the potential risks and harms of social egg freezing for women, newborns, and society as a whole. This paper aims to identify the ethical, legal, and Islamic concerns surrounding social egg freezing by analysing this practice from a Malaysian perspective. In addition, the law and policy on social egg freezing in some jurisdictions are also examined and considered as a benchmark in proposing a suitable law in Malaysia.