Single women can undergo IVF to have children starting October 1st.

Chưa được phân loại, Knowledge of the disease
26/01/2026

Starting today, single women in Vietnam have the legal right to access assisted reproductive technologies (ART), including oocyte cryopreservation (egg freezing) and In Vitro Fertilization (IVF), based solely on their personal needs and aspirations.

This new regulation, integrated into the Government’s Decree 207 and effective as of October 1, marks a significant milestone in the reproductive rights of single women in Vietnam. Previously, under Decree 10/2015, single women were only permitted to undergo IVF if there was a specific medical indication from a specialist. Now, personal desire is the only prerequisite for accessing these procedures.

This policy expansion empowers women to take a proactive role in motherhood without medical constraints, aligning with modern social trends and individual autonomy.

Professional Perspectives

Dr. Mai Xuan Phuong, former Deputy Director of the Department of Communications and Education at the General Office for Population and Family Planning (now the Vietnam Population Authority under the Ministry of Health), evaluates this change as a major contribution to reproductive rights, gender equality, and the improvement of population quality. In many developed nations such as Spain and Denmark, IVF for single mothers has already become a safe and transparent standard.

“Vietnam is opening a new legal door. However, we need a synchronized policy framework to protect children’s rights, ensure medical and legal safety, reduce social stigma, and support single mothers in raising healthy, well-adjusted children,” says Dr. Phuong.

Advancements in IVF Technology in Vietnam

  • Historical Context: IVF has been performed in Vietnam since 1998, with over 150,000 children born through this technology to date.

  • Infrastructure: There are currently more than 50 fertility centers nationwide.

  • Success Rates: Vietnamese specialists have mastered advanced global techniques, with IVF success rates now reaching up to 70%.

The Process for Single Women

For many years, single women have sought IVF by using eggs retrieved from their own ovaries fertilized with anonymous donor sperm to create embryos. Anonymous sperm is sourced from regulated sperm banks, where strict confidentiality protocols are maintained.

Major fertility centers, including the National Hospital of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Hanoi Obstetrics & Gynecology Hospital, Post Hospital, and the Center for Assisted Reproduction and Tissue Grafting (Hanoi Medical University Hospital), have reported a rising number of single women freezing their eggs. For instance, the Post Hospital currently stores frozen eggs for approximately 350 cases, receiving 5 to 7 new cases monthly on average.

Understanding Oocyte Cryopreservation (Egg Freezing)

Egg freezing is a method used to preserve fertility. Oocytes are retrieved from the ovaries, frozen, and stored for long periods. When the woman is ready to conceive:

  1. The eggs are thawed.

  2. They are fertilized with sperm via ART (typically ICSI) to create embryos.

  3. The embryo is transferred into the uterus.

This technology allows women to conceive and give birth to healthy children even after they have passed their peak biological reproductive age.

Source: VnExpress.