1-10 single women have access to assisted reproductive techniques without a doctor's prescription

phụ nữ - Ảnh 1. — Single women who wish to undergo in-vitro fertilization (IVF) to have children need thorough counseling - Photo: QUANG DINH

The new decree has expanded and made it easier for single women to undergo IVF treatment.

It opens up opportunities, but women need to consider carefully.

The decree has expanded the scope, making it easier for single women to undergo IVF treatment. However, alongside widespread support, there are still concerns about the ethical and psychological aspects of children born without a father.

Ms. TU (Ho Chi Minh City) believes that any choice has two sides: benefits come with limitations, and rights always go hand in hand with responsibilities.

Before deciding to become a mother, women need to carefully consider many factors such as financial ability, love and responsibility for their child, cognitive abilities in raising children, age and health, and the balance of time between childcare and work.

In addition, it's necessary to consider risk management measures when raising a child alone, and assess whether the current circumstances are conducive to the child's long-term development. Don't choose to have a child because of loneliness or an impulsive decision, because once you begin the journey of motherhood, it's a lifelong responsibility; you can't go back or start over.

Sharing the same view, Ms. TC (28 years old, Ho Chi Minh City) believes that the policy opens up opportunities for many women to become mothers, contributing to maintaining a stable population quality, especially for those who cannot marry due to medical conditions, are divorced, or wish to have children at a later age.

However, alongside women's legitimate right to have children, the best interests of the child must also be considered.

phụ nữ - Ảnh 2. — Egg storage - Illustration

The right to independence and self-determination of society

Speaking to Tuoi Tre newspaper , Dr. Ho Manh Tuong, General Secretary of the Ho Chi Minh City Association of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, said that this regulation is not new, because previously single women could still undergo IVF to have their own children. Vietnamese law has long recognized the right to single motherhood.

However, the new decree has expanded and made it easier for single women to undergo IVF treatment. This reflects Vietnam's stance on women's independence and self-determination regarding reproduction, with minimal moral and social harm.

According to Dr. Tuong, recognizing the right of single mothers and allowing single women access to assisted reproductive technologies and IVF has more social and legal significance than medical significance.

Most countries around the world recognize this right, similar to the regulations in Vietnam. In Vietnam, the current system of IVF centers is present in more than two-thirds of the provinces and cities nationwide.

In major cities like Hanoi, there are over 20 IVF centers, and in Ho Chi Minh City, there are over 10, enough to meet the treatment needs of single women who want to have children through IVF. In reality, the demand for this type of treatment in Vietnam has not been high so far.

Sharing the same view, Mr. Nguyen Huu Trung, head of the obstetrics and gynecology department at the University Medical Center, campus 2 (Ho Chi Minh City), also assessed this as one of the policies that aligns with the current trend and context where the age of marriage is getting later and later.

In fact, this regulation is not new; currently, single women can undergo IVF treatment to have children.

However, it requires a specialist's prescription and must follow steps such as intrauterine insemination (IUI), but the success rate is very low. Meanwhile, anonymous donated sperm is quite scarce, and if that is not possible, then IVF should be used, which has a very high success rate.

Currently, at medical facilities, the majority of single women who wish to have children on their own are over 30 years old; very few are between 25 and 30. From October 1st, women can choose this method at licensed medical facilities when needed, expanding their right to motherhood at an earlier age.

Regarding the risk of consanguineous marriage, Dr. Trung stated that sperm donation regulations clearly stipulate anonymous donations that can only be made at a single medical facility. This aims to avoid future legal issues, and the probability of consanguineous marriage is extremely low.

Calculate a child's math problem when "there is no father".

Dr. Tuong stated that access to assisted reproductive technologies for single women is still not widespread in Vietnam due to cultural and traditional influences. In the future, if this trend spreads, it could have a certain impact on family structure as well as the rights and development of children born to single mothers.

Therefore, psychological and legal counseling services should be available for single women who decide to become single mothers or undergo IVF treatment to have children. Attention should be paid to the potential impacts on single women during pregnancy, childbirth, and raising a child alone.

"Particular attention should be paid to counseling single women about the impact on the psychological and physical development of a child born without a father, who may never know who their biological father is. If the woman later decides to remarry and have more children, the rights of the child born before are a matter that needs attention from the family and society," Dr. Tuong emphasized.

Dr. Huu Trung believes that medical facilities authorized to provide IVF services must have a team to advise single mothers on the difficulties and obstacles they will face in raising children.

How does in-vitro fertilization work for single women?

Dr. Ho Manh Tuong added that the IVF technique for single women is no different from that for married women. If they are in good health, they do not need any special preparation before undergoing the procedure.

Before proceeding, IVF centers will conduct routine health check-ups and screenings, and provide specific advice and guidance to women who are interested.

XUAN MAI - THU HIEN

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/tu-1-10-phu-nu-doc-than-duoc-tiep-can-cac-ky-thuat-ho-tro-sinh-san-khong-can-chi-dinh-cua-bac-si-20250903224236404.htm