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

According to Decree 207 of the Government, from October 1, 2025, single women in Vietnam will be allowed to access assisted reproductive techniques such as egg freezing and in vitro fertilization (IVF) if needed, without a doctor's prescription as before.

Single women who wish to use in vitro fertilization to have children need careful consultation - Photo: QUANG DINH

The new decree has expanded and made it easier for single women to access TTTON.

Opening up opportunities but women need to consider carefully

The decree has been expanded, making it easier for single women to carry out surrogacy. However, besides the majority of supporters, there are still concerns about the ethical and psychological aspects of children born without a father.

Ms. TU (HCMC) believes that any choice has two sides: benefits come with limitations, 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 children, cognitive ability in raising children, age and health, and time balance between children and work.

In addition, it is necessary to consider risk control measures when raising children alone, consider whether the current context is favorable enough for the child's long-term development. Do not choose to have children because of loneliness or impulsive decisions, because once you start the journey of motherhood, it is a lifelong responsibility, there is no going back or starting over.

Sharing the same view, Ms. TC (28 years old, Ho Chi Minh City) said that the policy opens up the opportunity to become mothers for many women, contributing to maintaining a stable population quality, especially for those who are not married due to medical conditions, are divorced, or want to have children at a late age.

However, in addition to women's legitimate right to have children, the rights of the child still need to be considered.

Egg storage - Illustration photo

The right to independence and self-determination of society

Sharing with Tuoi Tre , 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 in the past, single women could still perform IVF to have their own children. Vietnamese law has long recognized the right to be a single mother.

However, the new decree has expanded and made it easier for single women to practice IVF. This reflects Vietnam's view on women's independence and reproductive autonomy, with little moral and social harm.

According to Dr. Tuong, recognizing women's right to be single mothers and allowing single women to access assisted reproductive technology and IVF has more social and legal significance than medical.

In the world, most countries also recognize this right as stipulated in Vietnam. In Vietnam, the system of TTTON centers is now present in more than 2/3 of the provinces and cities nationwide.

In big cities like Hanoi, there are more than 20 IVF centers, Ho Chi Minh City has more than 10 IVF centers, enough to meet the treatment needs of single women who want to have children by IVF. In fact, in Vietnam, this need is not much so far.

Sharing the same view, Mr. Nguyen Huu Trung, head of the obstetrics department of the University of Medicine and Pharmacy Hospital, Campus 2 (HCMC), also assessed that this is one of the policies suitable for the current context when the age of marriage is getting later and later.

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

However, it is necessary to have a specialist's prescription and follow steps such as injecting sperm into the uterus (IUI), but the success rate is very low, while the source of anonymous donated sperm is currently quite scarce. If not, using IUI has a very high success rate.

Currently, in medical facilities, the majority of single women are 30 years old or older, and want to give birth alone, very few are between 25 and 30 years old. From October 1, when in need, women can choose this method at licensed medical facilities, expanding the right to motherhood earlier.

Regarding the risk of incestuous marriage, Dr. Trung said that sperm donation is clearly regulated as anonymous donation and can only be done at a single medical facility. This is to avoid future legal issues, and the probability of incestuous marriage is extremely low.

Children's math problems when "there is no father"

Dr. Tuong said that up to now, single women accessing assisted reproductive technology is still not popular in Vietnam due to the influence of culture and customs. 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, there should be psychological and legal counseling services for single women who decide to become single mothers or have IVF to have children. Pay attention to the possible effects on single women when they become pregnant, carry a child, give birth, and raise a child alone.

"It is especially important to pay attention to counseling single women about the impact on the psychological development of a child born without a father and who may never know who his biological father is. If the woman later decides to get married and have more children, the rights of the child born before that are an issue that needs to be taken care of by the family and society," Dr. Tuong emphasized.

Dr. Huu Trung said that medical facilities licensed to provide IVF services must have a team of counselors to advise single women who decide to become mothers about the difficulties and obstacles they face in raising children.

How is in vitro fertilization 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 normal health, they do not need to make any special preparations before the procedure.

Before proceeding, the TTTON centers will examine and screen health according to routine procedures, and at the same time provide specific advice and instructions to women in need.

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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