As Taiwan experiences social shifts such as declining marriage rates, an increase in cohabitation, and a growing single population—combined with the legalization of same-sex marriage and a stronger emphasis on reproductive autonomy—more Taiwanese women are choosing to freeze their eggs as a way to delay childbearing. However, under current regulations, frozen eggs can only be thawed and used for pregnancy within heterosexual marriages. This restriction prevents single women and same-sex couples from pursuing parenthood domestically.
With the rise of international egg transport services, many women now choose to send their frozen eggs to countries like the United States, where reproductive laws are more flexible, allowing them to explore fertility options that better suit their personal and family goals.
This article will explain how strict technical standards and safety measures ensure the quality and security of frozen egg transportation.
Why Freeze Eggs? A New Option for Diverse Families and Cross-Border Fertility
Late marriage and delayed childbirth have become common trends, and more women are freezing their eggs during their prime fertility years (before age 35) to preserve their future reproductive potential. Whether it’s due to career focus, not yet meeting the right partner, or concerns about age-related fertility decline, egg freezing provides an effective way to postpone pregnancy.
For women undergoing medical treatments such as chemotherapy, egg freezing is also an essential way to preserve fertility. Some local governments in Taiwan now offer subsidies to help reduce the financial burden of this procedure.
However, Taiwan’s Assisted Reproduction Act still limits the use of frozen eggs for unmarried women, and same-sex couples face legal challenges in achieving parenthood. As a result, an increasing number of individuals and couples seeking fertility solutions are turning to cross-border surrogacy, international egg storage, and reproductive technologies as new pathways to build their families.
What Is Egg Freezing? Who Should Consider It?
Egg freezing, also known as oocyte cryopreservation, is an advanced fertility preservation technique that allows women to freeze their eggs at a younger age for future use in pregnancy.
When Is the Best Age to Freeze Eggs?
In general, the optimal age for egg freezing is between 30 and 35. Eggs at this stage are typically higher in quality and quantity, leading to better freezing outcomes. However, the best timing varies for each individual.
- Before age 30: Recommended for women with a family history of early menopause or conditions affecting fertility.
- Ages 30–35: Considered the ideal window for freezing, with good egg quality and strong ovarian function.
- After age 35: Although egg quality declines with age, freezing eggs can still preserve part of your fertility potential. However, more eggs may need to be frozen to achieve comparable success rates.
While egg freezing is an excellent option for reproductive planning, it can be costly. It’s important to consult a fertility specialist to assess your ovarian function and AMH levels, then create a personalized plan suited to your health and goals. Acting early increases your chances of future success and gives you greater control over your fertility.
Additional Insight: Understanding AMH
AMH (Anti-Müllerian Hormone) is a hormone secreted by immature follicles in the ovaries and serves as a key indicator of ovarian reserve and fertility potential—in other words, it helps you estimate how many eggs you still have.
AMH testing can be done at any time during the menstrual cycle, as it is not cycle-dependent.
- Low AMH suggests declining ovarian function.
- High AMH may be associated with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).
AMH testing is widely used before procedures like egg freezing, IVF, or fertility planning, helping doctors design more suitable treatment plans. Women who are preparing for pregnancy, have irregular menstrual cycles, or wish to monitor their fertility are encouraged to check their AMH levels regularly.
Further reading: Why do you want to freeze your eggs if you want to get pregnant? What is the success rate after freezing eggs?
Who Should Consider Egg Freezing?
If any of the following situations apply to you, egg freezing may be worth considering — it’s like giving yourself a form of “fertility insurance” for the future.
- Single women over 35 who plan to have children:
As women age, egg quality naturally declines, and age 35 is often seen as the turning point for fertility. If you’re not yet ready to marry or start a family but hope to have children someday, freezing your eggs early helps preserve your younger, healthier eggs. - Women under 35 with early ovarian decline:
Some women experience reduced ovarian function despite being young. Low AMH levels (below 1.5 ng/mL) or early ovarian failure can mean fewer eggs available. In such cases, freezing eggs early is crucial to preserve fertility potential. You can take an AMH blood test at a gynecology clinic to assess ovarian reserve and plan ahead. - Women with medical conditions affecting fertility:
Those undergoing chemotherapy, radiation, or surgery for cancer, as well as those with endometriosis or ovarian cysts, may experience diminished ovarian function. Freezing eggs before treatment can help protect future fertility.
Diverse Family Planning and the LGBTQ+ Community
Since Taiwan legalized same-sex marriage in 2019, discussions on diverse family structures and reproductive autonomy have gained momentum.
Egg freezing is also an empowering step for the LGBTQ+ community, offering flexibility and control over family planning.
- Preserve reproductive autonomy:
Freezing eggs allows women to decide when to have children, regardless of age, relationship status, or social expectations. - Plan for future possibilities:
Even though current Taiwanese law restricts single or same-sex couples from using frozen eggs for reproduction, legal landscapes evolve.
Freezing eggs now preserves future options — whether awaiting domestic policy changes or exporting eggs to countries like the United States, where fertility laws are more inclusive.
Can Frozen Eggs in Taiwan Be Transported to the U.S.?
Understanding Export Regulations and Legal Requirements
If you’re considering transporting frozen eggs from Taiwan to the U.S. for future fertility treatments, it’s essential to understand the legal frameworks of both countries.
Taiwan’s Egg Export Regulations
In Taiwan, it is legal to export your own frozen eggs to another country for personal use.
However, only self-owned eggs may be exported — third-party donor eggs are not eligible for export.
U.S. Import Regulations
The United States has strict regulations governing the import of human reproductive materials, managed by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Before shipment, eggs must:
- Undergo infectious disease screening and testing to ensure safety.
- Be handled by FDA-registered facilities, which are required to renew registration annually.
- Comply with labeling, documentation, and traceability requirements.
Upon arrival, samples are often analyzed in U.S.-based laboratories to verify that all imported reproductive cells meet U.S. health and safety standards.
Seek Professional Assistance
International egg transport involves complex and evolving regulations.
Before arranging cross-border shipping, consult a reproductive medicine specialist or a licensed egg transport agency such as Global Egg Donor.
They can:
- Provide the latest legal and procedural guidance.
- Coordinate with experienced international reproductive cell transport companies.
- Ensure that your eggs are shipped safely, lawfully, and under optimal preservation conditions to their destination in the United States.
From Freezing to Thawing: The Process of International Egg Transport
Transporting frozen eggs overseas is a key step for diverse family planning and cross-border fertility treatments. This process requires precise coordination to ensure that egg quality and viability are fully preserved. Below is a detailed breakdown of the international transport procedure from freezing to thawing:
1. Preparation Stage
1.1 Choosing a Professional Egg Export Service
Select a licensed fertility clinic or egg transport agency with established partnerships with U.S. fertility centers. Review their track record and previous successful international egg transport cases.
1.2 Legal Consultation and Documentation
Understand the legal requirements in Taiwan and the United States regarding the import and export of human reproductive materials. Prepare all necessary documents, including:
- Personal identification
- Medical records and egg-freezing certification
- Transport permits and TECO (Taipei Economic and Cultural Office) authentication for export/import approval.
1.3 Selecting an International Reproductive Cell Transport Company
Choose a company with experience in biological material logistics. They must have the right equipment and procedures to ensure egg safety during transit and be familiar with international regulations and customs clearance requirements.
2. International Shipping Process
2.1 Packaging and Storage
The transport company stores frozen eggs in liquid nitrogen tanks (Dewar containers) maintained at –196°C. These tanks must meet IATA (International Air Transport Association) safety standards for air transport of biological materials.
2.2 In-Transit Monitoring
During shipment, real-time temperature monitoring systems track the internal conditions of the container to ensure eggs remain at the correct temperature. The company also provides live shipment updates and immediate status reports throughout the journey.
2.3 Customs Declaration and Clearance
The transport company handles export and import customs documentation in both Taiwan and the U.S., ensuring the shipment passes inspection smoothly. Additional paperwork or administrative fees may be required depending on customs regulations.
2.4 Arrival and Handover
Upon arrival at the U.S. fertility center, the transport company delivers the eggs directly to the laboratory staff. The team inspects the egg condition and transfers them into liquid nitrogen storage tanks, where they remain safely preserved until thawing and fertilization.
3. Thawing and Fertilization
3.1 Egg Thawing
Before the fertility procedure, embryologists carefully thaw the frozen eggs. Thanks to modern vitrification technology, the thaw survival rate now exceeds 90%, with leading U.S. fertility clinics achieving rates of up to 95% or higher.
3.2 Fertilization Process
After thawing, eggs are fertilized with sperm — either from a partner or a donor. Two main methods are used:
- Traditional In Vitro Fertilization (IVF)
- Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI), where a single sperm is injected directly into the egg.
3.3 Embryo Culture and Transfer
Fertilized eggs are cultured into embryos, which are then transferred into the uterus — either the patient’s or a gestational surrogate’s. After transfer, a pregnancy test and follow-up monitoring confirm whether implantation and pregnancy are successful.
Can Frozen Eggs Fail During Thawing? Understanding the Safety and Technical Details
With advances in freezing technology, the success rate of egg thawing has improved dramatically. Using today’s mainstream method — vitrification (ultra-rapid freezing) — the post-thaw survival rate of eggs now exceeds 90%. However, even with such progress, egg thawing is not 100% risk-free. Because eggs are delicate single cells, some may still be damaged during the thawing process and fail to survive.
Even when eggs thaw successfully, whether they can be fertilized and develop into healthy embryos depends on several factors — including egg quality, sperm vitality, and the embryo culture techniques used in the laboratory.
Common Causes of Thawing Failure
- Fragile egg structure:
Eggs are single cells with delicate membranes and internal structures that are highly sensitive to temperature fluctuations during freezing and thawing. In contrast, embryos consist of multiple cells, giving them greater structural stability and resistance to damage. - Technical precision during freezing and thawing:
Although vitrification minimizes ice crystal formation, the thawing process demands extreme precision. Even the slightest technical error can lead to cellular damage or egg loss. - Egg quality and age-related decline:
As women age, egg quality and quantity decrease, which can reduce both survival and fertilization rates after thawing. - Outdated freezing methods:
Older slow-freezing techniques were more prone to forming ice crystals that could rupture cell membranes and compromise egg viability.
Technological Breakthrough: How Vitrification Protects Eggs
Vitrification is an ultra-rapid freezing technique that uses high concentrations of cryoprotectant agents combined with extreme cooling speeds to instantly solidify eggs into a glass-like state — without forming ice crystals.
This process greatly reduces cellular damage and ensures that eggs retain their structural integrity throughout freezing and thawing.
Ensuring Safety During International Egg Transport
When frozen eggs are shipped internationally for fertility treatments, proper handling ensures that transport has virtually no impact on survival rates.
- Professional-grade equipment and standardized protocols:
Certified reproductive transport companies use industry-approved processes to maintain egg viability during shipment. - Dry Shipper with Liquid Nitrogen Storage:
Eggs are kept at below –150°C, preventing any premature thawing or damage. - Real-Time Temperature Monitoring:
Continuous temperature tracking guarantees that eggs remain in a stable cryogenic environment throughout transport. - Compliant International Documentation:
Proper customs paperwork ensures smooth clearance and prevents shipment delays, keeping eggs secure until arrival. - Proven Research:
Studies show no significant difference in post-thaw survival, fertilization, or pregnancy rates between eggs transported internationally and those stored locally — confirming that safe global egg transport is both feasible and reliable.
Frozen Egg Transport – Quick FAQ
Q1: How much does it cost to ship frozen eggs from Taiwan to another country?
The cost typically ranges from NT$90,000 to NT$200,000, depending on factors such as the destination country, transport distance, the professional shipping company selected, and whether a courier personally accompanies the shipment.
Q2: How long does international frozen egg transport take?
Document preparation and approval usually take 1–2 weeks, while the actual transport process takes about 3–8 days, depending on the destination and chosen logistics method.
