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Japanese city backs egg-freezing scheme to boost birthrate Japanese city backs egg-freezing scheme to boost birthrate
(35 minutes later)
A Tokyo suburb will help women cover the cost of freezing their eggs in a pilot programme aimed at countering Japan’s declining birthrate. A Tokyo suburb will help women cover the cost of freezing their eggs in a pilot programme that aims to counter Japan’s declining birthrate.
The city of Urayasu is allocating 90 million yen (£600,000) over three years to fund the research project conducted by Juntendo University Urayasu hospital.The city of Urayasu is allocating 90 million yen (£600,000) over three years to fund the research project conducted by Juntendo University Urayasu hospital.
The hospital hopes that preserving eggs will encourage women to give birth when they are ready instead of giving up having children. The hospital hopes that preserving eggs will encourage women to give birth when they are ready instead of giving up on the idea of having children.
The average cost of such a procedure is around 500,000 to 600,000 yen. Under the scheme, women will pay only 20% of the cost. The average cost of such a procedure is between 500,000 and 600,000 yen. Under the scheme, women will pay only 20% of the cost.
Women between the age of 25 and 34 who live in Urayasu are eligible to participate. Women between the ages of 25 and 34 who live in Urayasu are eligible to participate.
Dr Iwaho Kikuchi, of the hospital, said using public funds to support this kind of study may be a first in the world. Dr Iwaho Kikuchi said using public funds to support such a study may be a first in the world.
He said 12 women were in the process of starting the freezing process, and about two-thirds of them or their husbands had a health issue.He said 12 women were in the process of starting the freezing process, and about two-thirds of them or their husbands had a health issue.
The success rate of pregnancy from frozen eggs is slim. If a woman freezes eggs at the age of 25, the chance of successfully giving birth is 30%. At the age of 34 it drops to 20%. The success rate of pregnancies from frozen eggs is low. For eggs frozen at the age of 25 it is 30%, falling to 20% at 34.
Urayasu’s mayor, Hideaki Matsuzaki, said Japan’s low birthrate was a national problem. “In general, pregnancy and childbirth is an individual issue. But when the situation has become this far, I consider it a social problem,” Matsuzaki said. “I view using public expenditure as the right thing to do.” Urayasu’s mayor, Hideaki Matsuzaki, said: “In general, pregnancy and childbirth is an individual issue, but when the situation has gone this far I consider it a social problem. I view using public expenditure as the right thing to do.”