A Chinese woman who initiated a landmark legal battle to gain the right to freeze her eggs has lost her final appeal, marking the end of her legal pursuit to expand access to fertility treatments in China.
The Beijing No. 3 Intermediate People’s Court ruled that Xu Zaozao’s rights were not infringed upon when the Beijing Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital declined to freeze her eggs in 2018. Chinese regulations restrict assisted reproductive technology to married couples who are experiencing fertility issues. Xu, now 36, recalled that the doctor had instead offered her some well-meaning advice: to get married soon and start a family.
Undeterred, Xu decided to sue the hospital, arguing that the refusal of treatment was a violation of her basic rights. Nearly five years after she first filed the lawsuit, on August 6, she lost her final appeal.
In a video posted on social media last week, Xu stated, “Regardless of the outcome, I am proud of what we have accomplished together.”
