Study on the Status of Gamete Freezing and Reproductive Health of Korean Adults Aged 19–49 Years
Abstract
:1. Introduction
2. Materials and Methods
2.1. Study Participants
2.2. Study Variables
2.2.1. Demographic Characteristics
2.2.2. Reproductive Health Characteristics
2.2.3. Attitude Towards Marriage and Children
2.3. Data Analysis
3. Results
3.1. Characteristics of the Subjects Based on Their Choice of Gamete Freezing
3.2. Reproductive Health and Attitudes of the Participants Towards Marriage and Children
3.3. Obstetric History of Women Belonging to the Gamete-Freezing Group
4. Discussion
5. Conclusions
Author Contributions
Funding
Institutional Review Board Statement
Informed Consent Statement
Data Availability Statement
Conflicts of Interest
References
- Akhondi, M.; Ardakani, Z.B.; Warmelink, J.C. Knowledge and beliefs about oocyte cryopreservation for medical and social reasons in female students: A cross-sectional survey. BMC Women’s Health 2023, 23, 336. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Lee, D.Y.; Kim, Y.J. Planned oocyte cryopreservation for fertility preservation. J. Korean Med. Assoc. 2022, 65, 353–360. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Moon, H.N.; Kim, M.H.; Baik, S.J. Ethical and Legal Issues with Oocyte Cryopreservation. Korean J. Med. Ethics 2020, 23, 191–208. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Asia Today. “Surprised by the Cost of Doubling the Monthly Salary, I Gave Up”… Support for ‘Frozen Egg’ Treatment Needs to Be Increased. Available online: https://www.asiatoday.co.kr/view.php?key=20241016010008146/ (accessed on 15 November 2024).
- Giannopapa, M.; Sakellaridi, A.; Pana, A.; Velonaki, V.S. Women Electing Oocyte Cryopreservation: Characteristics, Information Sources, and Oocyte Disposition: A Systematic Review. J. Midwifery Women’s Health 2022, 67, 178–201. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- Yeung, S.Y.; Ng, E.Y.L.; Lao, T.T.H.; Li, T.C.; Chung, J.P.W. Fertility preservation in Hong Kong Chinese society: Awareness, knowledge and acceptance. BMC Womens Health 2020, 20, 86. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- Hafezi, M.; Zameni, N.; Nemati, A.; Omani, S.R.; Vesali, S. Awareness and attitude toward oocyte cryopreservation for non-medical reasons: A study on women candidates for social egg freezing. J. Psychosom. Obstet. Gynecol. 2022, 43, 532–540. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Cho, H.S.; Kim, H.O. Acceptance of Oocytes Freezing for Fertility Preservation for Social Reasons Among Unmarried Korean Women. J. Korean Soc. Matern. Child Health 2017, 21, 46–54. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Gonen, L.D. And When I Die: Theory of Planned Behavior as Applied to Sperm Cryopreservation. Healthcare 2021, 9, 554. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Rosenkjær, D.; Skytte, A.B.; Kroløkke, C. Investigation of motivations for depositing sperm during the COVID-19 pandemic. Hum. Fertil. 2022, 26, 139–145. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- Yung, L.H.; Yu, M.H.; Ching, M.L.; Wei, F.C.; Shun, J.T. Adverse Effect on Pregnancy Outcome of Oocyte Preservation in Women with Advanced Maternal Age. Fertil. Reprod. 2023, 5, 730–731. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Jones, B.P.; Kasaven, L.; L’Heveder, A. Perceptions, outcomes, and regret following social egg freezing in the UK; a cross-sectional survey. Acta Obstet. Gynecol. Scand. 2020, 99, 324–332. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Zhao, Y.; Fu, H. Social Egg Freezing for Single Women in China: Legal and Ethical Controversies. Risk Manag. Healthc. Policy 2023, 16, 2379–2389. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Lee, H.A.; Chung, E.J. The Universality and Particularity of Ethics Related to Social Egg Freezing in Korea: A Preliminary Inquiry for the Public Deliberation in Aspect of Gender Equity. The Women’s Studies 2022, 113, 67–105. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Katsani, D.; Paraschou, N.; Panagouli, E.; Tsarna, E.; Sergentanis, T.N.; Vlahos, N.; Tsitsika, A. Social Egg Freezing—A Trend or Modern Reality? J. Clin. Med. 2024, 13, 390. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Özöztürk, S.; Çiçek, Ö. Factors affecting the decisions of women considering oocyte cryopreservation: A blog study. Health Care Women Int. 2022, 45, 101–112. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Inhorn, M.C.; Birenbaum, C.D.; Birger, J. Elective egg freezing and its underlying socio-demography: A binational analysis with global implications. Reprod. Biol. Endocrinol. 2018, 16, 70. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Eleanor, L.; Stevensona, L.G.; Kristin, F.; Maria, C.; Melissa, H. Knowledge and decision making about future fertility and oocytecryopreservation among young women. Hum. Fertil. 2018, 24, 112–121. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Bozzaro, C. Is egg freezing a good response to socioeconomic and cultural factors that lead women to postpone motherhood? Reprod. Biomed. Online 2018, 36, 594–603. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- Gauthier, F.A.; Kauffman, A.; Librach, C.L. Potential use of stem cells for fertility preservation. Andrology 2020, 8, 862–878. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Jared, L.; Moss, A.; Wonho, C.; Mary, K.; Robert, E. Male adolescent fertility preservation. Fertil. Steril. 2016, 105, 267–273. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Takae, S.; Harada, M.; Nakamura, K.; Furuyama, S.; Ono, M.; Osuga, Y. Survey on the implementation status andreproductive outcomes of oocyte and ovariantissue cryopreservation in Japan: Historicalcomparison with nationwide surveys. J. Obstet. Gynaecol. Res. 2024, 50, 709–718. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- Korea Institute for Health and Social Affairs. The 2021 National Family and Fertility Survey [Internet]. 2024. Available online: https://www.kihasa.re.kr/publish/report/research/view?searchText=%EA%B0%80%EC%A1%B1%EA%B3%BC&page=1&seq=46914 (accessed on 2 November 2024).
- Kim, R.; Yoon, T.K.; Kang, I.S. Decision making processes of women who seek elective oocyte cryopreservation. J. Assist. Reprod. Gene 2018, 35, 1623–1630. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- Karin, H.; Maggie, K.; Natasha, P.; Martha, H.; Michelle, P.; John, M. Reproductive experiences of women who cryopreserved oocytes for non-medical reasons. Hum. Reprod. 2017, 32, 575–581. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Elena, K.; Andreas, O.; Georgina, M.C. Exploring the demand for elective egg freezing: A laboratory experiment. J. Behav. Exp. Econ. 2024, 111, 102224. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Tantengco, O.A.G.; De, C.S.; Velayo, C.L. The role of genital mycoplasma infection in female infertility: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Am. J. Reprod. Immunol. 2021, 85, e13390. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Xin, T.; Shu, G.; Lei, C.; Hen, L.; Cai, M.; Chiung, L.W. Relationships between female infertility and female genital infections and pelvic inflammatory disease: A population-based nested controlled study. Clinics 2018, 73, e364. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Yu, M.H.; Ha, J.Y. Feminine Hygiene Practices and Feminine Genital Infection in Adult Reproductive Age Women. J. Korean Public Health Nurs. 2023, 37, 218–232. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Xie, Y.; Liao, C.; Zhai, X. Awareness, Attitude, and Fertility Desire in Elective Oocyte Cryopreservation of Adults in Four Areas of China. Int. J. Gen. Med. 2024, 17, 1281–1292. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- Alsubahi, N.; Pavlova, M.; Alzahrani, A.A.; Ahmad, A.; Groot, W. Healthcare Quality from the Perspective of Patients in Gulf Cooperation Council Countries: A Systematic Literature Review. Healthcare 2024, 12, 315. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
Variables | Categories | YES (n = 101) N (%) or M ± SD | No (n = 13,939) N (%) or M ± SD | Fisher’s Exact p-Value |
---|---|---|---|---|
Age | 19–30 | 4 (4) | 4219 (30.3) | <0.001 |
31–35 | 26 (25.7) | 2057 (14.7) | ||
36–40 | 41 (40.6) | 2787 (20.0) | ||
41–45 | 23 (22.8) | 2798 (20.1) | ||
46–49 | 7 (6.9) | 2078 (14.9) | ||
Total | 38.11 ± 4.70 | 35.7 ± 8.62 | ||
Sex | Male | 39 (38.6) | 5654 (40.6) | 0.157 |
Female | 62 (61.4) | 8285 (59.4) | ||
Education | ≤High school | 17 (16.9) | 3666 (26.3) | 0.021 |
University | 77 (76.2) | 9518 (68.3) | ||
≥Graduate school | 7 (6.9) | 755 (5.4) | ||
Residence | Urban | 86 (85.1) | 11,482 (82.4) | 0.581 |
Rural | 15 (14.9) | 2457 (17.6) | ||
Marital status | Single | 5 (4.9) | 4995 (35.9) | <0.001 |
Married | 95 (94.1) | 8423 (60.4) | ||
Divorce or widowed | 1 (1.0) | 521 (3.7) | ||
Religion | No | 79 (78.2) | 9824 (70.5) | 0.115 |
Yes | 22 (21.8) | 4115 (29.5) | ||
Economic Activity | No | 34 (33.7) | 4634 (33.2) | 0.999 |
Yes | 67 (66.3) | 9305 (66.8) | ||
Monthly Income (10,000 KRW) | <300 | 8 (7.9) | 2286 (16.4) | 0.037 |
300–499 | 22 (21.8) | 4224 (30.3) | ||
500–699 | 40 (39.6) | 3859 (27.7) | ||
≥700 | 31 (30.7) | 3570 (25.6) |
Variables | Categories | YES (n = 101) n (%) | No (n = 13,939) n (%) | Fisher’s Exact p-Value |
---|---|---|---|---|
Genital infection | No | 71 (70.3) | 11,289 (81.0) | 0.006 |
Yes | 30 (29.7) | 2650 (19.0) | ||
Contraception | No | 20 (19.8) | 2038 (14.6) | 0.168 |
Yes | 81 (80.2) | 11,901 (85.4) | ||
Sexual intercourse experience | No | 0 (0) | 1593 (11.4) | <0.001 |
Yes | 101 (100) | 12,346 (88.6) | ||
Attitudes towards marriage | I should get married | 47 (46.5) | 6301 (45.2) | 0.951 |
It’s better not to get married | 5 (5.0) | 767 (5.5) | ||
I don’t know | 49 (48.5) | 6871 (49.3) | ||
Attitudes towards children | It must exist | 79 (78.2) | 9688 (69.5) | 0.056 |
I don’t care | 21 (20.8) | 3591 (25.8) | ||
I don’t know | 1 (1.0) | 660 (4.7) |
Variables | Categories | N | % | Fisher’s Exact p-Value |
---|---|---|---|---|
Marital status | Single | 1 | 1.6 | 0.862 |
Married | 61 | 98.4 | ||
Pregnancy (N) | 0 | 10 | 16.1 | 0.347 |
1 | 31 | 50 | ||
2 | 12 | 19.4 | ||
≥3 | 9 | 14.5 | ||
Childbirth (N) | 0 | 20 | 32.3 | 0.231 |
1 | 32 | 51.6 | ||
2 | 9 | 14.5 | ||
≥3 | 1 | 1.6 | ||
Infertility | No | 5 | 8.1 | 0.016 |
Yes | 57 | 91.9 | ||
Experience with infertility treatments | No | 9 | 14.5 | 0.032 |
Yes | 53 | 85.5 |
Disclaimer/Publisher’s Note: The statements, opinions and data contained in all publications are solely those of the individual author(s) and contributor(s) and not of MDPI and/or the editor(s). MDPI and/or the editor(s) disclaim responsibility for any injury to people or property resulting from any ideas, methods, instructions or products referred to in the content. |
© 2025 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
Share and Cite
Song, J.; Lee, E. Study on the Status of Gamete Freezing and Reproductive Health of Korean Adults Aged 19–49 Years. Healthcare 2025, 13, 210. https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare13030210
Song J, Lee E. Study on the Status of Gamete Freezing and Reproductive Health of Korean Adults Aged 19–49 Years. Healthcare. 2025; 13(3):210. https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare13030210
Chicago/Turabian StyleSong, Jiyoung, and Eunwon Lee. 2025. "Study on the Status of Gamete Freezing and Reproductive Health of Korean Adults Aged 19–49 Years" Healthcare 13, no. 3: 210. https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare13030210
APA StyleSong, J., & Lee, E. (2025). Study on the Status of Gamete Freezing and Reproductive Health of Korean Adults Aged 19–49 Years. Healthcare, 13(3), 210. https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare13030210