Malta Expands Free Fertility Preservation: Government Unveils Egg And Sperm Freezing For Future Families
At a press conference, the Minister for Health and Active Ageing, Jo Etienne Abela and the Parliamentary Secretary for Equality and Reforms, Rebecca Buttigieg, announced that Malta’s national health service will begin offering the option for individuals to freeze their eggs or sperm for future use in the IVF process.
It was explained that, until now, this service was only available to individuals for medical reasons. The new criteria, which come into immediate effect, will also include women aged between 18 and 34 who may potentially wish to become parents. They will now be able to access egg freezing and sperm freezing free of charge through the public health service (NHS) for personal future use, with the aim of preserving their fertility.
Minister Jo Etienne Abela explained that as age advances, fertility rates in women naturally decline. He added that this rate can also be adversely affected by gynaecological infections.
For this reason, Dr Abela appealed for individuals to give special importance to sexual health. This measure is intended for people who, for various reasons – including career circumstances- may wish to have children later in life. He stated that this will be carried out within a robust legal framework, with regulations and oversight provided by the Embryo Protection Authority.
“Social freezing of eggs and sperm offers a greater chance to people who wish to become parents later in their reproductive life. Therefore, this is a pro-life measure that addresses the low fertility rate in our country,” Minister Abela concluded.
For her part, Parliamentary Secretary Rebecca Buttigieg emphasised that this procedure will not involve the freezing of embryos; only eggs and sperm will be frozen separately.
Buttigieg explained that a number of individuals who had valid reasons for needing this procedure were previously unable to proceed because the national health service did not provide it.
She described this development as a new right that ensures modern scientific facilities become accessible to everyone, not only those who can afford to pay for them.
Buttigieg stated that this procedure will strengthen flexibility in family planning and eventually help improve fertility rates. She added that this is yet another example of a government that supports families in achieving their aspirations, while fully respecting their personal choices.