The government launched on Thursday a consultation on lifting the storage period limitation for frozen eggs, sperm or embryos.

Currently, people can store their gametes or embryos for up to 10 years.

Cancer patients or people who are infertile because of chemotherapy, radiotherapy, surgery or other medical treatments can have their gametes stored for 10 years or until they are 55 years old, whichever is longer, while the storage period for embryos is 10 years at the most.

The Council on Human Reproductive Technology is proposing to amend the existing code of practice on reproductive technology and embryo research to allow them to arrange storage for as long as they want.

The council said it "will amend the operational measures in the code accordingly to ensure that the public is fully aware of the associated medical risks before engaging in unnecessary and prolonged storage of gametes or embryos without medical reasons.”

It also suggested that licensed centres must inform patients on the risks of egg-retrieval procedures, rapid decline in fertility or pregnancy rate associated with ageing of women, the risks of geriatric pregnancy, as well as the social impacts of delayed childbearing. Patients must sign a consent form of acknowledgement.

The centres also have to provide counselling based on individual circumstances and seek written consent before extending the storage period.

And they will need to provide statistical data to authorities for regulatory purposes.

The council is seeking opinions from stakeholders, including licensed centres and organisations, on the proposed changes until April 13.