How common is IVF in China?

Outside the reproductive medicine center of a top-tier hospital in Shanghai, 32-year-old Ms. Lin clutched her freshly obtained ultrasound report and whispered to her husband, “We have five embryos this time. Let's select the two best ones for freezing.” Such scenes play out daily in hundreds of Chinese hospitals licensed for assisted reproductive technology—a mere snapshot of IVF's widespread adoption across the nation. For many foreigners, “test-tube babies” may still be a concept confined to news reports. But in China, this technology has long moved beyond laboratories into millions of ordinary households, becoming a vital solution for fertility challenges.

I. From “First Case” to “Millions”: Exploding Demand Behind China's Speed

On March 10, 1988, Zheng Mengzhu, mainland China's first test-tube baby, was born at Peking Union Medical College Hospital. At the time, the technology was hailed as a “medical miracle,” with fewer than 10 hospitals nationwide capable of performing the procedure. Thirty-five years later, China has become one of the world's most active users of assisted reproductive technology. Industry reports indicate that China's assisted reproductive market surpassed 100 billion yuan in 2022, with approximately 300,000 babies born via IVF annually—equivalent to the population of a medium-sized city.

This growth stems from dramatic shifts in fertility demand. China's infertility rate has climbed from 2.5%-3% two decades ago to approximately 12%-15% today (some studies even suggest 18%), meaning one in every seven to eight couples faces fertility challenges. Key factors include delayed marriage and childbearing (the average age for women's first childbirth now exceeds 29), environmental pressures, and lifestyle changes (such as late nights and high-sugar diets). A Shanghai fertility specialist shared: “Ten years ago, most patients were over 35 and felt ‘forced’ into treatment. Now, those aged 28-32 seeking proactive fertility planning make up a growing proportion.”

II. From “Hidden Corner” to “Open Discussion”: The Evolution of Social Perceptions

In older generations' memories, “test-tube babies” carried an aura of mystery and even shame. But today, this stigma is rapidly fading. On social media, accounts where “IVF moms” share their fertility journeys attract millions of followers; on Xiaohongshu, “IVF guides” have surpassed 2 million posts; even on variety shows, celebrity couples openly discuss “getting 10 injections for ovulation induction” or “being too sore to sleep after egg retrieval.”

This shift stems not only from technological accessibility but also from younger generations' openness. After failing to conceive naturally, 26-year-old Beijing office worker Chen Yu told her colleagues directly: “I'm going for IVF. Do I have enough annual leave?” Her coworker replied, “My cousin did it last year. Her baby is over a year old now—so adorable!” For many born in the 1980s and 1990s, IVF increasingly represents a “scientific approach to conception” rather than a “last resort.”

III. Dual-Engine Drive of Policy and Market: From “Dare Not Have Children” to “Can Have Children”

The widespread adoption of IVF in China has been driven by the combined forces of policy and market dynamics. On one hand, following the implementation of the “three-child policy,” various regions have introduced supportive measures for assisted reproductive technologies. Provinces like Zhejiang and Anhui have included certain IVF procedures—such as embryo culture and transfer surgeries—in their medical insurance coverage. Beijing had proposed incorporating 16 assisted reproductive technology procedures into its insurance scheme (though temporarily postponed, this move signals positive intent). On the other hand, private assisted reproductive institutions have rapidly expanded, with chain brands like IVF Plus and Jinxin Reproductive establishing nationwide networks. This has alleviated waiting pressures at large public hospitals (where top Beijing fertility centers once required six-month waits, now private institutions can reduce wait times to 1-2 months).

However, cost remains an unavoidable concern. A full IVF cycle (ovulation induction, egg retrieval, embryo transfer) costs approximately 30,000 to 80,000 yuan, with families attempting multiple cycles potentially spending over 200,000 yuan. For households in third- and fourth-tier cities or rural areas, this remains a heavy burden. Yet compared to a decade ago (when costs routinely exceeded 100,000 yuan), prices have significantly decreased, and some commercial insurance plans now cover related treatments.

IV. Balancing Technology and Ethics: China's Distinctive “Rigorous” Approach

Parallel to China's high IVF adoption rate are stringent technical regulations. Under the Administrative Measures for Human Assisted Reproductive Technology, non-medical fetal sex selection and surrogacy are prohibited. Every facility must obtain approval from the National Health Commission, with strict limits on ovulation-inducing drugs and embryo transfer numbers (typically capped at two per cycle). This contrasts sharply with models in some countries where commercial surrogacy is legal and sex selection is unrestricted.

At Shanghai Jia'ai Center for Genetics and Infertility, embryologist Dr. Zhang showed me the laboratory: Each embryo incubator is under real-time monitoring. We perform PGT (Preimplantation Genetic Testing) before transfer, but this isn't for gender selection—it screens for chromosomal abnormalities.“ This ”medicine-first" approach has enabled China's IVF technology to rapidly advance while maintaining social acceptance.

V. Future: From “Widespread” to “More Accessible”

Looking back from 2024, IVF in China has evolved from a “rare technology” to a “common medical option.” Yet challenges persist: regional resource disparities (80% of top-tier institutions are concentrated in first- and second-tier cities), risks of advanced maternal age (success rates drop below 20% for women over 38), and some families' blind pursuit of “multiple births”...

For foreigners, understanding the “ubiquity” of IVF in China requires seeing the human stories behind the numbers: it represents hope for a couple married eight years without conceiving, a working mother's choice to balance career and parenthood, and society's respect for reproductive rights and the right to life. As Ms. Lin wrote in her social media post after a successful embryo transfer: “Not all efforts yield answers, but at least we tried—thank you, science, for bringing us one step closer to our child.”

(Note: Data in this article is compiled from the National Health Commission, the China Assisted Reproductive Industry Research Report, and field interviews.)

Document dated 2025-11-20 11:03 Modify