Test Tube Baby Boom: China has world's largest test-tube baby population

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02:27

China's first test-tube baby was born 30 years ago. While it's fairly uncommon to hear about "in vitro fertilizations" in public and few admit to having one, there is still a test-tube baby boom going on. CGTN's Sun Ye has the story.

Career woman Zhang Li wants a baby. She regrets having waited so long to start. At 38, her best bet now is to have a baby via test tube. She's already spent 300 thousand yuan towards that. That's over 45 thousand US dollars. She is prepared to spend even more.

ZHANG LI PATIENT "I've never thought of giving up. We will continue, so long as our doctor says there is a chance."

She is not alone. In a country where having a test-tube baby is still a hushed topic, demand has definitely grown. And private hospital groups are now tapping into the market, which they say has seen "blowout growth".

WANG JING, MANAGER IVF MEDICAL GROUP, SHENZHEN "The number of outpatient/counseling sessions has climbed rapidly since 2015. And our group's operation has expanded to third and fourth-tier cities too. So long as there is enough population density, you bet they will need such medical services."

SUN YE GUANGZHOU "The China Population Society says there are some 40 million Chinese having trouble giving birth, and they are willing to spend up to 500 billion yuan to have a baby of their own."

By 2017, some 200 thousand babies were born in China via the IVF procedure. Since the dissolution of the one-child policy, more couples have pledged to try IVF. But Doctor Ou Xianghong says it only partly explains the change in demand.

OU XIANGHONG, DIRECTOR GUANGDONG SECOND PROVINCIAL GENERAL HOSPITAL "China now has the world's highest number of test tube babies. And the biggest reason is the change in attitudes. People now view work and life differently, they are choosing to have children much later than before. And the older you are, the more likely you're left with IVF as a reproductive option."

Still, she says IVF works best among younger women. The success rate dwindles after 35.

ZHANG LI PATIENT "It's been difficult. But the wish is simple: I want to be a mother."

And today's technology gives her hope. SY, CGTN, GUANGDONG PROVINCE.