The Next Step in Assisted Reproduction: The Globalization of the Reproductive Industry Chain

As Asian countries face the challenges of declining populations and falling birth rates, egg freezing and IVF technologies are gaining increasing attention from governments. Various strategies have been adopted to attempt to boost fertility rates, making policies and support measures for assisted reproductive technologies an important part of promoting population growth.

Take Hong Kong, which has the lowest fertility rate globally, as an example. Single women are allowed to freeze their eggs, but the eggs can only be stored for ten years. Additionally, government-assisted reproductive services are limited to legally married couples, where the woman must be a Hong Kong resident and under 40 years old at the time of treatment. Current fertility policy subsidies do not cover the entire IVF treatment, and the waiting time for initial public consultations is typically six to ten months.

Taiwan, on the other hand, shows a more open attitude. It not only provides subsidies for single women to freeze their eggs, encouraging them to preserve their fertility, but also offers government subsidies for IVF treatments, benefiting more infertile couples. Besides, Taiwan's medical costs are much lower than Hong Kong's, and travel is very convenient. Many infertile couples from Hong Kong opt to fly to Taiwan for IVF treatments, and many women also go there to freeze their eggs. Taiwan's costs for IVF treatments, egg freezing, and storage are all cheaper than in Hong Kong, and there is no ten-year limit on egg storage in Taiwan. The advanced technology in Taiwan attracts many people from Hong Kong for medical tourism.

Japan and Singapore focus their policies on supporting married couples. Both governments provide significant subsidies to encourage married couples to undergo IVF treatments. To address low fertility rates, the Japanese government has introduced subsidy programs for egg freezing and IVF treatments. These subsidies can reach up to 300,000 yen for egg freezing, and from 2022, public health insurance covers 70% of IVF treatment costs. Singapore's fertility subsidies are similar to Japan's, mainly supporting married heterosexual couples. Singapore’s subsidy policies cover part of the costs for multiple IVF attempts, with adjustments based on the couple's age and previous fertility history.

As birth rates decline and population aging intensifies, Asian countries show different policy attitudes. For example, Hong Kong's Health Bureau has stated there will be no subsidies for egg freezing, as the government's primary goal is to encourage citizens to have children as soon as possible. In contrast, Taiwan has been actively discussing the legalization of surrogacy in recent years to help more infertile women achieve their fertility plans. These differences reflect how various governments consider reproductive technologies from social, fertility, and economic perspectives, affecting not only fertility rates and public acceptance but also the future demographic structure and social development.

Egg Freezing and IVF in Taiwan: A Popular Choice

It’s not just people from Hong Kong who go to Taiwan for IVF treatments; infertile couples from neighboring Asian countries also flock to Taiwan. Why is this?

Taiwan’s reproductive medical technology is advanced, the regulations are relatively relaxed, and the treatment costs are more reasonable compared to other regions. In Taiwan, the egg donation process is very simple, without the need for complicated ethical reviews, making it very attractive to infertile couples from countries with strict egg donation regulations.

In Japan, the legal restrictions and ethical standards surrounding egg donation are quite stringent. Japanese regulations require a thorough consultation and review process for egg donation, and there are few anonymous donors available, making donor eggs scarce. Many infertile couples in Japan turn to Taiwan after multiple unsuccessful IVF treatments at home, seeking more options and possibilities. Taiwan’s reproductive clinics can offer a wider selection of donor eggs from healthy young women, who have undergone rigorous health screenings.

The situation in Hong Kong is even more urgent. Due to the lack of egg banks and egg donation services, Hong Kong couples seeking egg donation treatments often have to look overseas for help. Taiwan, being geographically close and culturally similar, is a popular choice for Hong Kong residents. Additionally, compared to Hong Kong, the overall treatment costs in Taiwan are lower, allowing more couples to afford multiple IVF cycles and increasing their chances of success. Taiwan’s advantages in technology, regulations, cost, and language make it an attractive destination for infertile couples from Japan, Hong Kong, and Southeast Asia, especially those in need of egg donation.Given Taiwan's leading position in reproductive technology and its lower prices compared to other countries, many singles and couples choose to retrieve sperm and eggs or create embryos in Taiwan, then transport these reproductive cells internationally to the U.S. for further IVF or surrogacy procedures. 

In the U.S., not only are single individuals allowed to undergo IVF treatments, but surrogacy is also legal. This convenience is possible because Taiwan's reproductive medical institutions are internationally recognized for their technology. For example, the Reproductive Science Medical Center (RSMC) in San Diego, California, collaborates with the well-known Taiwanese hospital. As reproductive technology evolves, what was once completed entirely locally is now becoming increasingly internationalized. Couples needing surrogacy can undergo IVF treatment in Taiwan, where the eggs are stimulated, fertilized, and genetically diagnosed. RSMC then transports the healthy embryos to the U.S. to be implanted in a surrogate mother, allowing the intended parents to stay in their country while waiting for the surrogate to become pregnant.