Political advisers to the government suggested in March that single and unmarried women should have access to egg freezing and IVF treatment, among other services, since they are worried about China’s rapid aging and first population decline in 60 years. 

The recommendations have not received any public commentary from China’s leaders.

IVF Access Is In Demand

The world’s largest market for reproductive treatment might experience an increase in demand if IVF access were made more widely available, placing pressure on the few available fertility clinics. 

Some investors in the sector see a chance for growth.

Although it has previously acknowledged that many young women are delaying plans to marry and have children, China’s National Health Commission (NHC) did not respond to a request for comment regarding the liberalization of IVF access. 

It also noted that high costs of education and child-rearing have contributed to declining marriage rates.

Questions from Reuters regarding whether it would provide therapy to all women in public hospitals were not answered by the NHC’s Sichuan branch. 

Unmarried women can now register their children in Shanghai and the southern province of Guangdong, although its procedures for single women are still illegal.

Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, the majority of IVF clinics in China were operating at full capacity. 

Now that the country has abolished its virus-related restrictions, this situation is expected to repeat again soon. 

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China’s Demographic Issues

According to a report from research firm Leadleo last year, the Chinese IVF market, which includes therapy, medications, and equipment, is predicted to expand at a compound annual rate of 14.5% in the upcoming years, nearly doubling to 85.4 billion yuan ($12.4 billion) in 2025 from 49.7 billion yuan. 

Cities in the less wealthy inland regions are swiftly constructing fertility facilities similar to those in Beijing and Shanghai, according to Vivian Zhang, managing director of Merck China, which supplies reproductive products and services for IVF clinics across the nation.

According to population experts, addressing issues like low salaries, expensive schooling, a weak social safety net, and severe gender inequality is more important than simply expanding access to reproductive services in order to address China’s demographic issues.

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