As age-related infertility is becoming more common, many couples with fertility problems are not only seeking medical treatment in their own countries, but also overseas, including some who are attracted by the advanced infertility treatment in Taiwan.
Taiwanese Society for Reproductive Medicine (TSRM) president Chen Shee-uan (陳思原), a physician National Taiwan University Hospital’s (NTUH) department of obstetrics and gynecology said delayed marriage and childbearing are major factors for the increased demand for fertility services, especially in metropolitan areas.
TSRM vice president Wu Gwo-Jang (武國璋), director of Tri-Service General Hospital’s department of obstetrics and gynecology, said “The male factor is involved in about 40 percent of infertility cases... and for the female factor, about 40 to 45 percent caused by obstruction of oviduct (among them 30 to 35 percent by abnormal ovulation)”
Wu said Taiwan’s medical level of infertility treatment — in terms of knowledge, advanced technology, and clinical quality management — is relatively high in the world.
The level of Taiwan’s assisted reproductive technologies, including ovulation induction, egg retrieval, microinjection, embryo biopsy, cryopreservation, is definitely one of the best in the world, and possibly the best in Asia, Chen said.
Taiwan’s advantages include a high standard of medical morality and ethics, approachable and attentive overall healthcare services, high IVF success rates and affordable medical expenses, Wu said.
The Artificial Reproduction Act (人工生殖法) protects human rights and medical service quality standards, Wu said, adding that physicians in specialized areas can be easily approached without going through delaying referral procedures.
Moreover, he said IVF success rates and live-birth rates in Taiwan have been increasing in recent years, and data from the American Society for Reproductive Medicine shows the implementation success rate in Taiwan ranks number two, after the US, in the world.
“The IVF cumulative live birth rate for women in Taiwan is no doubt a high percentage,” Chen said.
Many couples from China, Hong Kong or Southeast Asia have come to seek treatment, as well as some Western countries — mainly Mandarin-speakers attracted by Taiwan’s advanced technologies and affordable costs, he added.
Chen said that a 35-year-old foreign patient that he had treated had experienced four IVF failures in her country, but conceived a baby during her second treatment in Taiwan, so she later introduced her younger sister, who had had two IVF failures, and she was also able to conceive.
“Infertility treatment in Taiwan is like a team with good overall abilities, not just in certain hospitals,”Chen said the reason for the high IVF success rate is that most physicians in the field follow standard procedures for each type of treatment — learned through international conferences — and share the details of their successful clinical experiences with each other.
The infertility treatment plans in Taiwan can also be customized based on the unique medical needs and specific characteristics (including age, test results and infertility factors) of each patient, he added.
In addition, Wu said many infertility treatment plans in Taiwan provide patient-centered care, with professional and through consulting, a high value on privacy, rapid testing, and careful follow-up after treatment.
“Assisted reproductive technologies are very advanced now, so infertile couples should not be embarrassed to seek treatment, but it is important that they seek treatment at accredited 79 IVF centers in Taiwan” Wu said.
Chen said people who come to Taiwan for infertility treatment can also learn about the nation’s advanced medical services, friendly environment, good public security and cultural qualities, as well as try its delicious food or visit beautiful areas.
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