TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The use of assisted reproductive technology in Taiwan is steadily increasing, mirroring national trends of delayed marriage, postponed childbearing and persistently low fertility rates, National Cheng Kung University Hospital stated Wednesday.

Citing data from the Ministry of Health and Welfare, the hospital reported that 58,476 individuals in Taiwan received Assisted Reproductive Technology treatments in 2022. These procedures resulted in the birth of 11,549 babies through in vitro fertilization, accounting for 8.2% of all newborns that year, per CNA.

ART encompasses medical procedures to help achieve pregnancy. It typically involves egg retrieval, lab fertilization, and embryo transfer to a uterus, with in vitro fertilization (IVF) being the most common method, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Chen Ta-sheng (陳達生), an obstetrician-gynecologist at the hospital, said the statistics underscore a broader demographic shift. The average age for women's first marriage in Taiwan is 30.7, and the average age for first childbirth is 31.43.

Over the past 21 years, the number of ART procedures performed in Taiwan has grown eightfold, a reflection of the evolving reproductive landscape. According to Chen, more than 70% of IVF patients are over the age of 35.

Despite advances in reproductive medicine, Chen warned that age remains a critical factor. Fertility tends to decline rapidly in a woman’s mid-30s due to diminishing egg quantity and quality, which also reduces IVF success rates.

For women who anticipate postponing childbirth, Chen recommended fertility preservation options such as egg freezing. He described ages 30 to 34 as the “golden window” for the procedure, when egg quality and quantity are optimal.

During a single cycle, women in this age group typically retrieve 20 to 25 mature eggs. This offers an 80-90% chance of achieving a live birth in the future.

By contrast, women over 35 may require multiple cycles to obtain enough viable eggs for successful preservation, due to reduced ovarian function.