The number of Japanese babies born through IVF continues to soar with a record number of 54,110 births being registered in 2016, i.e. 3,109 more than the previous year, compared to 447,790 in-vitro fertilisations reported this year to date.
Since the birth of the first test-tube baby in 1983, 530,000 babies have been conceived via IVF across Japan. In 2000, 1 in 97 babies was born through IVF. According to a survey carried out by the Japanese Society for Obstetrics and Gynaecology, this has now reached an all-time high of 1 in 18.
The State subsidises married couples to help them pay the 300,000 to 500,000 yens required for IVF therapy. Several local governments, including Tokyo, also participate in this project. According to expert analyses, this boom could be due to the fact that more and more couples are getting married and the subsidised programme is more popular than ever.
44,678 babies were born from frozen embryos or sperm, i.e. over 80% of babies were conceived through IVF.
See also:
Increase in in-vitro fertilisation procedures in Japan
33% of Americans have used or know someone who has used an artificial reproductive technique
8 million people born through medically assisted reproduction in the last 40 years
The health of children born through IVF could be affected by test-tube liquid
Medically assisted fertilisation increases the risk of early-onset hypertension in children
Could IVF trigger breast and ovarian cancers?
Japan Today (14/09/2018)