TAIPEI: The number of Taiwanese women over the age of 50 seeking assisted reproduction treatment surged by 45 percent in 2022, according to a report released by the Health Promotion Administration (HPA). This surge reflects broader trends in assisted reproduction among older women, as the total number of married women receiving such treatments also saw a significant increase.

According to Focus Taiwan, the HPA report indicated that 58,476 married women underwent assisted reproduction in 2022, marking an increase of 8,824 from the previous year. The age distribution of these women showed that 36.1 percent were aged 35-39, 33.3 percent were 40-44, and 19.9 percent were aged 30-34. Notably, while only 355 women over 50 sought treatment, this figure represented a 45 percent increase from the previous year.

The report also highlighted a shift in the median age for women receiving assisted reproduction, which rose from 32 in 1998 to 38 in 2022. The overall number of individuals seeking treatment has grown from approximately 6,500 in 2001 to 58,476 in 2022, an eightfold increase.

In terms of outcomes, a total of 11,549 babies were born in 2022 as a result of assisted reproduction, marking an increase of 1,775 from the year prior. Pregnancy and live birth rates were shown to correlate with the age of women receiving treatment. For women under 35, pregnancy rates with fresh and frozen embryos were at 38.6 percent and 56.3 percent, respectively. However, for women over 40, these rates dropped to 13.5 percent and 27.7 percent.

Tsai Way-yi, deputy division director of HPA's Maternal and Child Health Division, attributed part of the increase in assisted reproduction cases to expanded subsidies introduced in July 2021, which raised the maximum age for subsidy eligibility to 45. This change has contributed to a 52.7 percent increase in treatment numbers compared to 2020. Tsai also emphasized the importance of timing in pregnancy, as age can significantly affect fertility and the health of both mother and child.