Clinics in Thailand that handle such cases are reportedly cheap, with a track record of high success rates. (Photo : Getty Images)
Since China's decision to allow couples to have two children, more and more Chinese couples are flying to Thailand in hopes of conceiving a "test-tube" baby, according to a report by the Global Times.
Clinics in Thailand that handle such cases are reportedly cheap, with a track record of high success rates.
However, the main reason that draws Chinese couples to Thai clinics is gender selection, a practice that's been banned in China since 2003 as a means to even out China's gender imbalance.
According to a Xinhua News Agency reporter, eight out of 10 patients waiting for treatment at the Jetanin Institute for Assisted Reproduction in Bangkok were Chinese. One patient even disclosed that it was her second trip to Thailand for in vitro fertilization (IVF), citing that the first procedure was a failure.
One doctor from the institute also revealed that majority of their clients--over 70 percent--are from China. It's not a new trend, however, as this has been the case for several years.
Doctors at Jetanin Institute offer a variety of consulting services to an average of 200 clients per day.
Although the one-child policy has been relaxed since 2013, not a lot of couples are having a second child. Others cite the economic pressures child-rearing can bring, while more and more couples are discovered to be infertile. This is where IVF services come in.
Thailand has a track record for success when it comes to such procedures, rating 10 percent higher than China, according to Guangzhou Daily. Female clients aged 25 to 28 can have a success rate as high as 75 percent.
Although statistics fluctuate from time to time, Thailand's success rate is still comparatively higher than that of other Asian countries, said some medical staff at Jetanin Institute.
IVF procedures in Thailand are cheap as well, costing between 80,000 and 100,000 yuan. It's significantly cheaper compared to American rates, which reach up to 160,000 yuan.
Not all clinics in Thailand are legal, however. According to Reuters, data from the Royal Thai College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists show that there are only 44 officially registered IVF clinics in Thailand in 2014.
