Asia's first in-vitro baby fares well at 24: Taiwan hospital

The baby was born in 1985 at Veterans General Hospital (VGH) in suburban Taipei, seven years after the world's first in-vitro baby was delivered in Britain.

“Although Japan cultivated Asia's first in-vitro baby, the infant died slightly more than a year later,” said Chang Sheng-ping, head of the reproductive endocrinology division in the VGH's Obstetrics & Gynecology Department.

He played a leading role in the experimental research project that led to the baby's birth, and under his leadership, the hospital has so far successfully created more than 5,000 in-vitro babies.

The achievements have earned him the nickname “father of Taiwan's in-vitro babies.”

The VGH's first in-vitro baby, also surnamed Chang, has honored Chang Sheng-ping as his godfather since his birth.

“Chang has been healthy since his childhood, loves travel and mountain-climbing, and is gifted in science subjects, including mathematics, physics and biology,” said Chang Sheng-ping.

Though Chang's mother has never hesitated to tell her child that he was an in-vitro baby, she did not want to see her child become the focus of media attention and asked that her son's name be withheld.

Chang Sheng-ping added that Chang, knowing that he himself is the fruit of technological development, has been determined to dedicate himself to the study of biomedicine to help more couples troubled by infertility.

According to Chang Sheng-ping, the success rate of in-vitro fertilization was only 10 percent in the early years.

“Now the success rate can reach 45 percent for young women under 35 years of age,” he said.

In-vitro fertilization can even help improve the health of women, with about 5 percent of women who succeeded in giving birth to in-vitro babies managing to have a second child naturally.

Amid a declining birth rate in Taiwan, he suggested women undergo an examination by a qualified physician if they fail to get pregnant after a year of trying.

“Early treatment is the best strategy to address infertility,” he added.

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