Beijing: As China tries to slow its demographic decline, women like Chen Luojin could be part of the solution. The divorced 33-years-old lives in Chengdu, capital of the southwestern Sichuan province, which legalised registration of children by unmarried women in february, something China is considering implementing nationwide to address record low birth rates.
The changes mean unmarried woman can take paid maternity leave and receive child subsidies previously only available to married couples. Crucially Chen could access invitro fertility (IVF) treatment legally in a private clinic. She is now 10 weeks pregnant. "Becoming a single parent is not for everyone but I am happy with the decision," said Chen, who works in logistics."Equally, getting married or not is for each individual to decide. We have liberalised the policies here and I know a lot of single women are doing IVF."
Concerned about China's first population drop in six decades and its rapid ageing, the government's political advisers proposed in March that single and unmarried women should have access to egg freezing and IVF treatment But leaders haven't commented publicly on the recommendations.
Liberalising IVF nationwide could unleash more demand for fertility treatment in what is already the world's biggest market straining limited fertility services. Some investors in the industry see an opportunity to expand.
"If China changes their policy to allow single women to have children this can result in an increase of IVF demand, "said Yve Lyppens, director of business development for Asia Pacific at INVO Bioscience,which is awaiting regulatory approval to launch its IVF technology in China after signing a distribution agreement with Guangzhou-based Onesky Holdings last year.
Shanghai and the southern Guangdong province have also permitted unmarried women to register their children but IVF services for single women remain banned