Low birthrates have become a national security concern in Taiwan. Several counties and cities have introduced subsidies for egg freezing, and the Health Promotion Administration (HPA), Ministry of Health and Welfare, confirmed yesterday that it is planning subsidies for “medical egg and sperm freezing,” specifically aimed at cancer patients to preserve their fertility. HPA Director Chao-Chun Wu stated that the program is expected to launch early next year. The proposal has already been submitted to the Executive Yuan and initially targets women of childbearing age with breast cancer and men with leukemia, with plans to gradually expand to include other cancer types.
Wu explained that cancer treatments such as chemotherapy and radiotherapy can damage reproductive functions. To address the fertility needs of young cancer patients, the “Medical Fertility Preservation Subsidy” program will provide support for both men and women, offering a lifeline to preserve fertility. According to the latest 2021 cancer registry data, there were 15,448 new cases of breast cancer, with approximately 31.33% in women of childbearing age, translating to about 4,800 eligible individuals. When adding men eligible for sperm freezing, the program could benefit nearly 6,000 people, with an estimated budget allocation of NT$100 million.
Wu noted that breast cancer is the most common cancer among Taiwanese women and is increasingly affecting younger age groups. Treatments such as chemotherapy and radiotherapy during the course of treatment can impact ovarian hormone secretion and significantly increase the risk of infertility. For men with leukemia, chemotherapy can cause testicular atrophy and destroy sperm cells, making them a priority group for the first phase of subsidies.
The program targets women under 40 who, after assessment by oncologists, are confirmed to have their reproductive functions affected by cancer treatment. Male leukemia patients will also undergo strict evaluations. For subsidy amounts, female patients will receive support similar to the existing subsidies for in vitro fertilization (IVF) infertility treatments, with up to NT$100,000 for the first application and NT$60,000 for subsequent applications. Male patients will receive subsidies based on the costs of sperm freezing, which averages a few thousand New Taiwan dollars.
Mei-Jou Chen, Director of the Department of Reproductive Endocrinology at National Taiwan University, pointed out that the trend of late marriages has led to delayed childbearing, while the rising incidence of cancer among young people has caused many to miss their optimal fertility window. She welcomed the planned implementation of the “medical egg freezing” subsidy early next year. However, she emphasized that advanced countries like Germany and Denmark not only offer egg freezing but also practice “ovarian tissue cryopreservation.” This method allows young women undergoing cancer treatment, even before puberty, to preserve their fertility despite high risks of future infertility.
Chen further highlighted that egg freezing requires ovarian stimulation, which may not be feasible for some cancer patients who need urgent treatment or are unsuitable for ovarian stimulation medications. In such cases, ovarian tissue cryopreservation, which is already implemented in some countries, offers a viable alternative, allowing these women the possibility of pursuing assisted reproductive treatments in the future.
Resource: 國健署公布醫療性凍卵、凍精補助 新制最快明年初上路
