'Test tube baby' procedure now mature in China

The assisted reproductive technology monitoring committee has revealed there have been five million "test tube babies" in the world since 1978. And in China, "Test tube baby" procedures for couples struggling to conceive a child have become not unusual. Many infertile couples are now turning to fertility treatments, with successful results.

At the out-patient department of the Navy General Hospital in Beijing, many people are busy consulting with doctors about "test tube baby" procedures and treatment.

Ms. Ge is one of the patients. She first sought fertility treatment in the Navy General Hospital four years ago, and is now the mother of a 3-year-old girl and expecting another baby soon.

It took Ge around two months to get pregnant between October to December 2008.

Ge says her daughter and herself are both in good health.

She is quite appreciative of the medical staff and considers herself very lucky.

Ge still remembers the situation when she first knew she was pregnant.

"When I saw the physical examination report, I was so happy! And my husband even cried."

However, Ge says she was not very hopeful at that beginning.

"I was in a hurry to do this and I was not fully prepared. And I was not feeling very well at the time."

Gu adds, like many other patients she also experienced some difficulties during the treatment process.

"I had some unsuccessful treatments. I felt disappointed at that time. I think doctors tried their best, so I didn't want to give them a lot of pressure."

Ge says the most touching moment was when she saw the fetal heart beating.

Ge also says that before the operation, she was quite concerned about the baby's health.

"I bought many reference books that said the operation could also easily lead to a miscarriage. So I was especially careful."

Ge adds a positive, optimistic attitude is the most important part of the whole treatment process.

Shang Wei, director of the Assisted Reproductive Medicine Center of Navy General Hospital, says the success rate for women aged from 30 to 40 years old is around 30 percent.

Shang adds the technology for the operation and procedures is developed now, but more efforts are still needed.

"I think we are doing a good job now. Our techniques of the treatment can compete with any other countries. But we still need to improve our medical service. We are expanding our treatment center as we have a very large number of patients every day."

So far, there have been 400 successful cases from the Navy General Hospital, and around 200 people come to the hospital for consultations or treatments every day.