Fertility business booms as sperm counts drop in China

Beijing

ON a recent afternoon, a visitor from northern China took a smoke break outside the Beijing Perfect Family Hospital. Cigarettes were one reason he had come to the capital: He reckons his nicotine habit played a part in damaging his fertility.

The 38-year-old construction businessman, who asked to be identified by his last name, Zhang, worked hard to build a business with his wife, who is 35. But when they were finally ready to have children, it was a struggle. So the Zhangs became one more couple among millions of Chinese to turn to an assisted reproductive-health market that has the potential to be worth about US$15 billion.

A paradox has emerged in China: As the country finally relaxes its one-child policy, factors such as lower sperm counts, later pregnancies and other health barriers are making it harder for many to get pregnant. As a result, businesses from China to Australia, and even California, are lining up to help - and pro…