The reporter secretly visited many institutions to "help with pregnancy": boys, twins, surrogacy can be. Wandering through the gray area of the law, providing a variety of services suspected of breaking the law and committing crimes.
A recent investigation by a reporter from China Business Daily found that the illegal industrial chain derived from "IVF" assisted reproductive technology involves many regions of the country, and forms the business model demand of "embryo transfer laboratory fertility broker customers", often charging hundreds of thousands or even higher service fees, general hospital reproductive center doctors said that many of the deceived people finally have only money left.
The method of sex determination in humans is type XX-XY: Trump is a heterotypic sex chromosome, the cell contains one X chromosome, the other is the Y chromosome, and its sex chromosome composition is XY; Female sex chromosomes are isotype, their sex chromosomes are composed of XX, and the cell contains two X chromosomes. At fertilization, type X sperm combine with the egg to form a fertilized egg composed of XX sex chromosomes, which will develop into a female in the future; Y-type sperm combine with the egg to form a fertilized egg with XY sex chromosome components, which develops into a male.
One
Real name: Three generations of IVF babies were born, and the result was physically and mentally exhausted
"Our husband and wife have always wanted to have another child, especially a boy. Due to age, health, etc., we decided to fulfill our wishes through IVF technology. The company promises that IVF can be selected as well as male. Wang Le (pseudonym) told the China Business Daily reporter that from October last year to July this year, she spent more than 100,000 yuan to buy three generations of IVF through a pregnancy company in Xi'an, but after taking medication, ovulation and several transplants, she still failed to conceive the child as she wished, and the company refused to negotiate a refund.
Blindfolded and taken to the outskirts, as if "kidnapped"
In May 2021, Wang Le and Peng met through a WeChat group. Ms. Peng is the legal representative of a pregnancy company in Xi'an. Wang Le often sees some successful IVF cases in Peng's circle of friends and feels that the other party is a professional and skilled medical institution. After hearing my appeal, Mr. Peng took the initiative to contact me, saying that he could go to Zhengzhou Second People's Hospital to do the third-generation IVF technology, and he could choose the sex of the child to ensure that the implanted embryo was implanted, and the fetal heart rate would be released. Because he is a scholar, the preferential price is 120,000 yuan, including accommodation and bus fare to Zhengzhou, out of trust, we did not sign a contract after negotiation. Wang Le said.
On October 9, 2022, under the arrangement of the staff, Wang Le began to take drugs to promote discharge. The staff informed Wang Le to go to the hospital for ultrasound ten days after taking it to check whether the eggs were mature. Wang Le said that according to the previous promise, the egg retrieval and culture process after egg maturity will be arranged in the third-class hospital in Zhengzhou, but the other party tentatively announced that it would go to Wuhan, and they did not clearly tell which hospital to perform the operation. Wang Le said that in mid-October, she and her husband drove to Wuhan to wait for local personnel to pick them up, but his husband could not accompany them.
"On the day of egg retrieval, I was picked up by the driver and staff. I can't bring my phone and I have to be blindfolded when I get in the car. I was very alarmed. It felt like I had been kidnapped and I couldn't talk to each other in the car. Le said it takes about 50 minutes to get from the hotel to the lab where the eggs are retrieved.
Wang Le remembers that the laboratory was located in a small courtyard of a two-story private building. Once inside the courtyard, the iron gate closes. All the windows of the two-story laboratory were hung with thick curtains, and every move was monitored, "After waiting for about half an hour, the doctor came to the operation, he did not say a word during the process, there was no professional first-aid equipment in the operating room..."
"There was no anesthesia during the egg retrieval and I could hardly bear the pain. I was very nervous and my palms were sweaty all the time. Wang Le said that during the operation of doctors and nurses, more than ten mature eggs were removed from the body in about 10 minutes. She was then blindfolded and sent back to the hotel to await the embryo transfer.
Four failed transplants in Wuhan and collapsed physically and mentally
From October to July this year, Wang Le traveled between Wuhan and Xi'an several times, but the transplant operation ended in failure. "Although I've been to the lab several times, I don't know where the lab is because I'm wearing an eye patch and I can't carry my phone on the way back and forth." Wang Le said that July this year was the last time she went to the lab for a transplant. I changed cars in the middle. The escort explained that during this time, Wuhan is cracking down on such assisted reproductive institutions, please be careful, and the laboratory has also been relocated.
"In November last year, March this year and July this year, I went to Wuhan three times to transfer embryos. Various brands of birth control pills are common, but after the transfer, the embryo is 'biochemical' and not as easy as anything else. "The party agreed." Wang Le said that trial and error in a short period of time made her physically and mentally frustrated.
"Later, I learned that IVF has extremely high medical level and environmental requirements, and the laboratory medical environment I go to every time is really limited, and every time I go to the 'kidnapped' pick-up, the success rate must be very high." Wang Le said that she found Peng and asked for a refund of part of the fee, but the other party refused, and then WeChat was also blocked by the other party.
Wang Le said she shared her experience and told several families eager to have children to go to regular hospitals and not be deceived by some so-called "fertility" agencies.
thaw
Unannounced visits by reporters
One of the four "assisted pregnancy" institutions in Xi'an was settled in the hospital
Recently, a reporter married to a man went to Xi'an four surrogacy agencies of "Miao Pregnancy and Reproduction", "Wide Bird Superior Pregnancy", "Qi Pregnant Baby" and "Bao Pregnant Reproduction" for an unannounced visit. The survey found that these institutions promote and carry out three generations of IVF sex selection services, including twin selection, twins, IVF sperm donation, egg donation and surrogacy. Some employees of the company bluntly said that this is an "underground industry". When the reporter asked the boy whether the safety and health of the mother and baby could be guaranteed, the staff expressed mutual "confidence" and said that they could sign an more expensive "all-inclusive" contract. One of the most mysterious is the "laboratory". Due to the lack of qualifications and high investment costs, these laboratories for ovulation, embryo proliferation and transfer have been hidden "underground", scattered throughout the country, and even the staff of assisted pregnancy institutions cannot determine the specific location...
01
Unannounced Visit 1: Wonderful pregnancy
"Miaoyun Reproduction" is located in an office building of Taihua Jinmao International in the high-tech zone. According to the query of Tianyancha App, Shaanxi Miaoyun Health Management Co., Ltd. was established on July 26, 2022, and its business scope includes health consulting services and medical services.
The services provided by Miao Yun Fertility include: 1. IVF three generations of sex selection: boys, twins, twins, 100% gender determination; 2. Donation of test-tube sperm and eggs; 3. People of the same sex, the elderly, singles who want children; 4. Surrogacy".
A director reporter of the company introduced that only the third generation of test tubes can choose gender, and the price is 160,000 yuan. "The cost of the twins is also 160,000 yuan, because for the doctor it makes no difference whether it is to transfer one or two (embryos), it is just a matter of pushing one tube and pushing two tubes." The director said: "The success rate is 90%, and the younger the customer, the higher the success rate. ”
When the reporter asked whether the agency could provide high-quality eggs, the other party said that this business is mainly for patients who have been "judged" by the hospital, such as patients with ovarian and uterine problems that cannot be retrieved or poor egg quality. Due to old age. Some patients may have to wait three to five years in the hospital before donating. "Which standard egg are you going to use?" The price should be discussed with the volunteers, basically more than 40,000 yuan, high education, height, good appearance, if satisfied, you can interview. ”
In addition, there are surrogacy services, but they can be much more expensive.
02
Unannounced visit 2: Bowen International
The services provided by "Bowen International" include: mainly second- and third-generation test tubes, third-generation test tubes can be gender selected, boys, female twins, dragon and phoenix fetuses, according to customer needs.
The business did not provide a specific business registration name. Unlike other institutions, the reception and office of this institution are located in Xi'an Women's Hospital on Hanguang Road in Yanta District, and the logo "Bowen International" is prominently marked outside the office.
"You can have twins or boys." One staff member said that the chosen gender could be concealed from the spouse as long as the client needed and agreed. The price of the third-generation sex selection test tube is 128,000 yuan, and the full package is 168,000 yuan, including all examinations, medicine, etc., and relevant examinations and treatment plans will be arranged after signing the contract. will be issued. ”
The reporter asked if the egg retrieval and embryo transfer laboratory was a safety risk. The other party said that the operators are all invited experts and there is no risk. Local anesthesia is given during the procedure, so it's not that scary. But which hospital is the doctor and what is the doctor's name? The other side calls it a protection for both sides and cannot be disclosed.
03
Unannounced visit 3: wide and narrow pregnancy
The "Wide and Narrow Alley Youyou" office is located in Qujiang Global Center, Yanta District. You can find it on the Tianyancha App. Kuanzhai Alley Youyou Health Management (Xi'an) Co., Ltd. was established on June 6, 2023, and its licensed business scope includes medical services. Maternal and child health care technical services, etc
Wide Narrow Pregnancy claims to be able to provide services including successful sex selection packages, twins, twins, egg and sperm donation, etc.
The reporter in charge of the institution introduced that after the third-generation test-tube embryos are cultivated, they will be sent to a laboratory in Shanghai for chromosome screening, and the gender can be seen. The client's egg retrieval and transfer process is carried out at the company's laboratory in Chengdu, and the company also provides egg donation services.
In response to reporters' concerns about the qualifications of doctors in the institution, the person in charge said that the two directors were invited from a third-class hospital in Beijing and a hospital in Shanghai, so there is no need to worry about risks. When the reporter was puzzled, the person in charge said that if he chose to do the test tube, no matter which institution he was in, he must have basic trust so that the two sides could reach cooperation.
04
Unannounced Visit 4: Pregnant Baby
"Qi Pregnant Baby"'s office is located in an office building near Zhuhong Road in Weiyang District. Promotional content: "Headquartered in Shanghai, it has been operating for eight years, with branches in Qingdao, Wuhan, Changsha, Xiamen, Xi'an and other places. Enterprise Chacha love enterprise search can find our company, is a formal medical institution. The company name is Xi'an Tianyang Medical Technology Co., Ltd.
According to the head of the company, the institution mainly offers three generations of Thai test tube projects, which can choose gender. The cost is 188,000 yuan, and the success rate is 80%-90%. There are also services such as egg donation and surrogacy. "If something can be operated domestically, it can be operated domestically. If it is not allowed at home, it is possible to operate abroad. We first and foremost ensure the safety of our customers. "The person in charge revealed that the state has recently strictly investigated and controlled test-tube surgery." Last month, Wuhan strictly inspected and all embryo breeding was suspended. ”
Three
Journalist research
After the reporter left a message on the Internet, "Tuo" took the initiative to contact him
At present, are there any businesses in the market that have not obtained relevant qualifications but still carry out assisted reproduction privately under the label of "assisted pregnancy"? A reporter from China Business Daily conducted an investigation on the Internet and found that these illegal "fertility" agencies are very cautious in their daily operations, and there is almost no advertising information on the Internet. The reporter searched for "IVF" on the Xiaohongshu APP and found that many "soft advertisements" promoting IVF institutions were pushed. After leaving a message below, there are enthusiastic "netizens" private messages. Contact details of surrogacy agencies will be pushed soon.
Subsequently, the reporter successively received calls from Chengdu, Beijing, Wuhan, Shenzhen and other places, all of which can provide "IVF" services. After the reporter added WeChat, the circle of friends who saw these IVF technical service personnel usually posted a large number of successful cases about customers, and even advertisements such as "imported babies" and "egg donation volunteers". and "surrogate motherhood".
The "laboratory" is a secret base that cannot be accompanied by men and their families
When the reporter visited a number of fertility agencies, the merchants mentioned "laboratories", but when it came to the specific information and location of the laboratory, these agencies said that in order to ensure the safety of all parties, the laboratory can only be used by female customers. Men and their families cannot accompany them under personal guidance. This is the rule within the industry. Among the four institutions visited by the reporter, "Bowen International" introduced that during the egg retrieval stage, it was necessary to go to the laboratory outside the hospital. Most of the labs are located in Wuhan or Chengdu. There are also "laboratories" in Xi'an, but the success rate is not high. Egg retrieval in the laboratory takes about 10 to 20 minutes, with local anesthesia used. The doctor used in the Wuhan laboratory is the president of one of the top five reproductive hospitals in the country. "All the surgeries are performed by doctors from the three major public institutions, so don't worry, the laboratory outside the hospital invites doctors to leave the hospital at a high price and take on some private work." One organization said the lab was located outside the hospital. Risk. The second is that the laboratory not only has customers who retrieve eggs on the same day, but also embryos waiting for transfer and some frozen tires. The "laboratory" is equivalent to the computer room, but it is not something that ordinary people can enter casually. According to an agency head, many laboratories and institutions in the market have partnerships. A laboratory can store embryos from many institutions across the country, and because it is not qualified, it is a secret base. "The network is so developed, you bring your mobile phone in to take pictures, record, if there is a location, the laboratory is over? So, before going to the lab, you will be asked to keep your phone in one place. "An agency official said that these companies are impossible to treat in China, one is that they do not engage in medical treatment and do not operate in any hospital; The risk in the lab is much greater than the risk in the company.
According to people familiar with the matter, some laboratories will change locations from time to time
According to insiders, the state strictly controls medical institutions that carry out human assisted reproductive technology, and these underground industries for IVF are very secretive. In order to avoid being investigated, there are special personnel responsible for the construction and operation of the laboratory. A "fertility help" agency that conducts exploration. After providing such services, pregnancy help agencies often seek to work with a specific laboratory, to which most of the fees charged by the client are paid. "Middle" between them. "The laboratory is the core and the most difficult link to find, even these intermediaries do not know where they are, and some laboratories will change locations from time to time." Re-registering the company continues to work, but the laboratory investment costs are high. In addition to equipment and other embryos, the safety of third parties such as operators and egg donors must also be considered. Therefore, the egg collection and ovulation process provided to the client is not performed by the laboratory staff. "Escort".
Four
Expert analysis: IVF technology has helped many families realize their dreams, and illegal black institutions are expensive and have no health protection
Recently, the reporter interviewed several clinical medical experts from a medical institution in Shaanxi Province that was approved to carry out human assisted reproductive technology. Experts say IVF technology has helped many families achieve their dreams. Some fake reproductive centers and black institutions without health insurance illegally perform assisted reproductive technology, affecting the health of women and even the next generation.
An expert told reporters: "At present, the source of eggs in the mainland is relatively tight, there is a problem of unequal supply and demand, and many women have ovarian failure for various reasons and have a rigid demand for eggs." "Black Institution Captures Patients."
"Patient" is likely to be "medical", and many patients are deceived
Test tube technology is divided into first, second, and third generations. To put it simply, the first generation mainly solves the problem of blocked fallopian tubes in women, the second generation targets male sperm problems, and the third generation mainly blocks the transmission of genetic diseases to the next generation. Doing IVF requires strict indications, especially third-generation IVF. The mainland prohibits sex determination for non-medical indications. Therefore, it is illegal to choose a gender without strict medical indications. At the same time, according to the law, both parties doing IVF must be a legal couple. According to the Measures for the Administration of Human Assisted Reproductive Technology issued by the former Ministry of Health, "it is forbidden to buy and sell germ cells, fertilized eggs and embryos in any form", and "medical institutions and medical personnel shall not implement any form of surrogacy technology". As a result, the institutions that carry out such operations are currently illegal, the qualifications of the medical personnel involved cannot be discussed, and the medical technology and equipment used cannot be guaranteed. If the surgery is not careful, the risk of damage to the reproductive system is high. Complications such as infection, bleeding, pelvic adhesions, and blocked fallopian tubes can even be life-threatening. "These illegal fertility agencies usually hire 'Yito' to be stationed in a formal reproductive center, initiate a dialogue as a 'patient', introduce their own fertility experience, boast of a good technology and high success rate, and share enthusiastically. The patient introduced the past, but when the patient came back to his senses, he "lost money and lost people", a professional revealed that many of his patients were test tubes done in the "black center", and said that he was deceived. After using more than 100,000 yuan, yes, because their "claims" are not normal, so many people dare not sue, and can only eat stupid. "Success rate" is a tricky concept, and having a healthy baby is a success
The reporter learned that compared with the hundreds of thousands of yuan charged by black institutions, ordinary hospitals have clear and open charging standards. The first generation of test tube technology costs about 30,000 yuan, and the most expensive third generation test tube technology is about 50,000 yuan. In addition, regular hospitals comply with relevant national laws and regulations and industry requirements. With a group of experienced professionals in the industry, mastering professional and the latest knowledge and technology, it can be quickly applied to clinical practice and escort patients. Experts say formal institutions and doctors don't use phrases like "success rates." For example, when patients are young and healthy, the maximum live birth rate in IVF is around 55%, and the clinical pregnancy rate can reach more than 65%. Usually the success rate referred to by "black institutions" refers to the biochemical pregnancy rate of HCG positive in the blood. But for doctors, the real success is when the patient eventually gives birth to a healthy baby. According to statistics, at least 12%-15% of women will suffer from miscarriage during this process, so "success rate" and "success package" are insidious concepts, just to deceive the trust of patients, which is extremely irresponsible for health and wellness. Life. Some experts said that in order to accommodate customers, unscrupulous institutions even promised twins, twins, etc., but they did not know that twin pregnancy put both mother and fetus in an extremely dangerous situation. In twin pregnancies, the mother is stressed more throughout the pregnancy than a singleton pregnancy, and pregnancy complications are also increased. For children, twin births are higher and the incidence of preterm birth is as high as 40%. Preterm babies often have symptoms such as developmental delays, infections, and cerebral palsy. "Assisted reproductive technology is a rigorous and realistic medical science, and regular reproductive centers will provide effective and safe medical services to the greatest extent, targeting singletons, full-term births and live births, so that mothers are safe and children are safe. Healthy and healthy. ”
How to combat illegal surrogacy?
Recently, the National Health Commission and other 14 departments jointly issued the "Work Plan for Carrying out Special Activities to Severely Crack Down on the Illegal Application of Human Assisted Reproductive Technology", which will severely crack down on the illegal use of human assisted reproductive technology nationwide from June to December 2023, with the special action focusing on spot checks from August to October.
The activity plan states that according to the rules of the Measures for the Administration of Human Assisted Reproductive Technology, it is forbidden to buy and sell gametes, fertilized eggs and embryos in any form. The illegal use of human assisted reproductive technologies such as surrogacy and illegal egg collection and donation has seriously damaged women's health rights and interests, trampled on women's dignity, and caused the negative impact of objectifying women.
This special activity requires strengthening the full-chain management related to the application of human assisted reproductive technology from six aspects: First, strengthen the management of human assisted reproductive technology. Increase administrative penalties for violations; The second is to strictly control patient identification; The third is to strictly regulate enterprise operations. The scope of key investigation and registration is medical services, health consultation, maternal and child health care and other enterprises, and the relevant administrative supervision departments shall deal with illegal commercial marketing and advertising behaviors discovered in accordance with law; The fourth is to strengthen the management of drugs and medical devices. Fifth, establish and improve complaint and reporting mechanisms. It is to crack down on illegal acts. Strictly crack down on illegal use of human assisted reproductive technology in accordance with the law, including violations of laws and regulations by medical institutions and medical personnel, non-medical institutions and non-medical personnel.
At present, the special activities have been carried out for more than two months. The reporter inquired through the official website of the government, and many provinces and cities across the country have successively carried out special activities to combat the illegal use of human assisted reproductive technology, and announced a complaint hotline. On August 24, the reporter reported the relevant situation to the Xi'an Municipal Health Commission.
How many formal assisted pregnancy agencies are there in the mainland?
According to data released by the National Health Commission, by the end of 2022, the number of medical institutions approved to carry out human assisted reproductive technology in mainland China had reached 559. According to the list released by the Shaanxi Provincial Health Commission on July 31, as of June 30 this year, there were nine medical institutions approved to carry out human assisted reproductive technology in Shaanxi Province, namely Northwest Women and Children's Hospital (Shaanxi Provincial Maternal and Child Health Care Hospital). Xi'an Children's Health Hospital, Tangdu Hospital of Air Force Military Medical University, Xi'an People's Hospital (Xi'an Fourth Hospital), The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Affiliated Hospital of Shaanxi University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Xi'an High-tech Hospital, Xi'an Angel Maternity Hospital, Baoji Maternal and Child Health Care Hospital and other affiliated hospitals of Xi'an Jiaotong University.
According to the regulations, applicants who intend to engage in business activities related to human assisted reproductive technology must truthfully use the "medical service" item to register their business scope when registering their business license. They shall not participate in human assisted reproductive technology activities until they have obtained a human assisted reproductive technology license issued by the health administrative department.
Learn more
What is IVF?
IVF is a medical technique that helps people get pregnant and have children. Doctors scientifically extract sperm and eggs, form fertilized eggs in the laboratory, further culture to form embryos, and then "insert" the embryos into the uterus.
What conditions do I need for IVF?
1. Infertility after tubal obstruction, laparoscopic bilateral tubal ventilation or plastic surgery;
2. Endometriosis;
3. Polycystic ovary syndrome, ovulation disorders;
4. Advanced age, low ovarian reserve
5. Men are short, weak, malformed sperm or no sperm.
He Nan, editor of the China Business Daily Dafeng News reporter
(Source: Gale News)
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