During the ongoing sessions of National People's Congress, Dr. Ruan Xiangyan, a prominent figure in reproductive health,emphasized the urgent need for a notification system to inform patients about fertility risks associated with medical treatments. This initiative aims to particularly support those at the grassroots level,where awareness and resources may be lacking.
Dr. Ruan,who serves as deputy to 14th National People's Congress and is the chief expert at Department of Endocrinology at Beijing Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital,pointed out that many patients battling tumors or other severe illnesses often face permanent fertility loss due to treatments like chemotherapy and radiotherapy. She underscored that protecting the fertility of these patients is a critical area requiring immediate attention.
Her team has been at the forefront of advancing ovarian tissue cryopreservation technology in China for the past decade,achieving international recognition for their efforts . Notably, in 2021, first healthy baby was born in China following this innovative procedure. Today,ovarian tissue cryopreservation stands as a vital method for preserving female fertility .
Despite significance of fertility preservation in fostering a fertility-friendly society,Dr. Ruan criticized the uneven implementation of national policies,particularly at grassroots level. She noted that the "last mile" of policy execution remains challenge. The National Health Commission of China mandates that patients be thoroughly informed about fertility risks before undergoing potentially damaging treatments. However,Dr. Ruan highlighted several shortcomings in this process, including low awareness among primary medical institutions and incomplete adoption of pre-treatment notification systems .
Access to fertility assessment and consultation services is also limited, and there is notable absence of fertility protection indicators in hospital evaluations. To address these gaps,Dr. Ruan proposed a series of systematic measures aimed at enhancing the implementation of fertility preservation policies. These include ensuring comprehensive coverage of the notification system, standardizing disclosure requirements, and bolstering the responsibilities of primary-care institutions.
Training for medical staff would also be strengthened, and closed-loop system linking notification,assessment,referral,and services would be established. Furthermore, incorporating relevant indicators into mandatory evaluations is essential for effective policy execution . Dr. Ruan believes these steps could significantly reduce treatment-related fertility damage and protect reproductive health rights.
She projected that if these fertility protection policies are effectively implemented across medical institutions nationwide, they could potentially lead to 1 to 3 million additional births each year, providing at least 1 million women with the chance to become mothers . This vision reflects her commitment to advancing reproductive health and ensuring that patients are adequately informed about their fertility options before undergoing treatment.
