To increase birth rates, there is a call to expand early infertility support and provide assistance for anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) testing.
Christoph Harman, CEO of Merck Korea Healthcare, emphasized during a media seminar held on November 11 at the Korea Science and Technology Center in Seoul that while government support for infertility is increasing, accessibility must be improved. He stated, "Infertility is primarily a race against time, so early preservation and treatment of fertility must begin."
Alexander Steinbach, head of the infertility and endocrinology business at Merck Healthcare Global, added, "As age increases, the difficulty of conception rises. Age is the biggest barrier to pregnancy," stressing the need for widespread awareness of this issue.
Both Harman and Steinbach agreed that government support for AMH testing is urgent. The AMH test measures the quantity of remaining eggs in the ovaries through a blood sample, providing insights into ovarian function and reserve. It is useful for infertility treatment and planning for pregnancy, yet awareness and testing rates remain low in South Korea.
A survey conducted by Merck Korea in May among 1,000 women aged 30 to 39 revealed that 75.2% of respondents believe reproductive health management should begin early, but only 12.5% had experienced AMH testing.
Steinbach suggested, "I understand that health check-ups are conducted annually at the company level in Korea. Including AMH testing in these health check-ups would greatly aid in addressing infertility issues."
Harman expressed disappointment that while awareness of infertility is high in Korean society, many are unaware of the impact of age on infertility and their own ovarian reserve. He urged for the inclusion of AMH testing in national health screenings to enable early assessment of fertility.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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