This means, existing centers work overtime. "We are always fully booked and plenty of patients across the country come to our hospital for help," said an official from Peking Union Medical College Hospital, well-known as one of the earliest facilities to offer assisted reproductive services in China.

According to the National Health and Family Planning Commission, 356 institutions were qualified to provide assisted reproductive services as at 2012.

But for technological and legal reasons, the government suspended issuing licenses for new centers in early 2013.

The ban may be lifted this year in response to the anticipated surge in demand for such services.

For instance, late last year, the Chongqing Health and Family Planning Commission announced a five-year plan to boost assisted reproductive technology centers in the city.