Invited Lecture & Panel Participation: Dr. Nathan Zhang Presents Integrated Cross-Border Assisted Reproductive Healthcare System Across the US, Japan and Mexico at World Congress

Recently, Dr. Nathan Zhang, Founder and CEO of POWER IVF, was invited to attend the World Congress on Assisted Reproduction, where he delivered a keynote presentation titled “Integrated Cross-Border Assisted Reproductive System Across the U.S., Japan, and Mexico” and participated in a roundtable forum. The conference brought together reproductive medicine institutions, cross-border healthcare providers, and legal experts from multiple countries. Dr. Nathan Zhang’s insights focused on a new cross-border model built on “tri-country collaboration, resource integration, and client segmentation,” drawing significant attention from attendees.

U.S. system: deep clinical foundation with third-party resource challenges

Discussing the U.S. market, Dr. Nathan Zhang noted that the United States remains the most clinically advanced market in assisted reproduction, supported by a relatively comprehensive legal framework that serves married, unmarried, and diverse family structures. However, a key challenge lies in the imbalance between supply and demand for surrogacy resources. The number of related service agencies has grown from fewer than 50 fifteen years ago to around 1,000 today, with varying qualifications, making client screening increasingly complex.

“For families of advanced age who need results within a limited timeframe, the precision of doctor selection directly determines outcomes. For a 40-year-old woman with an AMH of 1.3, whether she can obtain a healthy embryo in one cycle depends on the physician’s real data from comparable cases.”

Mexico system: U.S. standards + one-third cost + local resources

Dr. Nathan Zhang outlined four key reasons for choosing Mexico: an open legal framework (allowing single individuals and diverse families to access reproductive services), strong local resources (Mexico City’s population of 22 million provides sufficient egg donor availability), physician qualifications (Mexico has a certified REI specialist system), and geographic convenience (proximity to the U.S. enables efficient resource coordination).

“In Mexico, we spent one and a half years fully replicating the U.S. laboratory system, clinical processes, and quality control standards. The embryology lab is led by a senior HCLD-certified laboratory director from the U.S. Technical standards are aligned with those in the U.S., while overall costs are approximately one-third.” Dr. Nathan Zhang also noted that POWER IVF Mexico has established its own egg bank, significantly reducing donor-related costs that can reach tens of thousands of dollars in the U.S.

Japan strategy: Asia’s cross-border transport hub

Japan represents the latest component of this integrated system. “Japan is the only country in Asia that allows the free cross-border transport of sperm, eggs, and embryos. A client in China can complete cryopreservation domestically in the morning, and samples can arrive in Japan the same evening. What we provide in Japan is not cost advantage, but convenience.” Dr. Nathan Zhang described a clear division of roles: Mexico focuses on cost efficiency and surrogacy, the U.S. on high-end clinical care and identity planning, and Japan on regional logistics and fertility preservation.

China’s unique advantage: Chinese laboratory directors

At the end of the roundtable discussion, Dr. Nathan Zhang turned to the future of the industry. He noted that approximately 50 Chinese scientists currently serve as laboratory directors at national-level reproductive centers in the United States. “China may not yet lead in clinical medicine, but we have deep strengths in laboratory science. These Chinese lab directors are the most critical resource for the future of this field. While physicians face licensing barriers across borders, laboratory directors can enter any country and rapidly elevate lab standards.”

Closing Remarks

Dr. Nathan Zhang concluded: “Cross-border assisted reproduction is not about sending clients to a single country. It requires aligning each family’s age, budget, identity planning, and emotional needs with the most suitable country and solution. The coordinated system across the U.S., Mexico, and Japan represents our answer for the next decade.”

POWER IVF will continue to advance and refine this integrated tri-country system, providing more professional, transparent, and sustainable solutions for the cross-border fertility needs of advanced-age families, single women, and diverse family structures.