High IVF Costs Strain Indian Couples, Study Finds

Though regulations exist in India for advanced infertility treatments like In Vitro Fertilisation (IVF), the cost of these procedures isn’t controlled, creating significant financial hardship for couples, according to a recent study. The research aimed to estimate the cost of diagnosing infertility and managing it – including IVF – as well as its impact on couples’ quality of life.

The study, conducted by the Indian Council of Medical Research-National institute for Research in Reproductive and Child Health (ICMR-NIRRCH), revealed that many Indian patients face substantial expenses. Average out-of-pocket costs for a single IVF cycle exceeded ₹1 lakh in both private and public hospitals.

Out-of-pocket expenses are payments made directly by individuals,not covered by insurance or other third parties.

What the study Found

Researchers partnered with three public and two private tertiary health facilities for the study. They collected primary data from 30 patients undergoing IVF and 100 patients receiving infertility treatment (diagnosed with conditions like PCOS,endometriosis,tubal factor,uterine factor,and male infertility) at each location,alongside health system costing data.

The study showed that female factors contributed to 46% of infertility cases in India, while male factors accounted for 20%. Another 10% of couples experienced infertility due to both male and female issues.Couples with idiopathic infertility or multiple contributing factors weren’t included in the analysis. It appears that among those undergoing IVF, oligospermia and tubal factor infertility were the moast common causes.Around 8% of infertile couples require advanced treatments like IVF, which are both expensive and technically complex.

“Among couples seeking infertility treatment, Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) – a hormonal disorder affecting women of reproductive age – was the most prevalent factor among those considered,” the study added.

Experts emphasize that there’s no guaranteed number of IVF cycles for success; outcomes vary for each person. Most women have a reasonable chance of success after three stimulated cycles, and the likelihood of success increases with each attempt.

Out-of-Pocket Expenditure

IVF is a multi-step process, encompassing ovarian stimulation, egg retrieval, fertilization, embryo transfer, and pregnancy monitoring. The study noted that median out-of-pocket expenditure for infertility