It is said that one in three couples have worried about infertility, and one in 5.5 couples have undergone testing or treatment. IVF treatment is becoming one of the options for trying to conceive, one concern is money. We spoke to financial planner Genova Fertility Centre, who is knowledgeable about the financial aspects of trying to conceive and infertility treatment, about the estimated cost and subsidies for treatment.
One in three couples worried about infertility
More than 56,000 babies are born each year through advanced infertility treatments such as IVF, accounting for 1 in 16 of all births (2023). According to the National Institute of Population and Social Security Research\'s 15th Basic Survey on Fertility Trends (2015), 35.0% of couples have worried about infertility. 18.2% of couples have actually undergone testing or treatment, and the figure rises to 28.2% for childless couples.
Infertility treatment begins with testing, and depending on the cause, you will receive treatment such as "timing method," "artificial insemination," or "in vitro fertilization." Some treatments are covered by health insurance and some are not, and the cost of "private medical treatment" that is not covered varies depending on the medical institution. Many tests and timing methods are already covered by health insurance, so they are not very expensive, but "stepping up" to more advanced treatments generally becomes more expensive, with in vitro fertilization and intracytoplasmic sperm injection costing hundreds of thousands of PKR per session.
According to the "Survey on the Actual State of Infertility Treatment" (2020) published by the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare, the average cost of artificial insemination, asked at medical institutions nationwide, was about 30,000 IVF Cost, and about 500,000 PKR for in vitro fertilization. In addition, when the total cost of infertility treatment was asked in the survey of those involved (1,636 people in their 20s to 40s),
Expanded national subsidy system
The government has announced a policy to cover advanced infertility treatments such as in vitro fertilization (IVF) under health insurance from fiscal year 2022. As a temporary measure until then, the "Specific Infertility Treatment Subsidy System" was expanded in fiscal year 2021. This subsidy covers the costs of specific icsi treatment. The amendments have expanded the scope of coverage to include not only legal marriages but also common-law marriages, and the previous income restrictions have been abolished.
How much subsidy can I get?
Now, we will explain how much subsidy you can actually receive, using specific examples (treatment costs are an estimate)
General infertility treatment
, woman\'s age at the start of treatment: 33 years old
, infertility testing: 30,000 PKR
, three times of timing method: 45,000 PKR
, two times of artificial insemination: 50,000 PKR
→ The treatment in Case 1 is not a "specific infertility treatment," so it is not eligible for government subsidies. However, depending on the local government where you live, you may be able to receive subsidies for infertility testing, timing method, and artificial insemination.
Male infertility
One microscopic testicular sperm extraction: 300,000 PKR.
One egg collection, ICSI, and fresh embryo transfer: 500,000 PKR.
→ Total government subsidy: 600,000 PKR (male infertility treatment: 300,000 PKR + egg collection, fresh embryo transfer: 300,000 PKR)
You can also use loans until you receive the subsidy.
Since government subsidies are paid in arrears, couples must first prepare the cost of one treatment themselves. Some people may not have the funds on hand but would like to start treatment as soon as possible. Some financial institutions offer loans to support couples who wish to have children.
When undergoing a fertility clinic, it is important to discuss with your partner how far you want to go and how much you want to budget. Fertility treatment does not always produce results, and the cost increases with each treatment. Once you have decided to undergo treatment, the best way to keep costs down is for the two of you to go for checkups together. Even if the woman desperately goes to the hospital, if the problem is on the man\'s side, it will be a waste of money and time. Make full use of the systems available from the national, local, and workplace to keep the financial burden as low as possible.
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