The economic cost of infertility

El coste económico de la infertilidad

There are more and more people suffering from infertility worldwide, regardless of whether couples or individuals are considered. As a consequence of this, state data shows that there are 468 reproduction clinics human in Spain. Of these, more than half (280) are private and are located mainly in Madrid, Catalonia, Valencia and Andalusia. Unfortunately, not everyone can afford the financial cost of infertility.

The economic cost of infertility varies depending on the service that patients opt for. However, they all start with a diagnostic study that can be around 300 euros. Based on that initial consultation, the doctor may recommend artificial insemination, one of the first options offered to couples suffering from male or female infertility who have less difficulty conceiving. The price of this procedure is between 350 and 1000 euros depending on whether or not a sperm donor is used.

The cost of in vitro fertilization (IVF)

The prices of the in vitro fertilization range between 3,500 and 6,000 euros depending on various clinical factors or the technology used. The latter are very varied, since there is intracytoplasmic injection of sperm, oocytes or donor sperm, the use of artificial intelligence for embryo selection, genetic matching and many other technologies that can be expensive.

All this without forgetting the costs of medicines that can increase treatments considerably. In the case of a insemination artificial We are talking about an average of 350 euros. While if we refer to a cycle of reproduction assisted we could talk about more than a thousand euros.

Many private clinics offer financing services through banks or third parties. However, there are couples who decide to use their savings or they turn to relatives and acquaintances to raise the necessary money to cover their treatments.

Emotional cost of infertility

The high prices of fertility treatments not only have a direct effect on the finances of the couples who resort to them. In addition, we must consider the great emotional burden that brings with it not being able to have children when you want it. This can cause some people to suffer from anxiety or depression, as well as cause many relationships to come to an end because They can't agree on whether or not to have children. or do not withstand the very high levels of pressure.

Fortunately, many centers offer advisory psychological and there are a growing number of private psychological consultation options specialized in fertility . The latter is unfortunately not something that everyone can afford.

Does social security in Spain cover IVF?

In Spain, social security covers a maximum of up to three cycles of in vitro fertilization in patients under 40 years of age. However, the treatments they cover may be less depending on the patient's prognosis. Furthermore, in most cases, there are long waiting lists that make some patients end up resorting to the services of private clinics.

Most people who suffer from infertility they need an average of two cycles to get pregnant. Although many couples manage to get the positive from the first attempt, many others undergo up to 7 or 8 cycles without success . Sometimes, there are couples who find themselves in need of selling properties, taking out mortgages or taking out loans in order to meet the costs of IVF cycles.

There is a wide variety of options for complementary therapies for fertility treatments. Acupuncture, nutritional advice, coaching or immunology consultations are just some of them. However, since most of them are not covered by social security or private health insurance, these therapies can increase the economic cost of infertility which is already quite high.

Guarantees of fertility clinics

Though some clinics work with a flat rate which includes indefinite treatments until success is achieved, is not a very popular option and the cost is still quite high. The truth is that fertility centers They do not offer guarantees , they may show their success rates as a reference, but it is still a gamble. That is why it is necessary to be careful when choosing a center that can satisfy the specific needs of each case in order to maximize the possibilities.

Spain, leading fertility tourism destination

Spain is considered a benchmark in fertility for its private centers, the quality of services, advances in technology and medical personnel. Some of the reasons why countless foreign couples have made the country a leading destination for fertility treatments It has to do with the fact that in Spain the cost of treatments is more affordable than in their countries of origin. On the other hand, there are also alternatives that are more attractive because they do not exist in many countries, such as the anonymous egg donation

The business of fertility it grows exponentially , since according to data from the BVK Sectoral Observatory in 2019 the volume of income reached 632 million euros. Of this total, 86% correspond to private centers . Although it should be noted that the pandemic somehow affected these figures, after the reopening the volume of patients has increased.

The opportunity to have children should not necessarily be associated with a disaster economical . Governments should take into consideration that it is a growing problem that requires measures that can alleviate the emotional charges and the financial cost of infertility for couples who are already facing a tough personal challenge.

Of course, it is also important that doctors from their offices inform their patients and carry out early tests to Diagnose possible infertility problems . Young women need to know that the egg preservation is also an option for those who postpone motherhood and want to have better chances to conceive in the future.

0 comments

Leave a comment

Please note, comments must be approved before they are published