In vitro fertilization, average 500,000 yen per time Survey by Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare

EconomyMarch 29, 2021 19:00

On the 29th, the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare announced the results of a survey on the actual state of infertility treatment. The cost of in vitro fertilization was about 500,000 yen per time on average. The government is aiming for insurance coverage from April 2022, and will use it as the basic material for system design. According to a survey of people who have experienced infertility treatment at the same time, more than 30% of the people took a break from work due to treatment.

The survey was conducted from October to December 2008, and the responses from 474 medical institutions engaged in fertility treatment were summarized. The average amount charged for treatment to female patients who underwent in vitro fertilization was 501,284 yen. Most of the facilities cost 400,000 to 500,000 yen, but some facilities charged 900,000 to 1 million yen.

For infertility treatment for men, collecting sperm for microinsemination was about 300,000 yen using an advanced method. The results of the survey on the cost of the entire microinsemination will be announced in the future.

We also surveyed 1636 people who had been treated for infertility. 34.9% of men and 37.1% of women have taken a break from work due to medical treatment, and more than 10% of both men and women answered that they have changed their employment form. While balancing treatment and work is an issue, 61.8% of men and 72.6% of women answered that there is no support for infertility treatment at work.

In vitro fertilization and intracytoplasmic sperm injection are not covered by insurance, are expensive, and vary by region and hospital. Many people are reluctant or give up treatment because of financial reasons.

Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga has set support for infertility treatment as a pillar of measures against the declining birthrate. Until the insurance is applied, the government has doubled the amount of subsidies for in vitro fertilization to 300,000 yen from the second time onward. A related academic society will formulate guidelines for infertility treatment this summer, and the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare will discuss details such as the scope of insurance coverage based on the guidelines.

According to a survey by the Japan Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 56,979 children were born by in vitro fertilization in 2018. The proportion of children born from fertility treatment is increasing year by year, reaching about 1 in 16 in 2018.