Understanding IVF Treatment Cost In Nigeria

Cost is one of the most important factors couples consider when seeking fertility treatment in Nigeria. This is no surprise with assisted reproductive treatments often running into millions of naira. However, while it is good to choose a cost-friendly center, using cost as a defining factor when making the choice of a fertility clinic can be detrimental in the long run.

In this article, we will be looking at IVF treatment cost in Nigeria, the cost elements, why cost varies from clinic to clinic and how treatment costs in Nigeria compare with other parts of the world.

How Much is IVF in Nigeria

The average cost of one cycle of IVF treatment in Nigeria is N900,000 excluding the cost of drugs, diagnosis and other ancillary services that might be required. The cost of IVF drugs usually ranges between N400,000 and N800,000 depending on the treatment plan.

IVF Treatment Cost Breakdown

There are several factors which contribute to the cost of a typical IVF treatment. Some of these factors include:

Number of cycles

A cycle of IVF starts from the day of your period to the day when the embryo transfer is carried out. A single cycle of IVF treatment in Nigeria ranges from N600,000 to N1,200,000. However, a number of couples usually need at least 2 cycles (sometimes 3) of IVF treatment before conceiving. Studies after studies have shown that having more than one round of IVF can significantly increase the chances of a couple having a baby

This increase in the number of cycles naturally results in extra costs. However, most clinics offer discounts for multiple cycle treatments. With this, couples are required to pay the lump sum of two or three cycles in advance to cover for any eventualities. However, patients are sometimes refunded when they don’t need extra cycles.

Age

Age is one of the major determining factors for IVF treatment. The younger you are, the more likely you are to get pregnant and give birth to a healthy baby using your own eggs during IVF. Women age 41 and older are often counselled to consider using donor eggs during IVF to increase the chances of success.

The use of donor eggs or sperm attracts extra cost (at least 50% more) as the donor will also be required to undergo certain treatments to extract the eggs.

Diagnostic Tests

Fertility clinics run diagnostic tests to find out the underlying cause of infertility. These tests require couples spending some money before IVF treatment can begin. Some of these tests are Ovarian reserve testing, Semen analysis, Infectious disease screening, gynaecological endoscopy.

Drugs

The cost of drugs for fertility treatment usually ranges between N400,000 and N800,000 depending on the treatment plan. These drugs are very essential for a successful treatment and cannot be skipped during treatment.

Additional Procedures

Depending on the result diagnostic tests, you might require additional procedures with your normal IVF treatment. These come at additional cost. The additional assisted reproductive technologies you may need include ICSI, PGD, assisted hatching, laparoscopy, testicular sperm extraction, etc.

Donors/Surrogates

In cases where the couple require third-party reproduction (refers to involving someone other than the individual or couple that plans to raise the child (intended parent[s]) in the process of reproduction. This includes using donated eggs, sperm, or embryos and gestational carrier arrangements, in which the pregnancy is carried by someone other than the intended parent(s)), the costs of treatment will be very high.

Get the Full Cost

Before you jump to a clinic for a lower price, make sure you’re getting a full quote.
It will be a case of comparing apples with oranges if one clinic is giving you the estimated cost for everything, while another clinic is telling you the cost only for the IVF procedure itself.

Cost of IVF in Nigeria vs Other Countries

*Chart does not include the cost of drugs
*Official exchange rates were used

From the chart above, the average cost of IVF treatment in most developed countries is about N2.9million compared to just N900,000 in Nigeria. It is worth noting that this cost doesn’t include drugs, travel fees & accommodation, Visas and other logistics.

Financing Options for IVF Treatment in Nigeria

In Nigeria, there are a number of financing options for couples seeking fertility treatment. They include:

• Instalment Payments: Some clinics offer instalment payments to ease the financial burden on their patients. These clinics accept initial payment (of around 50%) and spread out the remaining payments as agreed with the patient.
• Bank loans: Some banks offer loans for couples seeking fertility treatment. These loans are in partnership with fertility clinics. A good example of this is the Access Bank’s Maternal Health Service Support (MHSS)
• HMO: There are a number of Health Management Organization (HMOs) that provide insurance coverage for fertility treatment in Nigeria. You can visit this link on Hygeia HMO website to learn more about this.

Couples are advised to ask their fertility clinic for financing options before commencing treatment in order to ease the financial burden.

Conclusion

There are a number of factors that determine the exact cost of fertility treatments for intending parents. Couples are encouraged to request detailed cost breakdown from their clinic before embarking on the journey.

However, cost should not be used as the primary defining factor when selecting a clinic as this can be detrimental in the long run. The goal of any fertility treatment is to conceive a healthy baby. So, you should ensure the fertility clinic meets all the necessary standards and conforms to the best practices.

For more information, read our comprehensive ranking of fertility clinics in Nigeria here.