Generic selectors
Exact matches only
Search in title
Search in content
Post Type Selectors
Search in posts
Search in pages
Filter by Categories
Addendum
Announcement
Announcements
Author’ response
Author’s reply
Authors' response
Authors#x2019; response
Book Received
Book Review
Book Reviews
Books Received
Centenary Review Article
Clinical Image
Clinical Images
Commentary
Communicable Diseases - Original Articles
Correspondence
Correspondence, Letter to Editor
Correspondences
Correspondences & Authors’ Responses
Corrigendum
Corrrespondence
Critique
Current Issue
Editorial
Editorial Podcast
Errata
Erratum
FORM IV
GUIDELINES
Health Technology Innovation
IAA CONSENSUS DOCUMENT
Innovations
Letter to Editor
Malnutrition & Other Health Issues - Original Articles
Media & News
Notice of Retraction
Obituary
Original Article
Original Articles
Panel of Reviewers (2006)
Panel of Reviewers (2007)
Panel of Reviewers (2009) Guidelines for Contributors
Perspective
Policy
Policy Document
Policy Guidelines
Policy, Review Article
Policy: Correspondence
Policy: Editorial
Policy: Mapping Review
Policy: Original Article
Policy: Perspective
Policy: Process Paper
Policy: Scoping Review
Policy: Special Report
Policy: Systematic Review
Policy: Viewpoint
Practice
Practice: Authors’ response
Practice: Book Review
Practice: Clinical Image
Practice: Commentary
Practice: Correspondence
Practice: Letter to Editor
Practice: Method
Practice: Obituary
Practice: Original Article
Practice: Pages From History of Medicine
Practice: Perspective
Practice: Review Article
Practice: Short Note
Practice: Short Paper
Practice: Special Report
Practice: Student IJMR
Practice: Systematic Review
Pratice, Original Article
Pratice, Review Article
Pratice, Short Paper
Programme
Programme, Correspondence, Letter to Editor
Programme: Authors’ response
Programme: Commentary
Programme: Correspondence
Programme: Editorial
Programme: Original Article
Programme: Originial Article
Programme: Perspective
Programme: Rapid Review
Programme: Review Article
Programme: Short Paper
Programme: Special Report
Programme: Status Paper
Programme: Systematic Review
Programme: Viewpoint
Protocol
Public Notice
Research Brief
Research Correspondence
Retraction
Review Article
Reviewers
Short Paper
Some Forthcoming Scientific Events
Special Article
Special Opinion Paper
Special Report
Special Section Nutrition & Food Security
Status Paper
Status Report
Strategy
Student IJMR
Systematic Article
Systematic Review
Systematic Review & Meta-Analysis
View Point
Viewpoint
White Paper
Generic selectors
Exact matches only
Search in title
Search in content
Post Type Selectors
Search in posts
Search in pages
Filter by Categories
Addendum
Announcement
Announcements
Author’ response
Author’s reply
Authors' response
Authors#x2019; response
Book Received
Book Review
Book Reviews
Books Received
Centenary Review Article
Clinical Image
Clinical Images
Commentary
Communicable Diseases - Original Articles
Correspondence
Correspondence, Letter to Editor
Correspondences
Correspondences & Authors’ Responses
Corrigendum
Corrrespondence
Critique
Current Issue
Editorial
Editorial Podcast
Errata
Erratum
FORM IV
GUIDELINES
Health Technology Innovation
IAA CONSENSUS DOCUMENT
Innovations
Letter to Editor
Malnutrition & Other Health Issues - Original Articles
Media & News
Notice of Retraction
Obituary
Original Article
Original Articles
Panel of Reviewers (2006)
Panel of Reviewers (2007)
Panel of Reviewers (2009) Guidelines for Contributors
Perspective
Policy
Policy Document
Policy Guidelines
Policy, Review Article
Policy: Correspondence
Policy: Editorial
Policy: Mapping Review
Policy: Original Article
Policy: Perspective
Policy: Process Paper
Policy: Scoping Review
Policy: Special Report
Policy: Systematic Review
Policy: Viewpoint
Practice
Practice: Authors’ response
Practice: Book Review
Practice: Clinical Image
Practice: Commentary
Practice: Correspondence
Practice: Letter to Editor
Practice: Method
Practice: Obituary
Practice: Original Article
Practice: Pages From History of Medicine
Practice: Perspective
Practice: Review Article
Practice: Short Note
Practice: Short Paper
Practice: Special Report
Practice: Student IJMR
Practice: Systematic Review
Pratice, Original Article
Pratice, Review Article
Pratice, Short Paper
Programme
Programme, Correspondence, Letter to Editor
Programme: Authors’ response
Programme: Commentary
Programme: Correspondence
Programme: Editorial
Programme: Original Article
Programme: Originial Article
Programme: Perspective
Programme: Rapid Review
Programme: Review Article
Programme: Short Paper
Programme: Special Report
Programme: Status Paper
Programme: Systematic Review
Programme: Viewpoint
Protocol
Public Notice
Research Brief
Research Correspondence
Retraction
Review Article
Reviewers
Short Paper
Some Forthcoming Scientific Events
Special Article
Special Opinion Paper
Special Report
Special Section Nutrition & Food Security
Status Paper
Status Report
Strategy
Student IJMR
Systematic Article
Systematic Review
Systematic Review & Meta-Analysis
View Point
Viewpoint
White Paper
View/Download PDF

Translate this page into:

Original Article
163 (
5
); 618-624
doi:
10.25259/IJMR_2286_2025

Out of pocket expenditure incurred by couples seeking infertility services at tertiary level facilities in India

Department of Operational Research, ICMR-National Institute For Research in Reproductive and Child Health, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
Department of DOIR, ICMR-National Institute For Research in Reproductive and Child Health, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
National Cancer Grid, Tata Memorial Hospital, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
Department of Community Medicine, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India
Department of IVF Centre, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India
Department of Health Research, Government of India, Delhi, India
Department of IVF and Reproductive Biology Centre, Maulana Azad Medical College, Delhi, India
Department of Community Medicine, Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology, Trivandrum, Kerala, India
Department of IVF Centre, Sree Avittham Thirunal Hospital, Trivandrum, Kerala, India
ICMR-National Centre for Disease Informatics and Research, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India
Department of Reproductive Medicine and Surgery, Sri Rama Chandra Institute of Higher Education and Research Chennai, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College, Datta Meghe Institute of Medical Sciences, Wardha, Chhattisgarh, India

For correspondence: Dr Beena Joshi, Department of Operational Research, ICMR-National Institute for Research in Reproductive and Child Health, Mumbai 400 012, Maharashtra, India e-mail: joshib@nirrch.res.in

Licence
This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-Non Commercial-Share Alike 4.0 License, which allows others to remix, transform, and build upon the work non-commercially, as long as the author is credited and the new creations are licensed under the identical terms.

How to cite this article: Padhan AK, Patil P, Vikani A, Sharma D, Sachin O, Somen B, et al. Out of pocket expenditure incurred by couples seeking infertility services at tertiary level facilities in India. Indian J Med Res. 2026;163:618-24. doi: 10.25259/IJMR_2286_2025.

Abstract

Background and objectives

Diagnosis and treatment of infertility, mostly sought at tertiary facilities, contribute to substantial out-of-pocket expenditure (OOPE). This study estimated OOPE among couples seeking care for endometriosis, male infertility, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), tubal factor, and uterine factor, including costs of diagnosis, management, and intrauterine insemination (IUI).

Methods

A cross-sectional study was conducted across five tertiary healthcare facilities (three public, two private) selected through convenience sampling to represent different regions. Based on mean (SD) OOPE INR (₹)144,393 (₹130,943), effect size 0.16, α=0.05, and 80% power, the sample was equally distributed across sites and IVF/non-IVF groups, with ∼100 participants per site. Couples were interviewed between April 2022–March 2023. Catastrophic health expenditure was defined as infertility spending exceeding 40% of annual household non-food expenditure. OOPE over the preceding year covered direct medical, non-medical, and indirect costs.

Results

Annual median OOPE was ₹11,317 (US $136.5) (IQR: ₹4,801–₹19,513) US $, higher in private facilities ₹14,217 ($171.4) (IQR: ₹8,030–₹21,848) than public facilities ₹8,355 ($100.7) (IQR: ₹3,785–₹17,386). Direct medical costs were the major contributor: median ₹5,802 ($69.9) (IQR: ₹2,186–₹11,847) Highest OOPE was for endometriosis ₹15,084 ($181.9) (IQR: ₹8,114–₹20,758), followed by uterine factor and male infertility ₹13,211 ($159.3) (IQR: ₹6,654–₹21,521). OOPE increased with absence of insurance (₹6,919; $83.4), comorbidities (₹2,593; $31.3), IUI (₹2,668; $32.1), and PCOS (₹2,004; $24.1). Catastrophic Health Expenditure was associated with comorbidities (OR=1.61), IUI (OR=1.88), and lower per capita income <₹59,400 ($715.7) (OR=3.44). Overall, 59.4% experienced CHE.

Interpretation and conclusions

Infertility care imposes substantial out of pocket expenditure in India. Strengthened insurance coverage and public sector investment are critical for equitable access.

Keywords

Catastrophic health expenditure
IUI
Out of pocket expenditure

Infertility is a disease of the male or female reproductive system defined by the failure to achieve a pregnancy after 12 months or more of regular unprotected sexual intercourse. In India, which is the largest populous country, the major demographic focus has remained on population control.1 However, the prevalence of infertility is increasing rapidly, affecting almost one out of every six adult people of reproductive age.2 As per World Health Organization, around 17.5% of the adult population–roughly 1 in 6 worldwide – experience infertility3 and the male is solely responsible for about 20% of cases and is a contributing factor in another 30 to 40% of all infertility cases.4

Infertility in India is still majorly considered as a woman’s inability to conceive.5 It’s a stigma in most communities and poses tremendous psychological, and emotional stress not only to couples but also to the whole family. Infertility treatment is also a stressful and most challenging health issue among women.5,6 Studies reveal that the overall prevalence of psychological problems among infertile couples is 25-60%, which is caused by a complexity of factors such as gender, cause, and duration of infertility, treatment methods, and culture.5,7

Infertility, though a growing reproductive health concern in India, remains excluded from major public health programs like NHM (National Health Mission) and RMNCH+A (Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, Child and Adolescent Health Programme). Diagnosis and treatment are complex, which require repeated visits and evaluation of both partners, often across multiple medical facilities, leading to significant financial strain due to lack of public financing. IUI (Intrauterine Insemination) serves as a cost-effective first-line option for selected cases, while about 8% of couples require costly ART (antiretroviral therapy) procedures like in vitro fertilisation (IVF) or intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI).5 This advanced treatment is expensive and not easily affordable to the majority of Indians often resulting in treatment-seeking delays, which leads to inequitable access to treatments.

We could not find any Indian study estimating the out-of-pocket expenditure for infertility treatments. This study aims to fill this gap by presenting findings from a larger, multicentric study conducted in India to estimate the cost of diagnosis and management of infertility, including IVF treatment, across public and private tertiary care settings.

Methods

The study was conducted by the department of Operational and Implementation Research, ICMR-National Institute for Research in Reproductive and Child Health (ICMR NIRRCH), Mumbai, Maharshtra, India. Ethical approval from all the study sites with all translated versions of the participant information sheet (PIS) and consent forms was obtained before study initiation.

Using a convenience sampling method and willingness to collaborate, five healthcare facilities—three from the public sector [Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER) Chandigarh, Sree Avittom Thirunal Hospital (SAT Hospital), Thiruvananthapuram, Maulana Azad Medical College (MAMC), New Delhi] and two private facilities [Sri Ramachandra Institute of Higher Education and Research (SRIHER), Chennai; Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College (JNMC), Wardha] were selected which represented different geographical regions of India. Considering the mean out-of-pocket expenditure for infertility to be ₹144393 (±130943) [US $1,739.07 (±US $1,577.52)]8 and assuming effect size=0.20 with α error probability of 0.05 at 80% power, the sample size estimate was 100 per site. Accordingly, a total of 500 participants were included in the study.

Infertile couples who were seeking treatment up to IUI were enrolled in the study after written informed consent over a period of 8 months. These cases were selected such that they had been diagnosed with only one factor of infertility namely polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), endometriosis, tubal factors, uterine factors, and male infertility. Couples with idiopathic infertility and multiple factors of infertility were excluded from the study, as it seemed difficult to segregate the expenditure for different factors from patients’ perspectives.

Data on out-of-pocket expenditure were collected by trained researchers using a structured questionnaire where tools were designed to capture the data from patients’ perspectives. A standard tool was modified to ensure the capture of all expenditure at various stages of seeking care for infertility.9 The details on the expenditure obtained from the couple’s interviews were validated with the actual bills of expenditure. The data of one year time period was collected starting from April 1, 2022 to March 31, 2023.

Out-of-pocket expenditure related to infertility treatment was systematically categorised into three distinct cost components to provide a clearer understanding of the financial burden faced by couples. The first component, direct medical costs, includes the most immediately visible expenses such as registration fees, consultations with specialists, diagnostic investigations, medications, and the procedures involved in the treatment itself. The second component, non-medical costs include costs related to travel costs associated with treatment, such as transportation and accommodation, as well as food expenses incurred during treatment cycles. And the third component, indirect costs, captures the often-hidden economic impact of infertility treatment.10 This includes lost wages due to missed work for both the patient and any accompanying person during the treatment process. The indirect costs were calculated using human capital approach which assigns a monetary value to time lost from work based on the income of the individuals affected.

To estimate the cost of indirect costs, participants were asked to report their monthly income and for salaried individuals, the monthly income was divided by the number of working days in a month to obtain the daily wage. Then the total indirect cost was then calculated using the formula:

Indirect cost = Number of workdays lost × daily wage rate

Data analysis

Only patients who had undergone infertility diagnosis and treatment up to IUI (excluding IVF) and met the inclusion criteria were enrolled. Data on expenses incurred in the previous year was collected. The collected data were cleaned and analysed using IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, version 20.0 (IBM Corp.; 2011; Armonk, NY, USA) and Microsoft Excel (version 2016).

Mean and median (in cases of skewed data) were computed. The burden of catastrophic health expenditure was also analysed and the threshold for catastrophic health expenditure was taken. Reported costs were recorded in Indian Rupees (INR) and subsequently converted into US Dollars (USD) using an exchange rate of ₹83 per US$ 1. As per WHO recommendations, catastrophic health expenditure was considered as 40% of annual household consumption expenditure without the food as recommended by the WHO11 (Supplementary Material).

Supplementary Material

Results

Background characteristics of patients undergoing treatment for infertility

The study population primarily comprised female participants (406/500) with a mean (SD) age of 30 (4.4) years, while males (n=94) averaged 34 (4.67) years. Employment was reported among all male participants compared to only 49 (17%) of females, with the rest (n=357, 83%) identified as homemakers. The average monthly family income was ₹31,089 (±₹24,721) (US $374.6±US $297.8), lower among those attending public facilities. Most couples (n=365, 73%) reported primary infertility, with an average of 6 years since marriage and 4 years of treatment-seeking, having visited at least three health facilities. Comorbid hypothyroidism was more prevalent in females (n=95, 24%), while males showed higher rates of tobacco (n=15, 16%) and alcohol use (n=31, 33%).

PCOS was the most common cause diagnosed among enrolled couples (n=190, 38%) followed by tubal factor (n=109, 22%) and male infertility (n=98, 19.6%). Endometriosis and uterine factor were identified in 53 (10.6%) and 50 (10%), respectively.

Out of pocket expenditure

The median annual out-of-pocket expenditure for infertility treatment for selected factors (endometriosis, male infertility, PCOS, tubal factor and uterine factor) are presented as median (IQR) in Table I.

Table I. Annual out-of-pocket expenditure on infertility (median (IQR)) categorised by aetiology and type of facility (public/private)
Cost category Total (N=500) Public (N=300) Private (N=200) Endometriosis Male infertility PCOS Tubal factor Uterine factor
Overall costs ₹11,317 (4,801–19,513) ₹8,355 (3,785–17,386) ₹14,217 (8,030–21,848) ₹16,943 (8,114 – 20,758) ₹16,566 (7,917 – 20,698) ₹13,020 (4,883 – 18,741) ₹8,688 (2881 – 12,220) ₹14,605 (6,654 – 21,521)
Direct medical costs ₹5,802 (2,186–11,847) ₹2,636 (1,290–7,182 ₹10,137 (5,906–16,559) ₹10,607 (3,402–14,077 ₹7,034 (4,511–11,068 ₹5,566 (2,142–11,744 ₹3,303 (854–7,955) ₹7,307 (2,822–15,197
Non-medical costs ₹1,775 (600–4,000) ₹2,160 (1,000–5,200) ₹1,200 (120–2,740) ₹2,000 (1,080–5,200) ₹2,040 (806–4,300) ₹1,800 (700–4,530) ₹1,270 (1,100–2,712) ₹1,710 (623–4,213)
Indirect costs ₹500 (0–2,705) ₹4,000 (1,411–8,000) ₹1,806 (1,032–3,225) ₹258 (0–3,000) ₹1,903 (0–3,867) ₹1,967 (967–5,842) ₹1,612 (824–3,854) ₹1,000 (0–2,550)
Cost of investigations — — — ₹4,803 (3,871 – 7,863) ₹5,220 (3,503 – 9,267) ₹3,760 (1,826 – 6,600) ₹2,742 ₹3,896 (1,504 – 10,053)
Cost of medicines (Median, IQR) — — — ₹1,263 (14–3,400)imm ₹1,166 (0–2,978) ₹972 (220–2,149) ₹432 (0–989) ₹1,049 (258–2,683)

Costs are in INR (conversion rate to USD; 1USD=INR83)

Participants without insurance incurred significantly higher out of pocket expenditure by ₹6,919 (US83.4) (2118 -11720), and those with comorbidities spent ₹2,593 (US $31.2) more (both P<0.05). IUI cycles were associated with an increased out of pocket expenditure of ₹2,668 (US $32.1; P=0.017), while borrowing money also increased out of pocket expenditure (₹2,171 or US $26.2; P=0.063). PCOS was linked to reduced out of pocket expenditure (₹2,004 or US $24.1; P=0.080), and treatment at private facilities had higher out of pocket expenditure, though not statistically significant. Other factors, including duration since marriage, treatment duration, type of infertility, per capita income, and distance from residence, did not show any significant association with out-of-pocket expenditure (P>0.05).

Among Direct Healthcare Costs, median spending on surgical procedures was ₹3,002 (US $36.2) and on investigations ₹4,025 (US $48.5). About 35% of participants underwent surgeries, mostly in public facilities, with median costs of ₹3,500 (US $42.2) for HSG and ₹3,250 (US $39.2) for laparoscopy.

Expenditure incurred for intra uterine insemination (IUI)

The study found that 64.8% (n=324) of patients underwent IUI, with the highest out of pocket expenditure spent on direct health costs primarily on medications. Medication costs were nearly double in private facilities compared to public ones. Indirect costs were incurred by n=276 (55.2%) of couples, mainly due to travel and accompanying persons. Among those incurring indirect costs, n=190 (69%) were patients attending private facilities and n=86 (31%) were from government facilities. The average distance travelled for treatment was 57 km (range: 3 km to 1,180 km), with public facilities generally located farther than private ones. Detailed costs of IUI are given in Table II.

Table II. Distribution of cost for intrauterine insemination
Cost category Total (N=324) Public (N=133) Private (N=191)
Overall costs median ₹10,702 (₹7,784 - ₹23,763) ₹7,418 (₹4,343 - ₹15,333) ₹12,255 (₹9,311 - ₹18,377)
Direct health costs (DHC) median ₹7,874 (₹4,801–₹12,786) ₹3,197 (₹2,124–₹7,130) ₹9,840 (₹7,508–₹15,270)
Non-medical costs (NMC) median ₹1,130 (₹300–₹2,400) ₹1,800 (₹300–₹3,850) ₹840 (₹325–₹1,700)
Indirect cost (IC) median ₹1,400 (₹645–₹3,000) ₹3,500 (₹2,000–₹7,000) ₹1,150 (₹603–₹2,000)

Catastrophic expenditure

The study found 297 (59.4%) couples undergoing infertility treatment incurred catastrophic expenditure out of which 310 (62%) couples belonged to public sector and 190 (38%) couples from private sector. Endometriosis and uterine factor cases, requiring costly surgical interventions, and IUI treatments (n=275, 55% patients) were major contributors to higher out of pocket expenditure and Catastrophic expenditure. Only 5 (1%) had insurance, while 20 (44%) relied on loans or borrowing for treatment expenses.

A binary logistic regression analysis was performed to identify factors associated with catastrophic health expenditure (CHE) among patients undergoing infertility treatment. Patients with any co-morbidities such as diabetes, hypertension, or thyroid conditions had significantly higher odds of experiencing Catastrophic expenditure [Odds ratio (OR)=1.612; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.064–2.443; P=0.024] as compared to those who did not have any co morbidity. Similarly, patients who had undergone IUI cycles had significantly greater odds of Catastrophic expenditure compared to those who had not (OR=1.882; 95% CI: 1.190–2.976; P=0.007). Lower per capita income (< ₹59400) was strongly associated with increased risk of Catastrophic expenditure (OR=3.438; 95% CI: 2.269–5.210; P<0.001).

Although marginally significant but patients who visited more than three clinics had higher odds of Catastrophic expenditure compared to those who visited three or more (OR=1.540; 95% CI: 0.988–2.400; P=0.056). Other variables, such as cause of infertility (PCOS or Others), type of facility (public vs. private), insurance coverage, financial support, marital duration, treatment duration, type of infertility, and distance from residence, did not show significant associations with Catastrophic expenditure ( Table III).

Table III. Determinants of catastrophic health expenditure
Name of variable Odds ratio (CI) Sig.(P value)
Having any risk factor (Diabetes, HTN, Thyroid) 1.612 (1.064 – 2.443) 0.024
Undergone IUI 1.882 (1.190 – 2.976) 0.007
Per capita income (< 59400) $684.34 Base value: (₹59400) $684.34 (Median) 3.438 (2.269 – 5.210) <0.001
Numbers of clinics visited (>=3) Base value : 3 (Median) 1.540 (0.988 – 2.400) 0.056

Discussion

This study highlights the economic burden associated with infertility care in India, where treatment is mostly financed through out of pocket expenditure. The annual median out-of-pocket expenditure for infertility treatment for most common factors (Endometriosis, Male Infertility, PCOS, Tubal Factor and Uterine Factor) in India was calculated to be ₹11317 (IQR: 4801, 19513), with higher direct medical costs in private facilities and non-medical costs in public hospitals. Within direct medical costs, expenditure was driven not only by medicines but also by diagnostic investigations such as ultrasonography, hysterosalpingography, and laparoscopy, which form an essential part of infertility management.

These findings are consistent with existing evidence from low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), where infertility care is largely dependent on OOPE. A systematic review by Njagi et al10, (2023) reported that in many LMIC countries, the direct medical costs paid by patients for infertility treatment are often higher than the GDP per capita, making it unaffordable for most people, considering that the income of many people is below the national average. Even in high income country like the US, the median out-of-pocket expense as reported by Wu et al11, (2014) was US $5,338, which corresponds to approximately ₹1,09,162 when adjusted for purchasing power parity (PPP conversion factor: 1 US$=₹20.46, World Bank 2022),12 highlighting that infertility treatment imposes a considerable financial burden globally, irrespective of income setting. This is further supported by global evidence showing that infertility care involves multiple cost components, including repeated procedures and indirect productivity losses, which together increase the overall economic burden, particularly in LMICs.13

The aetiology of infertility also has a bearing on expenditure. Endometriosis, a major contributor to infertility is known to affect a significant proportion of reproductive aged women often requires costly diagnostic and surgical interventions.14,15 Male infertility contributes substantially to infertility burden in India and often requires hormonal treatment and diagnostic evaluation which increases the costs.4,16 Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), a common endocrine disorder with wide prevalence, requires comprehensive long-term management.17,18 Tubal factor infertility is also associated with significant diagnostic and procedural costs.19 Although intrauterine insemination (IUI) is recommended as a cost-effective first-line treatment6, repeated cycles and associated indirect costs contribute substantially to the overall financial burden.

Infertility diagnosis and management in India is very heterogeneous in absence of standard technical and operational guidelines. This along with poor health systems preparedness to address some common causes of infertility such as PCOS20 further adds to the diagnostic and management heterogeneity. Health care providers are in constant need for training, be it newer areas like infertility that has not formally been introduced in public health sector in India16,21 or even a very long established program like cancer screening that has not been optimised in terms of coverage undermining the need for strengthening.22

Furthermore despite the inclusion of essential drugs under public health standards their inconsistent availability in public facilities results in additional out-of-pocket spending. Drugs like, letrozole, metformin, and HCG, were not available at public facilities forcing patients to buy them out-of-pocket. Drugs like clomifene citrate and Inj. FSH are not part of the essential drug lists and many investigations are not covered by pmjay which are opd based such as usg diagnostic Hsg/laproscopy, further increasing out of pocket expenditure.

A major finding of this study is the high proportion of couples experiencing catastrophic expenditure. This aligns with evidence on inadequate financial protection in health care, which highlights that high OOPE can lead to distress financing and impoverishment.9,23 The low coverage of insurance coverage and reliance on borrowing further emphasise the economic hardship associated with infertility care. Evidence from India shows that publicly financed schemes such as Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana provide substantial financial risk protection, with near-zero out-of-pocket expenditure among beneficiaries, while uninsured individuals continue to bear a significant financial burden.24 Additionally, the increased likelihood of CHE among individuals with co-morbidities and lower income underscores the compounded nature of financial risk.

This study has some limitations. Since it was conducted in only five tertiary hospitals, the findings may not represent all infertile couples, especially those seeking care in primary or secondary health care facilities. Individual factor related costs were calculated, hence if couples have multiple factors the expenses may increase proportionately. Also these expenses were in the defined window of one year in which the data was collected and may not actually represent the entire picture of OOPE. There is a potential of recall bias which was addressed by verifying the actual bills in almost all cases. Expenses for IVF were collected and separately analysed that are being documented in a separate manuscript.

In conclusion, infertility care in India imposes a substantial financial burden on affected couples, with a high risk of catastrophic expenditure. Addressing these challenges requires strengthening health financing mechanisms, improving service delivery, and prioritising infertility care within the public health system.

Author contributions

BJ: Conceptualisation; BJ, AP, PP, AV, DS, OS, BS, BSB, RT, VS, RV, AM, RP, DS, Su.P, Sh.P: Study design and methodology; AP, PP, AV, IVF Team: Data collection; AP: Data analysis; AP: Manuscript writing; BJ, SP, DS, OS, BS, BSB, RT, VS, RV, AM, RP, DS, SP: Critical review, manuscript writing; BJ: Supervision and project administration, funding acquisition. All authors have read and approve the final printed version of the manuscript.

Financial support and sponsorship

The study was funded by the Department of Health Research Health Technology Assessment in India (DHR HTA In) [Project no: T.11016/09/2022-HR(P-1)].

Conflicts of Interest

None.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI)-Assisted Technology for manuscript preparation

The authors confirm that there was no use of AI-assisted technology for assisting in the writing of the manuscript and no images were manipulated using AI.

References

  1. . Population Control Policies and Implementations in India. Journal of sociology and social work.. 2019;7
    [CrossRef] [Google Scholar]
  2. , . Prevalence of primary infertility and its associated risk factors in urban population of central India: A community-based cross-sectional study. Indian Journal of Community Med.. 2019;44:337.
    [CrossRef] [Google Scholar]
  3. , , , . Worldwide prevalence, risk factors and psychological impact of infertility among women: a systematic review and meta-analysis. BMJ Open.. 2022;12:e057132.
    [CrossRef] [PubMed] [PubMed Central] [Google Scholar]
  4. , . Infertility management in women with polycystic ovary syndrome: a review. Porto Biomed J.. 2021;6:e116.
    [CrossRef] [PubMed] [PubMed Central] [Google Scholar]
  5. Indian Council of Medical Research. Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India. National guidelines for accreditation, supervision and regulation of ART clinics in India. 2005. Available from: https://www.isarindia.net/file/prilim_pages.pdf, accessed on December 5, 2005
  6. . Intrauterine Insemination: Fundamentals Revisited. The Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology of India.. 2017;67:385-92.
    [CrossRef] [Google Scholar]
  7. , , , . International estimates of infertility prevalence and treatment-seeking: potential need and demand for infertility medical care. Human Reproduction.. 2007;22:1506-12.
    [CrossRef] [Google Scholar]
  8. , , , . Infertility Stigma: A Qualitative Study on Feelings and Experiences of Infertile Women. Int J Fertil Steril.. 2021;15:189-96.
    [CrossRef] [PubMed] [PubMed Central] [Google Scholar]
  9. , , , , , , et al. Out-of-pocket healthcare payments on chronic conditions impoverish urban poor in Bangalore, India. BMC Public Health.. 2012;12:990.
    [CrossRef] [PubMed] [PubMed Central] [Google Scholar]
  10. , , , , , . Financial costs of assisted reproductive technology for patients in low- and middle-income countries: a systematic review. Hum Reprod Open.. 2023;2023
    [CrossRef] [Google Scholar]
  11. , , , , . Out-of-pocket fertility patient expense: data from a multicenter prospective infertility cohort. J Urol.. 2014;191:427-32.
    [CrossRef] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  12. World Bank Group. Data. PPP conversion factor, GDP (LCU per international $). Available from: https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/PA.NUS.PPP, accessed on December 5, 2025.
  13. Nagajyothi KP, Santhosh A, Dash SS, Bhate J, Rao GK. Economic burden of infertility treatment: a mini-review on recent evidence. International Journal of Infertility & Fetal Medicine. 2025;16:35–9.
  14. , . The Genetics of Infertility: Current Status of the Field. Curr Genet Med Rep.. 2013;1:247-60.
    [CrossRef] [Google Scholar]
  15. National Health Accounts Technical Secretariat. National Health Systems Resource Centre. Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India. National health accounts estimates for India 2017-18. Available from: https://nhsrcindia.org/sites/default/files/2021-11/National%20Health%20Accounts-%202017-18.pdf, accessed on December 5, 2025.
  16. . Incidence, symptoms, and signs of endometriosis in fertile and infertile women. J Fla Med Assoc.. 1987;74:671-5.
    [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  17. , , , , , . Epidemiology, pathogenesis, genetics & management of polycystic ovary syndrome in India. J Med Res.. 2019;150:333-44.
    [Google Scholar]
  18. Stephen W. Leslie; Taylor L. Soon-Sutton; Moien AB Khan. Male infertility. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2026.
  19. , , , . Endometriosis and infertility. J Assist Reprod Genet.. 2010;27:441-7.
    [CrossRef] [PubMed] [PubMed Central] [Google Scholar]
  20. , , , , , , et al. Public health system’s preparedness to address polycystic ovarian syndrome: a rapid assessment survey of health-care Providers in India. Indian J Public Health.. 2024;68:180-8.
    [CrossRef] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  21. Population Research Centre. Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India. William Joe. Health insurance coverage in India: insights for national health protection scheme. Available from: https://prc.mohfw.gov.in/fileDownload?fileName=Health+Insurance+Coverage+in+India+Insights+for+National+Health+Protection+Scheme.pdf, accessed on December 5, 2025.
  22. , , , , , , et al. Perspectives of primary healthcare providers on implementing cancer screening services in tribal block of Maharashtra, India. South Asian J Cancer.. 2019;8:145-9.
    [CrossRef] [PubMed] [PubMed Central] [Google Scholar]
  23. World Health Organization. SDG 3.8.2 Catastrophic health spending (and related indicators). Available from: https://www.who.int/data/gho/data/themes/topics/financial-protection-archived, accessed on December 5, 2025.
  24. , , , , , , et al. Out-of-pocket expenditure (OOPE) on selected surgeries in the obstetrics and gynaecology department incurred by Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY), private health insurance and uninsured patients in a tertiary care teaching hospital in Karnataka state of India. F1000Res.. 2025;13:1511.
    [CrossRef] [PubMed] [PubMed Central] [Google Scholar]
Show Sections
Scroll to Top