₦2.5 Million Dream: How high cost of fertility treatment is reshaping parenthood in Nigeria – Special Report (Part 1)

By Julius Nsikak— BUSINESS CHRONICLE

For thousands of Nigerian couples battling infertility, the journey towards parenthood is increasingly becoming a financial decision before it becomes a medical one.

With an average In Vitro Fertilisation (IVF) cycle costing about ₦2.5 million in Nigeria, assisted reproductive technology has emerged as one of the most expensive areas of private healthcare, creating a growing market opportunity for fertility providers while simultaneously placing treatment beyond the reach of many households.

The rising demand for fertility services has transformed what was once considered a largely private family challenge into an expanding healthcare economy involving specialised clinics, medical professionals, laboratory services, pharmaceutical suppliers and reproductive technology providers. But yet, beneath the growth of Nigeria’s fertility industry lies a major economic challenge: while science has created new possibilities for parenthood, affordability continues to determine who can access those opportunities.

For many couples, fertility treatment now represents one of the largest healthcare expenditures they may ever undertake. The cost often extends beyond the initial IVF procedure. Many patients require multiple cycles before achieving pregnancy, while others combine assisted reproductive procedures with additional medical interventions, increasing the financial burden significantly.

According to fertility specialists, a single IVF cycle may achieve success rates between 30 and 55 per cent depending on factors such as age, embryo quality and underlying medical conditions. Women below the age of 35 generally record better outcomes, while success rates decline significantly after age 40 due to changes in egg quantity and quality.

This means that for many families, the dream of having a child is not only a medical challenge but also a long-term financial commitment.

Infertility as an Emerging Healthcare Economy

Nigeria’s fertility sector has expanded rapidly in recent years, reflecting rising demand for assisted reproductive services among couples seeking alternatives to natural conception.

Investigative findings by lawyer and health law scholar Olatunde Sanu indicate that Nigeria now has more than 174 fertility clinics across the country, with an estimated 18,850 IVF cycles carried out in 2023.

The expansion of fertility centres across Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt and other major urban locations highlights the emergence of assisted reproductive technology as a growing segment of Nigeria’s private healthcare industry.

Unlike many traditional healthcare services that depend heavily on government facilities, fertility treatment in Nigeria is largely driven by private-sector providers. This has created opportunities for investment in specialised medical facilities, embryology laboratories, reproductive technology equipment and related healthcare services.

However, the growth of the industry has also exposed a major contradiction: Nigeria’s fertility market is expanding faster than the ability of many citizens to afford its services.

The Cost of the Dream

For couples seeking IVF treatment, the financial calculations can be overwhelming. Dr. Joan Powei Ogbode, medical practitioner and Deputy Director of Clinical Services at the University of Uyo Medical Centre, identified cost as one of the biggest barriers limiting access to fertility care in Nigeria.

She estimated that a standard IVF cycle costs about ₦2.5 million, noting that even when couples are able to afford an initial attempt, a failed cycle often makes subsequent treatment financially difficult.

According to her, government support or carefully designed subsidy programmes could significantly improve access, provided appropriate screening mechanisms are established.

Beyond IVF, the broader fertility treatment market involves several procedures with different cost implications. Dr. Chinonye Otuka Tobias Eze, a minimally invasive surgeon, gynaecologist in training and fertility specialist, explained that fertility care involves multiple levels of intervention. According to her:

Ovulation induction may cost between ₦50,000 and ₦500,000.
Intrauterine insemination (IUI) ranges from approximately ₦300,000 to ₦1 million.
IVF procedures may cost between ₦2.5 million and ₦8 million.
IVF combined with Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI) can cost between ₦3 million and ₦10 million or more.
Surrogacy arrangements may exceed ₦10 million to ₦40 million depending on individual circumstances.
The figures reveal the financial structure of Nigeria’s fertility economy: a market with increasing demand but limited affordability.

Understanding IVF and Surrogacy: The Science Behind Assisted Reproduction
While IVF remains one of the most widely recognised assisted reproductive technologies, surrogacy has become another option for individuals and couples who are unable to carry a pregnancy themselves.

In vitro fertilisation (IVF) is a medical procedure in which an egg and sperm are combined outside the human body in a laboratory to create an embryo, which is later transferred into the uterus with the aim of achieving pregnancy.

The process involves several stages, including ovarian stimulation, egg retrieval, laboratory fertilisation, embryo development and embryo transfer. The complexity of these procedures, alongside specialist expertise, laboratory requirements and medication costs, contributes significantly to the high price of IVF treatment.

Surrogacy, on the other hand, involves an arrangement where a woman agrees to carry and deliver a child on behalf of another individual or couple who may be unable to achieve or sustain pregnancy.

In gestational surrogacy, the surrogate carries an embryo created using the egg and sperm of the intended parents or donors, meaning she does not have a genetic relationship with the child.

While surrogacy has provided a pathway to parenthood for some families, it remains one of the most debated aspects of assisted reproductive technology because of questions surrounding compensation, legal parentage, ethical responsibilities, and the protection of surrogate mothers and children.

While IVF has created new opportunities for couples experiencing infertility, it remains an expensive medical intervention, with treatment costs often running into millions of naira and sometimes requiring multiple attempts.

When Healthcare Becomes Household Economics

For many Nigerian families, fertility treatment is financed outside conventional healthcare systems. Because assisted reproductive procedures are rarely covered by health insurance, couples often depend on personal savings, loans, support from relatives or the sale of valuable assets.

Dr. Eze described financial constraints as one of the greatest obstacles facing couples seeking reproductive care.

“Financial constraints remain the greatest obstacles to treatment access. Many couples delay treatment, discontinue care, or are unable to attempt multiple IVF cycles because of cost. Unfortunately, fertility treatment is rarely covered by health insurance in Nigeria,” she said.

The absence of insurance coverage effectively turns infertility treatment into a private financial responsibility, where access depends heavily on income level and personal economic resilience. For middle-class households, the cost may require years of savings. For lower-income families, it may place treatment entirely beyond reach.

The Demand Behind the Market

Fertility specialists estimate that between 15 and 25 per cent of couples in Nigeria and across sub-Saharan Africa may experience infertility during their reproductive years, with secondary infertility remaining particularly common. According to Dr. Chinonye Otuka Tobias Eze noted that infertility should not be viewed as exclusively a female challenge.

According to her, female factors account for approximately 35 to 40 per cent of infertility cases, male factors contribute between 30 and 40 per cent, combined male and female factors represent about 20 per cent, while between 10 and 15 per cent remain unexplained. Her observation challenges a long-standing social perception that places responsibility for infertility mainly on women.

The economic implication is significant: as awareness improves and more couples seek professional diagnosis, demand for fertility services is likely to continue increasing.

Faith, Society and Consumer Decisions

Although fertility treatment represents a growing healthcare market, consumer decisions are influenced by more than cost and medical availability. In Nigeria, where religion remains a major influence on social behaviour, many couples navigate infertility through a combination of prayer, medical consultation and cultural expectations.

Dr. Ogbode observed that fertility decisions are often shaped by personal convictions and denominational beliefs. She noted that while some religious groups are open to assisted reproductive technologies, others express reservations about procedures such as IVF and surrogacy.

However, she emphasised that infertility should be approached as a shared medical concern between couples rather than a condition defined solely by faith.

For many families, the decision to pursue fertility treatment involves balancing religious convictions with medical realities and financial capacity.

Beyond Medicine: The Human Cost of a Growing Industry

The expansion of Nigeria’s fertility sector is not only about technology and investment. It is also about the emotional and financial realities faced by families.

Dr. Sylvanus Ukafia, founder of Insight Bible Church, experienced a 25-year fertility journey involving prayer, medical consultations and multiple IVF attempts. Despite being a medical doctor and pastor, he described infertility as a deeply challenging experience that tested both emotional resilience and faith.

“I have prayed for many people. Anybody who is anybody in the gospel has prayed for me. We have done IVF abroad and locally and it has failed. So there is nothing you are going through that we have not gone through,” he said.

His experience reflects a broader reality within Nigeria’s fertility landscape: infertility affects people across social classes, professions and religious backgrounds.

The Next Phase of Nigeria’s Fertility Market

Nigeria’s fertility industry stands at a critical point. On one hand, increasing demand, private investment and advances in reproductive medicine present opportunities for growth in a specialised healthcare market. On the other hand, high treatment costs, weak insurance coverage and limited regulation threaten to make assisted reproduction accessible mainly to wealthy households.

As the sector expands, the central economic question remains: Can Nigeria build a fertility healthcare system where innovation, investment and affordability grow together or will parenthood through assisted reproduction remain a privilege determined by financial capacity?

Coming in Part 2:
Beyond the Pulpit and the Laboratory: How Nigerian Churches Are Responding to IVF, Surrogacy and the Changing Debate Around Assisted Reproduction.

 

Culled from Business Chronicle