Evaluation of costs associated with fertility treatment leading to a live birth after one fresh transfer: A global perspective

• Published in: Best practice & research. Clinical obstetrics & gynaecology 2023-07, Vol.89, p.102349-102349, Article 102349
• Main Authors: Matorras, R., Chaudhari, V.S., Roeder, C., Schwarze, J.E., Bühler, K., Hwang, K., Chang-Woo, C., Iniesta, S., D'Hooghe, T., Mathur, R.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Assisted reproductive technology (ART); Drug acquisition cost; Live birth; Real-world data; Recombinant human follicle-stimulating hormone (r-hFSH)
• ISSN: 1521-6934; 1532-1932
• DOI: 10.1016/j.bpobgyn.2023.102349

Considerable costs are associated with infertility treatment, but little evidence is available on the main drivers of treatment costs. This cost analysis investigated key costs for treatment with assisted reproductive technology (ART) and the proportion of costs attributed to the acquisition of recombinant human follicle-stimulating hormone (r-hFSH) alfa originator for one fresh embryo transfer (ET) leading to a live birth in Spain, Norway, the UK, Germany, Denmark, South Korea, Australia, and New Zealand. The total costs for one ART cycle with a fresh ET leading to a live birth varied between countries (€4108–€12,314). Costs for pregnancy and live birth were the major contributors in European countries, and the costs of oocyte retrieval, monitoring during ovarian stimulation, pregnancy, and live birth were the top contributors in the Asia-Pacific countries, included in this analysis. Acquisition costs for r-hFSH alfa originator contributed to only 5%–17% of the total costs of one ART cycle with one fresh ET leading to a live birth. •First study to report r-hFSH alfa acquisition cost as a proportion of the total cost of one ART cycle leading to a live birth.•Pregnancy and live birth costs were the main contributors to total ART cost in European countries included in this analysis.•Monitoring during stimulation in Australia, and oocyte retrieval in New Zealand were the main contributors to the total cost.•Costs for oocyte retrieval and pregnancy were the main contributors to the total cost of ART in South Korea.•Drug acquisition costs contributed to 5%–17% of the total costs of one ART cycle leading to a live birth.