For couples struggling to conceive, in‑vitro fertilisation (IVF) remains financially prohibitive, often forcing families to sell assets or incur debt in hopes of a pregnancy.

Dr Paul Koigi, a consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist at Aga Khan Hospital, says infertility is a medical condition that is routinely omitted from health‑financing policies and insurance coverage.

He notes that insurance providers typically list fertility treatment among exclusions, leaving patients to shoulder catastrophic out‑of‑pocket costs.

The IVF process begins with a comprehensive medical assessment of both partners, including ultrasound scans, hormonal tests for women and semen analysis for men, to determine suitability and protocol.

Once a treatment plan is agreed, women receive personalised hormone injections to stimulate egg production, followed by monitored egg retrieval, laboratory fertilisation and embryo transfer, with a pregnancy test about two weeks later.

Success rates in Kenya average 25‑27 percent per cycle, comparable to global figures, but outcomes are not guaranteed and pregnancy loss can still occur.

A shortage of trained fertility specialists compounds the problem; fewer than 15 registered specialists serve a population where 20‑25 percent of couples face difficulty conceiving.

Dr Koigi urges the Ministry of Health, insurers and professional bodies to develop financing mechanisms such as coverage for investigations, subsidies for medication and increased budget allocations for fertility services.

He also highlights the pending Assisted Reproductive Technology Bill, which aims to create a regulatory framework for IVF, surrogacy and related procedures.

Beyond IVF, couples with uterine issues may consider surrogacy, a third‑party reproduction option that requires thorough medical screening and legal agreements.