Unaffordable IVF? Half of Couples Consulted Do Not Proceed With Treatment; Here's Why

Many couples in India, who are looking to start a family through IVF (In Vitro Fertilisation), are finding it hard to book a treatment because of affordability constraints. Though advances in medical technology and wider availability of fertility services have been growing in recent years, affordability seems to be the biggest barrier for people to avail themselves of this treatment.

A recent survey by CarePay, a healthcare fintech platform, finds that 57.3 per cent of couples did not proceed with IVF after initial consultation, pointing to high costs and the absence of financing options as the decisive factor.

By comparison, just 12.8 per cent of respondents cited fear of treatment failure, 7.8 per cent mentioned medical risks, and around 22 per cent pointed to other miscellaneous concerns.

The numbers reflect what fertility specialists and patients have observed for years: the financial strain of IVF outweighs medical hesitations. "When 57 per cent of couples say cost is the biggest barrier to IVF, it becomes clear that financial innovation is as vital as medical innovation," Gaurav Gupta, CEO of CarePay.

The treatment costs for IVF could range anywhere between Rs 1 lakh to Rs 5 lakh or more, depending on the clinic's services. As a result, many who seek IVF treatment have to look for ways to finance such medical costs.

The survey (based on a sample size of 5,000 people), also delved into what might help patients return to or continue treatment. Over half of respondents said no-cost EMI options would allow them to go ahead with IVF without hesitation.

Another 26.7 per cent pointed to refund guarantees in case of treatment failure, while 15 per cent said direct cost reduction could make the process more accessible. A smaller group, about 6.7 per cent, supported other measures.

The survey also covered care providers, most of whom mirrored the concerns raised by patients:

Nearly 52 per cent of clinics surveyed felt that offering better financing options, especially zero-cost EMIs, would have the greatest impact on patient retention and conversions. Refund guarantees and treatment cost reductions were also cited as ways to improve the accessibility of IVF treatments.

The survey comes at a time when India has seen a steady increase in fertility clinics across metros and smaller cities, but uptake of treatments such as IVF has not kept pace. The financial burden remains the central reason why many couples step away after initial consultations, despite a strong desire to proceed.

CarePay says its 'HopeGuard programme' is one such offer that has been designed to directly address these barriers, combining zero-interest EMIs with a refund guarantee if treatment fails. The company says this dual structure was developed after seeing how heavily cost and risk factored into patient decision-making.

The larger message from the survey highlights that IVF in India is now less about medical limitations and more about financial design. Unless treatment costs are offset by innovative frameworks, the accessibility gap is likely to persist, keeping the parenthood dream on hold for many couples.