A new Indian study has found that treating male infertility can cost nearly as much as endometriosis, revealing a hidden financial burden on couples. Nearly 60% of families faced catastrophic health expenditure while seeking infertility care

.Infertility is often viewed as a women's health issue in India, despite medical evidence showing that male factors contribute to nearly half of all infertility cases.

Now, a new multicentric study published in the Indian Journal of Medical Research (IJMR) has highlighted another overlooked aspect of the problem: the significant financial burden of male infertility treatment.

Researchers found that couples seeking treatment for male infertility spent almost as much out of pocket as those dealing with endometriosis, a chronic and often painful gynaecological condition (also associated with female infertility) widely recognised for its treatment costs.

The findings challenge longstanding perceptions that infertility-related expenses are driven primarily by female reproductive disorders and underscore the need for broader insurance coverage and public health support.

The study, conducted across public and private tertiary healthcare facilities in India, also revealed that nearly six in ten couples experienced catastrophic health expenditure due to infertility care.With infertility affecting approximately one in six adults globally and treatment largely financed through personal savings in India, experts say the findings expose a major but under-recognised public health challenge. 

Infertility's Hidden Economic BurdenInfertility is defined by the World Health Organization (WHO) as the inability to achieve pregnancy after 12 months or more of regular unprotected intercourse. According to WHO estimates, around 17.5% of adults worldwide experience infertility during their lifetime, making it a significant global health issue.

In India, however, infertility services remain largely outside major public health programmes. Diagnosis and treatment often require repeated consultations, laboratory investigations, imaging procedures, medications and assisted reproductive technologies, all of which are typically paid for out of pocket. 

Source:Ndtv