How much does IVF Treatment really cost in Singapore?

What Is The Cost Of Ivf Treatment In Singapore?

Urban couples today race ahead in their required yet demanding careers, and the family planning utopia, unfortunately, takes a back seat. However, the biological clock keeps on ticking, and consequently, the age factor, uncalled health complications and sometimes weight of responsibilities distract us from“right conceivable time.”

In cases affected by such situational issues, couples may be advised IVF treatment after struggling for long to conceive a baby naturally. IVF is an assisted reproductive technique that involves fertilization of eggs with sperms in a laboratory. The resulting embryos are placed in a woman’s uterus and in about two weeks from placing an embryo, a test is conducted to confirm pregnancy.

Who Is A Good Candidate For Ivf?

Infertility is defined as the inability to conceive even after a year of trying normally. So, females who are suffering from infertility or any underlying issued causing infertility such as PCOS or polycystic ovarian syndrome, endometriosis, blocked or missing Fallopian tubes, etc. are eligible for IVF.

Also, women who are suffering from irregular ovulation can draw benefit from IVF as the treatment will help them produce healthy eggs. In case a female is unable to produce healthy eggs, then she can get in touch with a registered egg donor and then undergo IVF treatment.

Other types of infertility treatments that a couple may be advised to include the following:

• Fertility drugs
• Intracytoplasmic sperm injection
• Zygote intrafallopian transfer
• Surgery and Gestational surrogacy
• Intrauterine insemination
• Donor eggs & embryos
• Gamete intrafallopian transfer

What Is The Ivf Process?

The following are the detailed steps related to the IVF procedure.

Test and Monitoring: The IVF process starts with the basic blood workup and medical scans. Women candidates have to undergo hormone assay, pelvic scan, a hysteroscopic examination, and a couple of other tests. Men may have to give a sample for semen analysis and in some cases, may be advised to undergo a testicular biopsy to check the presence of an underlying issue that may indicate the problem with the sperms.

Ovulation Induction: Once healthy sources of eggs and sperms are identified (self or egg/sperm donor), the next step is ovulation induction. The female is given fertility medications to stimulate the production of multiple eggs in the ovary with an intention to retrieve them. Ovulation induction involves the use of specific drugs that trigger the growth of more than one mature egg in the ovary. The drugs are injected every day for a period of 6 to 10 days, until the suitable ovum development.

Egg Retrieval: In this procedure, a thin needle is passed through the vaginal wall. The fluid is then removed from the follicles using gentle suction. Eggs are isolated from the follicular fluid and safely placed on a culture dish. In the end, the eggs are now transferred to the incubator.

Fertilization: After securing the sperm sample, gained from the donor or your partner, the most active sperms are isolated and fused with the eggs in a chamber.  To make sure that a healthy embryo is forming, the sperm and egg are monitored in the incubator.

Embryo Transfer and Implantation: The healthiest embryos are examined and the selected one is made ready for the transfer. The embryo is then transferred via a small plastic tube using a speculum, through the cervix, and, then into the uterine cavity. Following the intensity of the procedure, bed rest is advised for at least 24 hours after the completion.

The success rate of IVF Globally: The success rate of IVF cannot be decided accurately as it majorly depends on the underlying causes of infertility. This means that the success rate would usually vary from case to case. Therefore, the actual success rate may vary from 35 to 70 percent.

IVF in Singapore vs IVF Globally

According to Virtus Fertility Centre in Singapore, statistics gathered show that the overall success rate of IVF in the country is 55 percent. It is much higher as compared to a majority of countries in the world. Singapore has the largest number of fertility clinics in the world and contributes significantly to the success rate, which is established on the cumulative clinical pregnancy rate per treatment cycle.

The success rates in Singapore can be as high as 64 percent for women aged between 30 and 34. For others, it may vary between 53 and 22 percent, decreasing with age and other factors such as how healthy or bad the overall lifestyle is.

Other benefits of IVF in Singapore as compared to other global IVF centers:

• Singapore has one of the most advanced healthcare systems, which is time and again proven by data and surveys.
• There are plenty of IVF fertility centers in Singapore to choose from.
• When it comes to considering medical intervention, it becomes important to know your options. Singapore is a place where there are different fertility privileges, which again would vary from case to case.
• With proven medical results comes a cost, IVF in Singapore costs are higher than IVF costs worldwide.
• IVF treatment success rates worldwide are much less as compared to Singapore.

Cost of IVF in Singapore for Foreigners

The cost of IVF treatment in Singapore is 3000 Singapore dollars per current cycle and 600 Singapore dollars per frozen cycle.  The private hospitals charge more as compared to the public ones. As a result of which most people prefer to go to public hospitals. However, due to this, it is tough to get an appointment in general hospitals for IVF treatment.

IVF Singapore Cost Guide

The cost of IVF treatment in Singapore is detailed as below.

Basic Fertility Assessment: This will consist of a combined couple assessment by a fertility specialist. Semen analysis and pelvic ultrasound are performed, after which further assessment is done. The average cost may go up to 300 USD.

Oocyte (Egg) Retrieval: The average cost would range from 8800 to 9500 USD.

Cost Breakage:

• Anesthetist fees
• Operating theatre & Recovery room charges
• Laboratory charges (Blastocyst culture and ICSI/IMSI)
• Freezing & Storage of embryos for 90 days

Embryo Transfer: The average cost of embryo transfer would be approximately 4000 to 5300 USD. The valid cost breakage is the same as mentioned in egg retrieval, only the egg hatching cost is extra.

Intrauterine Insemination (IUI): The Combined cost of doctors fees, lab charges, and facility fees is around 1000 USD. All in all, IVF in Singapore price is almost close to 15000 USD and above.

Medical Insurance In Singapore For Residents And Expats

Citizens of Singapore: Up to 75 percent of the cost is covered, which can come to about 6300 SGD.

1 partner with PR and 1 partner with citizenship: Up to 55 percent of the cost is covered, which can come to about 4600 SGD.

1 Expat partner and 1 partner with Singapore citizenship: Up to 35 percent of the cost is covered, which comes to about 3000 SGD.

Top Clinics in Singapore for IVF:

Mount Elizabeth Hospital

Mount Elizabeth Hospital is a multispecialty healthcare facility operated by Parkway Health. The hospital officially started its operations in 1979. Since then, it has been offering quality healthcare services to patients from all walks of life and empowering them with easy access to high-end and world-class diagnostics, treatment, and rehabilitative services. The Mount Elizabeth Hospital is accredited by the Joint Commission International (JCI), which is an internationally recognized healthcare facility that offers certifications to hospitals that offer highest standard and quality of care and services to its patients and swear by the patient safety guidelines established by the organizations. The hospital specializes in a number of tertiary care services, including oncology, neurology, and cardiology. The hospital has been acting as the leading medical care hub for more than three decades and continues to earn the trust of thousands of patients from around the world each year.

• JCI accredited
• State-of-the-art infrastructure
• Highly qualified staff
• Advanced diagnostic and therapeutic technology

Parkway East Hospital

Parkway East Hospital in Singapore is one of the most established and oldest hospitals in the country. This hospital, located in Telok Kurau and formerly known as the East Shore Hospital, was established back in 1942. Since then, the staff at the hospital has treated and provided healthcare services to thousands of domestic as well as international patients traveling for quality and affordable treatment services. Parkway East Hospital started off as a clinic and a maternity hospital. It was taken over by businessmen and doctors multiple times before it was finally established as an acute care center with a 24-hour clinic and a medical specialist center. It was finally renamed to its current name in 2010. The hospital currently offers a comprehensive range of specialist services to patients from all walks of life. Gynecology, general surgery, ENT, orthopedics, and ophthalmology are some of the specialties that are offered by the hospital. Apart from treatment services, the hospital also offers a range of ancillary services, including rehabilitative and imaging services. The hospital boasts of its highly experienced and passionate staff of doctors and nurses, who excel at fulfilling their responsibilities and beyond.

• Accredited by Joint Commission International (JCI)
• 106+ beds
• 5 delivery suites
• 24-hour pharmacy and histopathology services
• State-of-the-art audiological services, including diagnostic and rehabilitative services

Thomson Medical Center

Located at Thomson Road in Singapore, Thomson Medical Center is a 190 bedded premier hospital specializing in Gynecology, Fertility, Pediatrics and Dermatology from the Thomson Medical Group. Over the years TMC has expanded to include new specializations as it aims to become the primary healthcare center in Asia. The group is a trusted name in healthcare in Asia with hospitals and centers across Malaysia, Singapore, and Indonesia. Highlights

• 190 Beds
• 24-hr Outpatient Family Clinic as well as a range of fertility clinics
• First Hospital to have an IVF Clinic in its premises.
• In 2009 TMC Singapore set up Singapore’s first dedicated cancer center for the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of breast, gynecological and colorectal tumors in women.

Gleneagles Hospital

Gleneagles Hospital in Singapore is a multispecialty healthcare facility, located extremely close to the center of the local shopping district. Situated close to the Singapore Botanic Gardens, this hospital is accessed by thousands of patients from within the country and abroad primarily because of its location that can be easily approached by a patient looking forward to high-quality treatment. Gleneagles Hospital is accredited by Joint Commission International (JCI), which is an internationally recognized agency that has a strong commitment towards quality healthcare, which reflects in its standards for patient and staff safety. The hospital, through its quality of services, has a set a benchmark for other hospitals in the country and is a great example of how a healthcare facility should strive to deliver state-of-the-art treatment to patients as per their needs and requirement. The hospital offers a range of specialized, diagnostic, and imaging services to patients from around the world. It is especially known for its obstetrics, gynecology, oncology, cardiology, gastroenterology, and liver transplant services.

• JCI accredited
• 270+ inpatient beds
• 12 operating rooms
• 9 delivery rooms
• Surgery ward with 40 beds
• State-of-the-art intensive care unit (ICU) with 16 beds
• State-of-the-art neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) with 14 cots
• Separate transplant unit

Mount Elizabeth Novena Hospital

Mount Elizabeth Novena Hospital in Singapore is the latest and recent addition to the Mount Elizabeth legacy. This is a highly advanced and modern hospital that marks the beginning of a new era in the field of tertiary care medical treatments. Mount Elizabeth Novena Hospital features more than 250 specialist physician suites that provide comprehensive tertiary care healthcare to patients from across the world. The hospital interiors have been tastefully designed to provide an enhanced hospital experience to patients, in addition to quality healthcare. The hospital undoubtedly holds Singapore’s reputation as one of the leading and premier destinations for world-class medical treatment. In addition to specialist services, the hospital offers a range of other services to patients from all walks of life. The hospital features a range of inpatient wards, including deluxe and private rooms to junior and regal suites.

• Accredited by Joint Commission International (JCI)
• 13 operating theatres with separate space for cardiac, neurological, orthopedic, and general service procedures
• 24-hour clinic and emergency services
• Extensive rehabilitative therapy services, including occupational and speech therapy, physiotherapy, and immunology services
• Ancillary services, including pharmacy, renal dialysis, and perfusionist and dietary services