At the recent international workshop “Future Trends in Assisted Reproduction - Expanding IVF Professional Collaboration Networks,” experts discussed international cooperation, policy challenges, technology, human resources, and Vietnam’s potential to become a leading IVF destination in Southeast Asia.

On the sidelines of the workshop in Hanoi, Prof Nguyen Viet Tien, former deputy Minister of Health, highlighted several barriers faced by Vietnam's reproductive assistance sector. First, unequal access to IVF services means not everyone can easily use this method. Treatment costs are high, ranging from VND30-40 million just for medications, creating a serious financial burden on many infertile families.

Tien warned about misleading online advertisements promising “cheap IVF for just over ten million dong.” He said these unrealistic adverts could financially trap patients or lead them to disreputable healthcare providers.

“The real cost of IVF is not cheap, especially the drugs for ovarian stimulation. Patients need to remain vigilant to avoid falling into these financial traps,” he cautioned.

Another serious issue is the over-prescription of IVF. Many couples with delayed conception are immediately advised to undergo IVF without thorough investigations into the underlying causes of infertility.

Tien recounted unfortunate cases, where patients with uterine fibroids still proceeded with embryo implantation, resulting in dangerous complications like cyst development or IVF failure. Some patients could conceive naturally after a simple fallopian tubetors procedure, but were still rushed into IVF.

IVF is not a miracle

The impatience of couples, combined with a growing trend among affluent families seeking IVF for “designer babies,” has fueled overuse. Tien is concerned that aggressive IVF marketing as a “miracle” misleads people about its nature.

IVF is a complex process involving procedures like anesthesia, egg retrieval, ovarian stimulation, and embryo transfer, carrying significant risks.

Incorrect indications can lead to severe complications like ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome, causing abdominal, pleural, or pericardial effusion, kidney failure, or even thromboembolism.

Women pregnant through IVF also face higher risks of hypertension, diabetes, preeclampsia, cesarean delivery, or larger-than-average babies compared to natural pregnancies.

A highlight of the workshop was personalized IVF as a new advancement. Unlike one-size-fits-all protocols, personalized IVF tailors treatments to patients’ biological traits, health conditions, and medical histories. Experts noted this approach boosts success rates, minimizes risks, saves costs, and reduces psychological stress.

Clinical evidence presented at the seminar showed that IVF personalization, probiotics, and herbal medicines, if researched properly, could be key components in reproductive medicine, offering hope for patients with repeated traditional IVF failures.

To position Vietnam as a regional IVF hub, the healthcare sector must address cost barriers, improve service quality, and tightly regulate indications. Strengthening international cooperation and adopting advancements like personalized IVF will enhance efficiency and credibility, offering parenthood opportunities to more people.

Bach Huy Anh, Deputy Director of the Reproductive Support Center under the Hospital of Post and Telecommunications, noted an alarming rise in male infertility. A 2010 study in Vietnam’s seven ecological regions reported a 7.7 percent infertility rate. By 2023, this surged to 17.8 percent. 

Annually, about 1 million couples of reproductive age in Vietnam face infertility risks, with over 50 percent under age 30.

He noted that male infertility is rising and affecting younger men. Semen analyses show a marked decline in sperm quality compared with 2010, with lower density, poor motility, and abnormal morphology. 

Environmental pollution, poor-quality food, smoking, alcohol, inactivity, and chronic stress are silent culprits harming male reproductive health.

While infertility treatment historically focused on women, Huy Anh said that many cases could be resolved early with proper male assessments. “Andrology is no longer on the sidelines but a vital part of modern reproductive medicine,” he added. He also urged men to prioritize reproductive health amid rising infertility rates.

Couples are advised to seek fertility check-ups and treatment if they have been trying to conceive for one year without success. For women over 35, this timeframe should be shortened to six months. After marriage, if a couple plans to have children, they should not delay, especially if the woman is over 30.

Infertility examinations and treatment should be conducted at specialized medical centers with experienced doctors and embryologists. In addition to a skilled team of physicians, midwives, and embryology specialists, these clinics must also maintain a strict and well-managed quality control system.

Phuong Thuy