After dating and getting married, what remains on a couple’s list is often childbearing, at least for most marriages. Unfortunately, not every couple is lucky at conceiving. In some of the cases the man can’t fertilize while in other instances the lady is barren. Even when both are fertile, luck may lack, which necessitates pursuance of other avenues such as artificial insemination.
AI is often the last hope for childless couples. But the cost of the routine procedure is between 30,000 and 1,000,000 Kenyan shillings.
The difference in the cost is usually due to factors such as who the sperm donor is. If your partner offers sperms, the cost is significantly reduced.
Artificial insemination or in vitro fertilization (IVF) refers to the fertilization of an egg cell outside the body. The egg cell is removed from the female body and placed in a test tube together with the male sperm. If the sperm are healthy, this measure is often sufficient to fertilize the egg. The fertilized egg is then returned to the uterus using a plastic tube. In the case of IVF artificial insemination, the average cost is 40,000 shillings. If the sperm are sluggish, however, IVF alone is rarely successful. The sperm must then be inserted directly into the egg using a needle. The so-called intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) costs upwards of 300,000 Kenyan shillings.
Of course, charges will vary depending on the choice of hospital and personal factors.
According to Kenya IVF, these are the estimated charges in USD. They are different from those charged by NairobiIVF.
| IUI (Artificial Insemination) | Cost in $(USD) |
|---|---|
| Consultation charges | $30 |
| Ultrasounds + Blood Tests | $200 – $300 |
| IUI with fertility medications | $500 |
| IUI with male partner | $500 |
| IUI with donor sperm | $1,000 |
Artificial insemination: ways to reduce costs
Some statutory health insurance companies may cover the costs for three attempts at artificial insemination if certain requirements are met. The success of an application for reimbursement depends on the marital status and the age of the partners as well as on the medical indication. Artificial insemination is only supported by health insurance if the man and woman are married and the egg and sperm cells come from the spouses. Both spouses must be at least 25 years old. Women must not have reached the age of 40, men must not have reached the age of 50. Artificial insemination must be carried out on the basis of medical indications. In addition, a gynecologist must certify that the couple that artificial insemination has a good chance of success.