Professor Nguyễn Viết Tiến, president of the Vietnam Association of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, speaks at the event. VNS Photo Thanh Hải

HÀ NỘI — Globally, the rate of infertility is relatively high, with every one in six people experiencing infertility in their lifetime, according to the World Health Organization. In Việt Nam, a study conducted as part of a State project reported that 7.7 per cent of couples suffer from infertility requiring medical intervention.

However, experts said at the 2026 International Conference on Obstetrics and Gynaecology in Hà Nội on August 28 that by now, this figure is certainly higher.

Professor Nguyễn Viết Tiến, president of the Vietnam Association of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, said at the event that the trend of marrying later — resulting in a higher age at marriage — has contributed to a rise in infertility rates.

Meanwhile, treatment costs, particularly for in vitro fertilisation (IVF), remain a significant financial burden for many families.

Currently, the average cost of a single IVF cycle ranges from VNĐ70 million to VNĐ100 million (US$2,700 to $3,800), depending on the underlying causes and the complexity of the specific case. The more complex the cause, the higher the cost.

With a population of over 100 million, Việt Nam inevitably has a significant number of couples requiring assistance for infertility. Tiến said that creating an insurance policy for infertility patients would therefore be a highly humane measure.

According to Tiến, many countries around the world have passed policies to support patients dealing with infertility, and Việt Nam should also take steps to do the same.

"As those directly treating infertile couples, we deeply understand their circumstances, aspirations and the challenges they face. I sincerely hope that such support policies will be studied and implemented soon — gradually, yet practically and effectively," he said.

Dr Đinh Anh Tuấn, director general of the Administration of Maternal and Children's Affairs at the Ministry of Health, speaks at the event. VNS Photo Thanh Hải

Dr Đinh Anh Tuấn, director general of the Administration of Maternal and Children's Affairs at the Ministry of Health, highlighted the landmark achievements of the obstetrics and neonatal sectors in Việt Nam, ranging from mastering modern foetal intervention techniques to efforts to save premature infants weighing only 400–500 grammes.