Costs in relation to effects of in-vitro fertilization.
A comparison has been made between in-vitro fertilization (IVF) and its most important alternative, tubal surgery. Medical results and financial costs have been taken into consideration. It is concluded that IVF must be regarded as a regular fertility treatment. The cost-effectiveness of IVF, in terms of the average treatment costs per full-term pregnancy, is approximately NLG 25,000, which is in line with that of tubal surgery. The deviation around the average is large, both for IVF and for tubal surgery.
Haan
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G
Department of Health Economics, University of Limburg, Maastricht, The Netherlands.
van Steen
R
R
D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D005260:Female; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro; D006801:Humans; D007247:Infertility, Female / Q000628:therapy; D010564:Personnel, Hospital / Q000191:economics