More infertility treatments, including medical examinations, will be covered by national health insurance in Korea starting next year, as part of the government’s measures to boost the nation’s low fertility rate, the Health Ministry announced on Sunday.

According to the ministry, the number of Korean couples who sought medical help for infertility increased from 178,000 in 2006 to 215,000 in 2015. Every year, some 200,000 Koreans are newly diagnosed with the condition, which is defined as not being able to become pregnant after a full year of trying.

Starting next year, medical costs for infertility tests, such as semen analysis, hormone testing and biopsies, will be covered by the national health insurance. More treatments, such as fertility drugs for women with ovulation disorders and sedative drugs used during an egg retrieval procedure needed for intrauterine insemination or in vitro fertilization will be covered as well, the ministry said.

As part of its demographic policies to tackle low birthrate, the South Korean government has been providing state allowances for Koreans with infertility since 2006. In 2010, the Health Ministry started giving subsidies for those who wish to receive an IUI -- a fertility treatment that involves placing sperm inside a woman’s uterus to facilitate fertilization -- and external fertilization procedures.

To qualify for the subsidy, each couple has to earn 150 percent of the national average monthly income -- about 5.27 million won ($4,500) -- or less. For the IUI, a couple can receive up to 500,000 won, which covers about half of the total cost, for up to three procedures. For eternal fertilization, a maximum of 3 million won is given to each couple, according to their household income, for up to four procedures. In general, a single IUI costs about 500,000 won, while a single extra fertilization procedure costs about 1.5 million won.

From 2006-2015, a total of 100,993 newborns were born here to parents who received state support for their infertility treatments. The budget for the program also increased dramatically from 31.5 billion won in 2007 to 92.5 billion won this year.

Still, a recent study has shown that many couples are struggling with infertility, especially those who have not been able to conceive even after three or four IUI or extra fertilization procedures. The study by Hwang Na-mi from the Korea Institute and Social Affairs found that 81.9 percent of the surveyed 1,063 Korean women who were being treated for infertility were extremely stressed because of the condition. Also, 59.6 percent of them said they felt socially isolated and depressed because of infertility.

Another study by researcher Hwang, published in May, found that more than 75 percent of Koreans who received government subsidies for IUI in 2014 had unexplained infertility. The figure is strikingly high compared to the world average -- only about 30 percent of all men and women who get treated for infertility worldwide are diagnosed with unexplained infertility, according to the World Health Organization. The statistics may indicate that infertile Korean couples are not being properly tested -- by not being asked to undergo the required semen analysis or ovulation testing -- before receiving IUI or IVF, researcher Hwang explained. 

The Health Ministry is also to introduce a three-day vacation for workers who are being treated for infertility, starting next year, officials said.

By Claire Lee (dyc@heraldcorp.com)