Government subsidy for infertility treatment: Impact on quality of life for infertile women undergoing in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer

Background: Infertility and the economic burden of treatment can impose considerable psychosocial stress with negative consequences for the quality of life for all involved. The objective of this study was to determine the effects of government subsidies for infertility treatment on the quality of life among infertile women undergoing in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer. Methods: Infertile women undergoing in intro fertilization-embryo transfer were recruited from the Assisted Reproductive Technology Center at National Cheng Kung University Hospital, Taiwan, between 2019 and 2022. This study examined the issue of fertility using the FertiQoL survey, which measures the quality of life among individuals facing the struggles associated with infertility. Generalized estimating equation analysis was used to examine the relationship between government subsidies and pregnancy outcomes and quality of life following infertility treatment. Results: This study analyzed 497 infertile women with 727 embryo transfer cycles. The mean core domain and total FertiQoL scores of subsidy recipients were significantly higher (2.68 score increase, p = 0.026 and 2.38 score increase, p = 0.026, respectively) than those of women who did not receive a subsidy. We also observed a negative correlation between the provision of subsidies and the likelihood of clinical pregnancy (odds ratio = 0.57, 95% confidence interval: [0.35, 0.93], p = 0.03) and ongoing (odds ratio = 0.56, 95% confidence interval: [0.33, 0.95], p = 0.03). Conclusions: The government subsidy for infertility treatment was negatively correlated with clinical and live birth rates while positively correlated with quality of life.