The UAE’s In-Vitro Fertilization (IVF) sector is expected to command a market value of $1.5 billion by 2020, according to a new study carried by IVI Middle East.

The IVF global market will cross $27 billion by 2020, the study said.

The overall Middle East IVF market will be worth $1.01 billion in 2017, registering a growth of 11.8 per cent compared with last year, said the international medical centre that has main regional headquarter in Abu Dhabi along with branches in Dubai and Muscat.

“Changing lifestyle conditions; reduced ovarian reserve in women, delayed pregnancy, gynecological conditions and fertility disorders are some of the major factors that drive the market growth,” said Dr Human Fatemi, medical director at IVI Middle East.

Commenting on the evolving market, he added: “Infertility is one of commonly encountered medical conditions in the Middle East. According to various reports, it has been estimated that infertility affects 15 per cent of the global population of reproductive age, but this percentage is even higher in the Middle East. This has paved way for the industry to experience growth in the region.”

IVI Middle East Fertility Clinic is a part of Equipo IVI, headquartered in Spain, the world leader in the field of infertility treatments. It commenced its operations with its first fertility clinic in Abu Dhabi, UAE. Within a short span, the centre has witnessed a success rate of over 70 per cent – the highest in the region.

Statistics revealed by IVI Middle East Fertility Clinic suggest that Intra-cytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI) has contributed to over 98 per cent of successful pregnancies for the clinic in the last one year. The innovative and customised treatment approach at IVI clinics backed by strong research on infertility causing factors in the region has delivered over 70 per cent success rate in the Middle East, much higher than the clinic’s success rates in other parts of the world.

“With more than 900 couples treated at IVI Middle East Fertility Clinic, it is noted that majority of couples lie in the age group of 31-40 years. Of these, 49.7 per cent account for women while 53.8 per cent are men. The percentage of women suffering from infertility conditions is high. Women in the Middle East, in particular, suffer from Vitamin D deficiency, are obese, face the impact of parental consanguinity, delayed pregnancies – all leading to the rise in infertility. However, infertility is as much a man’s problem as it is for a woman. We have witnessed and treated over 40 per cent of male infertility cases. Infertility among the Middle Eastern men is also an outcome of their sedentary lifestyles leading to obesity, smoking and Vitamin D deficiency,” added Dr Human Fatemi.

IVI Middle East Fertility Clinic revealed that of the couples opting for fertility treatments, local couples accounted a higher percentage - around 77 per cent as against the expats, who accounted for only 23 per cent.

“At IVI Middle East Fertility Clinic, each patient is treated with utmost care based on their condition. Our in-depth understanding of the latest scientific methods combined with our local experience has led us to success,” concluded Dr Human Fatemi.

IVI Middle East Fertility Clinic also offers a highly advanced genetic test called the Carrier Genetic Test (CGT) that helps prevent the risk of having a baby with genetic disorders. This test is exclusively available at IVI and is highly recommended to all couples trying for conception naturally or through IVF to avoid the possibility of genetic diseases being transferred to their children.  – TradeArabia News Service