The Economics of assisted reproduction : costs and consequences of fertility treatments

Demand for assisted reproductive technologies such as in-vitro fertilisation (IVF) has increased steadily over the past decade. Increasing demand is attributed to a range of factors such as growing public awareness and acceptance of fertility treatments, improved rates of diagnosis, and potentially increased infertility. Despite increasing demand many infertile couples are unable to access affordable treatment because of limited public subsidy in some countries, with many couples unable to afford private treatments.
Although fertility treatments are expensive, it is possible to evaluate these health system costs to assess whether there might be an economic rationale for wider government subsidy. This research question was evaluated using a health investment framework applying a government perspective model that evaluated lifetime net taxes attributed to an IVF conceived child based on lifetime government fiscal transfers (e.g., healthcare, education, allowances, pension) and benefits (i.e. gross taxes paid). The results illustrate that an initial investment of £12,931 in the UK to achieve an IVF singleton child yields £109,939 in discounted lifetime net tax revenue for government representing an approximate 8 – 9 fold return on investment. Similar conclusions were obtained from studies conducted in Sweden, and the United States, however, the return on investment varies which reflects differences in lifetime taxes paid and government transfers in these countries.
The methodology described here although particularly relevant in the context of IVF funding, can also be used to evaluate changes in net taxes attributed to medical technologies that sufficiently influences population age structures and work force participation rates.

	Part I Consumer response to fertility treatment cost
	Part II Health investment modelling; valuing the lifetime net tax contributions of IVF conceived children
	Part III Achieving effi ciency in the delivery of in-vitro fertilisation

	Titel en inhoudsopgave
	Hoofdstuk 1
	Engelse samenvatting
	Publikaties van Mark P. Connolly
	Invloed van het onderzoek
	Publikaties van de Onderzoekschool SHARE
	Dankwoord
	Curriculum vitae
	Volledige dissertatie

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