How much does IVF in Taiwan Cost?

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For our second IVF attempt, we went to Lee Women’s Hospital in Taichung, Taiwan.

This hospital is fast becoming a popular option for Filipino couples looking for IVF treatment because of Lee Women’s Hospital’s high success rate, Taiwan is only a 3-hour flight from Manila, visa-free for 14 days, and the costs is comparable to IVF procedures in Philippines.

How much does IVF in Lee Womens Hospital cost?

We paid in total NTD117,650 (equivalent to PhP229,500 or USD3,800) for one cycle.  Here is the breakdown of our expenses:

First Visit to Taiwan/Initial consultation (duration 3 days stay): NTD10,000 (doctor consultation, ultrasound, blood tests) plus NTD30,000 (medicines for stimulating follicles good for 8 days).

We informed the clinic on day 1 of my next menstrual cycle and was told to visit the clinic on day 8.

On our second visit to Taiwan (duration 30 days stay) our medical expenses were:

  • Day 8: NTD4,500 (ultrasound, blood tests and more medicines) plus NTD800 for semen analysis
  • Day 10: NTD6,000 (ultrasound, blood tests and more medicines)
  • Day 11: NTD5,000 (ultrasound, blood tests, urine test, and more medicines)
  • Egg Retrieval: ND30,000
  • Embryo Transfer: NTD60,000 (including fertilization by ICSI and laser assisted hatching)
  • Pregnancy Test: NTD1,350

Our Total Expenses: NTD117,650.

Please note that the above figures are based on our own experience only, for one cycle and using fresh transfer embryos.

The actual costs of treatment will depend on what tests your doctor will order and what kind of medicines you need. It may happen that follicles may not grow as rapidly as hoped, in which case your doctor may change or adjust the dosage of your medicines.  Lee Hospital’s approach is to produce as many follicles and embryos as possible. Therefore, for older women able to produce only a few follicles each cycle, you may have to do a back to back retrieval, in which case your cost of medicines and egg retrieval will be multiplied as well (say total may go up NTD200,000 or USD6,500).

The clinic does not accept credit cards or debit cards so payment is a bit of a hassle. Payment is cash in NTD or USD, or USD telegraphic transfer only.

How about the accommodation costs? We stayed at Alice Hotel where they charged NTD30,000 for a 30-day stay. Taxis cost NTD85 flag down and to go most places will cost you only NTD160 (USD6) or less. Buses around Taichung are free for the first 10km provided you have an easycard. Food in mall foodcourts cost NTD150 per meal on average. Alice Hotel has stoves and a microwave so cooking your own meals is an option.

Including flights, accommodation costs and expenses, the grand total could rack up to P500,000 (USD9,500).  Not cheap at all! 

Visas (for Filipinos)

Taiwan allows Filipinos to visit visa-free for 14 days. If you need to stay longer, apply for a visa in Manila by going to the Taiwanese consulate. Visa when processed in Manila cost Php2,600. 

Otherwise, to extend your stay in Taichung, you need to go to their Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The fee to extend the visa once you’re already in Taiwan cost NTD3,200, which is more expensive than when processed in your home country.

The visa requirements include documents to support why you need to visit Taiwan, birth and marriage certificates from PSA (NSO) and income and financial evidences such as bank statements.

Baby Dust to Every Hopeful Parents Out There!

IVF is expensive, invasive to your body and emotionally draining.  Before going, arm yourself with as much knowledge as possible and prepare your wallet, and your heart for a roller-coaster ride of hope, disappointment, despair, frustration, and hopefully a happy pregnancy and a healthy baby at the end of it.

Related: How much does IVF cost in the Philippines?

Please read here for the full story of our IVF Journey at Lee Women’s Hospital, here on how we survived Taichung, and here if you want to know what happens during the IVF process.

2 thoughts on “How much does IVF in Taiwan Cost?”

  1. hi,

    did you have a successful ivf in Taiwan? my husband and i are planning to have our ivf in Lee Womens Hospital soon. hope to hear from you.

    1. Hi Left,
      Unfortunately we did not have a pregnancy after our first try at LWH. We plan to try again in a few months time. Good luck.

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