IVF in Switzerland: Complete Guide to Costs, Law & Support

I used to dread New Year’s. Instead of feeling hope and excitement for the year to come, it was a stark reminder of another year passing while my life felt on hold, trapped in a cycle of hope and crushing disappointment.

Everyone around me seemed to fall pregnant. Everyone but me.

And in a country that prides itself on health and family, I never felt more alone in my whole life. Yet, infertility - the inability to conceive after 12 months of regular unprotected sex – affects as many as one in seven couples in Switzerland. But few people talk about it.

With a total of three and a half years of involuntary childlessness, two rounds of IVF, and six embryo transfers, I’ve experienced the infertility trenches first hand. Here’s a guide to IVF in Switzerland – and what to expect when you’re not expecting.

Cost of IVF in Switzerland

If you’re considering IVF in Switzerland, prepare for not only an emotionally challenging journey, but a financially one, too.

Despite the World Health Organization classifying infertility as a disease, the Swiss health insurers treat assisted reproductive medicine as a lifestyle choice, refusing to cover the full cost of treatment.

Here’s a breakdown of the Swiss basic health insurance coverage for assisted reproduction technology (ART):

What’s covered:

While most of the journey is out-of-pocket, the basic health insurance does provide coverage for some preliminary steps and less-invasive treatments:

• Basic Insurance (KVG): Usually only covers hormonal stimulation and a limited number of artificial inseminations (not IVF itself), leaving IVF largely self-funded.
• Infertility investigations
• Ovarian stimulation (limited cycles, and only for those whose hormonal disorders are the cause of the unfulfilled desire to have children)
• Three rounds of intrauterine insemination (IUI) 

Note: Stimulation and IUI coverage generally only applies to women under 40

What’s not covered:

It is important to note that the following crucial and often most expensive procedures are typically not covered by basic health insurance:

• IVF/ICSI (egg retrieval, lab work, embryo transfer, freezing)
• Cryopreservation
• Sperm donation

Typical IVF costs breakdown:

• Out-of-Pocket: Expect CHF 5000 - 7500+ per cycle for procedures (stimulation monitoring, such as blood test and ultrasound, egg retrieval, lab, and transfer), plus medication costs.
• Frozen embryo transfer (FET): CHF 1000 - 3500
• Medication, including hormone therapy: CHF 1000 - 2000 (depending on product and amount of hormones required)
• Embryo freezing: Around CHF 700 (plus an annual storage fee of CHF 400 per year)
• Genetic testing (PGD/PGT-A): Around CHF 400 per embryo, but varies depending on the clinic
• Social freezing (freezing of a woman’s eggs for non-medical reasons for future use): Around CHF 5000

As you can tell, one round of IVF (ovarian stimulation, egg retrieval, and embryo transfer including subsequent transfers of frozen embryos) may cost up to CHF 10’000 or more, and most patients require multiple rounds before success.

According to data from private patient surveys, many couples ultimately spend CHF 30’000 or more and have to take out personal loans to cover the full cost of treatment.

Insider tip: In some cantons, IVF expenses can be tax-deductible, so check with your local tax office.

The IVF Process: A Step-by-Step Guide

Fertility Clinics in Switzerland

The assisted reproductive technology (ART) market is growing due to delayed family planning and an increased infertility prevalence.

Today, as many as 3200 couples in Switzerland are using assisted reproductive technology (ART) every year. And there are countless clinics - public and private - to serve this demand.

But how do you find the right clinic for you?

This choice often comes down to two critical factors: the clinic's success rates and how they handle the legal age limits.

Since Swiss law generally restricts treatment to the woman's 43rd birthday, understanding a clinic's live birth success rates for your specific age group and diagnosis becomes paramount.

When choosing a clinic, I can recommend visiting a few to learn more about their approach and care for you as a patient.

Hospitals are often busy and impersonal, but they have specialized doctors. This could be beneficial when investigating your infertility.

On the other hand, private clinics are smaller and can likely offer a more personal and flexible service.

Either way you choose, rest assured that all fertility clinics must comply with the Swiss Reproductive Medicine Act (RMA). This covers everything from who can access treatments to what procedures are allowed.

Questions to Ask a Fertility Clinic:

Which treatments are available, and which would you recommend first in my situation, and why?
What are the live birth success rates for someone with my diagnosis and age?
Who will perform the tests, scans, egg retrieval and transfer, and will I see the same doctor consistently?
Which tests do you recommend for me and my partner, and how do the results change the treatment plan?
Which tests on embryos are available?
Is there a waiting time to start the treatment?
Is there a waiting time to start the treatment?
How flexible are you with appointment times (e.g. early mornings, evenings and weekends)?
What are the costs and do you offer payment plans?
What lifestyle changes would you recommend to increase success?

Restrictions of IVF in Switzerland

In a country known for having one of the best healthcare systems in the world, Swiss Fertility Law (Reproductive Medicine Act, RMA) is among the most restrictive in Europe.

According to Swiss Reproductive Medicine Act (RMA):

• Health Prerequisites: Both partners need specific health checks (HIV, Hep B/C, Rubella, Chickenpox immunity) and ideally a healthy weight.
• Age: Generally offered up to the woman's 43rd birthday, with rare exceptions.
• Partnership: Must be in a stable, committed relationship (married or not)
• Only married couples have access to sperm donation. And as of July 2022, married same-sex couples have legal access to sperm donation as well, a critical step forward for family planning
• Egg and embryo donations are prohibited
• Surrogacy is prohibited
• Embryo Limits: A maximum 12 embryos may be created each cycle, but only up to 3 are allowed to mature before transfer
• Storage: Embryos can be frozen (cryopreserved) for up to 10 years.
• Prohibited: Sex selection or choosing embryos for non-medical traits is illegal. Also, post-mortem embryos, eggs, and sperm are forbidden.

For more information, see a summary of the Swiss Reproductive Medicine Act to find out what it means in practice. 

IVF Treatments Abroad

Given the intersection of highly restrictive laws, a conservative approach to treatment, and the significant out-of-pocket expenses, it is not surprising that many Swiss residents look beyond the country's borders to pursue their dream of parenthood.

As noted by SWI swissinfo.ch, Switzerland ranks low on the European fertility treatment policy index, which further underscores why people look elsewhere.

Countries such as Spain and Greece are popular due to lower costs, more extensive diagnostic testing, and broader access to donor sperm, eggs, and embryo donation.

These clinics often collaborate with Swiss clinics for simple procedures, such as blood tests and ultrasounds, to reduce travel for such smaller checkups.

Emotional Support: Your Essential Survival Kit

The toughest part of IVF is often not the physical shots and procedures, but the emotional rollercoaster of hope and disappointment, long waiting times, and uncertainty.

Despite research showing that women facing infertility experience depression and anxiety levels comparable to those diagnosed with cancer, far from every Swiss clinic offers in-house counseling or support groups. Patients are often left without any psychological guidance.

Fortunately, there are other ways to get help – and exploring them early can make you better equipped for the journey ahead.

This is your essential survival kit for navigating the psychological toll of infertility, offering a vital counter-balance to the lack of in-house psychological guidance often found in the Swiss system.

Some Support Options:

• Therapy:
  • According to the Swiss Reproductive Medicine Act (RMA), psychological support must be offered to people undergoing medically assisted reproduction before, during and after treatment, which can be covered by basic health insurance.
    
• Peer Support Groups:
  • Support groups can offer shared experience and advice from people who simply “get it”. Check out the Facebook groups “IVF Support in Switzerland” (English-speaking) or “Kinderwunsch in der Schweiz” (German-speaking).
    
• Fertility Coaches:
  • In-person or online fertility coaches can provide holistic guidance, including lifestyle and wellness (nutrition, exercise, sleep etc.), emotional support, and treatment navigation.
    
• Books and Podcasts:
  • Podcasts and books on fertility and/or resilience can provide comfort, perspective, and tools to navigate life’s inevitable adversities. Check out the British podcast Big Fat Negative.
    
• Alternative Medicine and Treatments:
  • Traditional Chinese Medicine, acupuncture, and massages can offer some relief and relaxation.
    
• Mindfulness:
  • Yoga, meditation, journaling, nature walks and relaxation therapies may boost emotional wellbeing.
    
• Friends and Family:
  • Include your closest friends and family on your journey. It can help you feel less isolated. They may not always know what to do or say, so tell them what’s helpful, and what’s not.

Final Thoughts

While assisted reproductive technology helps thousands of couples yearly in Switzerland realise their dream of parenthood, it’s never a guarantee. We often hear about IVF success stories, but rarely about those whom it didn’t work for.

Six failed IVF transfers and countless tears later, I called it quits.

The doctors couldn’t tell me why I wasn’t getting pregnant and mentally I couldn’t bear another failed cycle. Instead, I started to work with a fertility coach to treat my underlying condition with diet and lifestyle changes.

Nine months later, I naturally conceived twins.

Before diving into IVF, I encourage you to first try to understand your fertility and explore potential underlying factors. This knowledge might raise your chances of conceiving - whether it’s with or without assisted reproductive technology.

Frequently Asked Questions about IVF in Switzerland

I. Initial Consultation, Requirements, and Causes

II. Success Rates and Diagnostics

III. Procedure and Costs