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난임 · Infertility · ICD-10 N97 / N46
Infertility: treatment options in Korea
Korea is a big IVF country: it performed 171,500 IVF cycles in 2023, up 55.4% from 2019. The specialty hospital CHA had Korea's first private-hospital IVF baby in 1986 and took part in developing egg vitrification in 1998. The obstetrics and gynecology departments of the five big hospitals also have infertility and fertility preservation clinics that can handle complex cases combined with tumors, endometriosis and so on.
Why consider Korea
- Korea performed 203,101 infertility treatments in 2023, including 171,510 IVF cycles, 55.4% more than in 2019 (Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service data)[1]
- about The average IVF success rate in Korea is about 37%, falling after 35 and markedly after 40 (reported as a commonly accepted figure)estimate[1]
- CHA took part in developing the world's first egg vitrification method in 1998 and set up an egg bank in 1999hospital or media claim[2]
- Asan Medical Center in Seoul, Severance Hospital and others have reproductive medicine and infertility clinics and fertility preservation clinics[3]
Treatments
Intrauterine insemination Surgery
Around ovulation, prepared sperm is placed directly into the uterine cavity to help sperm and egg meet. Suitable for younger women with open fallopian tubes and mildly abnormal sperm in the partner, among other situations.In vitro fertilization Surgery
After ovulation induction, eggs are retrieved and combined with sperm in the laboratory (with single-sperm injection, ICSI, if needed), grown into embryos and transferred back into the uterus. Korea performed 171,500 IVF cycles in 2023, up 55.4% from 2019.Preimplantation genetic testing Screening / tests
A few cells are taken before the embryo is transferred and tested genetically to screen for chromosomal abnormalities or specific inherited diseases, and a suitable embryo is then transferred. Suitable for couples with recurrent miscarriage, recurrent implantation failure or a family history of genetic disease.Fertility preservation Surgery
Before chemotherapy or radiotherapy, or when you want to delay childbearing, eggs, embryos or sperm are frozen and stored for later use. The Korean CHA hospital developed egg vitrification in 1998.Hospitals
CHA Medical Center 차병원
Korea's best-known infertility specialty hospital group and one of the developers of egg vitrificationAsan Medical Center, Seoul 서울아산병원
Reproductive medicine and infertility clinic; performs preimplantation genetic testing and fertility preservationSeoul National University Hospital 서울대학교병원
Infertility and IVF team in obstetrics and gynecology; handles complex cases with endometriosis, fibroids and the likeSeverance Hospital, Yonsei University 세브란스병원
Infertility and fertility preservation clinicSamsung Medical Center 삼성서울병원
Infertility clinic; offers IVF and egg freezingKorea University Anam Hospital 고려대학교 안암병원
Obstetrics and gynecology: infertility and fertility preservationDoctors
Joo Hee Kim 김주희 · Asan Medical Center, Seoul
Specialties listed on the hospital website: infertility clinic, fertility preservation clinic, intrauterine insemination, in vitro fertilization, recurrent miscarriage, recurrent implantation failure, egg, embryo and sperm freezing, preimplantation genetic testing (PGT)[3]Seung-Yup Ku 구승엽 · Seoul National University Hospital
Specialties listed on the hospital website: infertility, IVF, menstrual disorders, menopause management, uterine malformation, polycystic ovaries and others[4]Jung Ryeol Lee 이정렬 · Seoul National University Hospital
Specialties listed on the hospital website: infertility, IVF, fertility preservation, robotic surgery, uterine fibroids, endometriosis, preimplantation genetic diagnosis[4]Seong Eun Kim 김성은 · Samsung Medical Center
Specialties listed on the hospital website: infertility, IVF, egg freezing, menstrual disorders (amenorrhea, polycystic ovary syndrome and others), robotic surgery[5]Bo Hyon Yun 윤보현 · Severance Hospital, Yonsei University
Specialties listed on the hospital website: infertility, reproductive endocrinology, gynecologic endoscopic surgery, robotic surgery, benign gynecologic disease[6]YunSoo Chung 정연수 · Severance Hospital, Yonsei University
Specialties listed on the hospital website: infertility counseling, infertility treatment, fertility preservation (embryos, eggs, semen freezing)[6]Hyun Tae Park 박현태 · Korea University Anam Hospital
Specialties listed on the hospital website: infertility, fertility preservation (eggs, ovarian tissue, sperm freezing), reproductive endocrine disorders, menstrual disorders[7]Coming to Korea for treatment
Documents to prepare: Female partner: menstrual cycle record, sex hormone tests (including AMH), gynecologic ultrasound and hysterosalpingography results, Male partner: semen analysis report, Previous ovulation induction and embryo transfer records (if any), Chromosome or genetic test results (if any)
Time in Korea: about 14~30 daysestimate
After returning home: One IVF cycle takes about 2–4 weeks from ovulation induction to transfer and may require several trips or a long stay in Korea; arrange the details with the doctor, and some preliminary tests can be done at home.
FAQ
- How high is the IVF success rate in Korea?
- Reports say the average IVF success rate in Korea is about 37%, but that is only an average and depends most on the woman's age: it falls after 35 and drops markedly after 40. Your actual chances must be assessed by a doctor from your age, ovarian reserve and history.[1]
- Can foreigners freeze eggs in Korea?
- Korean hospitals offer egg freezing; the exact procedure, legal requirements and storage fees for foreigners must be asked directly of the hospital's international center. This page makes no judgment on that.
- CHA is not a university hospital; why is it included?
- In infertility treatment, the experience of a specialty hospital is often more concentrated than that of a general hospital. CHA is one of the earliest private hospitals in Korea to offer IVF, so it is listed on this page too, with a note on which statements are the hospital's own.[2]