Fertility Foundation Expands Support for Women as Cost of  IVF Soars

Fred Ojeh

As the cost of fertility treatment continues to rise in Nigeria, putting assisted reproduction beyond the reach of many families, the Olaronke Thaddeus Foundation has expanded its intervention to support more women struggling with infertility.

The foundation, led by fertility advocate Olaronke Ugwueke-Thaddeus, announced a fresh outreach programme offering free intrauterine insemination (IUI) treatment to 20 Nigerian women, as part of efforts to ease the financial burden associated with fertility care.

The latest initiative builds on the foundation’s growing fertility support programme, which has already sponsored in-vitro fertilisation (IVF) treatment for about 50 women and couples across Nigeria between 2024 and 2025. The support has also extended to Nigerians living in the United Kingdom who face financial barriers to accessing fertility treatment.

Ugwueke-Thaddeus, who is also the founder of Meet Surrogate Mothers, one of Nigeria’s leading assisted reproductive technology agencies, said the intervention was aimed at restoring hope to women and families for whom infertility treatment remains unaffordable.

The intervention comes at a time when the cost of a single IVF cycle in Nigeria ranges between N1.7 million and N5 million, making it inaccessible to many low- and middle-income earners.

Beyond the financial burden, infertility continues to carry significant social consequences, especially for women, including stigma, emotional distress, marital pressure and economic hardship.

The foundation said its work goes beyond sponsoring treatments, noting that it has also continued to drive conversations around infertility through advocacy, awareness campaigns and support networks for women navigating reproductive health challenges.

Stakeholders say the rising demand for fertility support highlights wider concerns around access to reproductive healthcare in Nigeria, where fertility treatment remains largely dependent on private clinics and charitable intervention, with little or no public health coverage.

Unlike several countries where fertility services are publicly subsidised, many Nigerian couples still fund treatment out-of-pocket, often at great financial strain.

Observers say initiatives such as that of the Olaronke Thaddeus Foundation are helping to fill a critical gap while also drawing attention to the need for broader policy conversations around reproductive healthcare, fertility access and healthcare equity in the country.

With the foundation continuing to expand its reach, advocates say the growing impact of private interventions in the fertility space underscores the urgent need for stronger institutional support to make fertility treatment more accessible to Nigerians.