[INSURANCE COVERAGE FOR INFERTILITY TREATMENT SINCE APRIL 2022: HOW MALE INFERTILITY TREATMENT HAS CHANGED IN INSURANCE MEDICAL INSTITUTION -FROM THE QUESTIONNAIRE FOR JAPAN SOCIETY FOR REPRODUCTIVE MEDICINE MALE INFERTILITY SPECIAL INTEREST GROUP (SIG)].

ABSTRACT

(Introduction) Beginning in April of 2022, infertility services-including assisted reproductive technologies and examinations and treatments for male infertility-were covered by health insurance in Japan. Although these changes are expected to bolster birth rates in Japan, increased numbers of patients and surgeries are anticipated, particularly following reductions in patient visits caused by COVID-19. (Materials and methods) We surveyed 13 members of the Male Infertility Special Interest Group of the Japanese Society for Reproductive Medicine using Microsoft Forms. Respondents were asked about the number of new male infertility patients and surgeries at their respective facilities before the COVID-19 pandemic, after the first wave, after the sixth wave, and after the insurance changes to cover treatments for male infertility. Respondents were also asked to describe challenges in meeting the demand created by these insurance coverage changes. (Results) Patients and surgeries (varicocelectomy and testicular sperm extraction) declined markedly after the first wave of COVID-19 but gradually recovered after the sixth wave. However, once male infertility-related services were covered by insurance in Japan, respondents observed a marked increase in new patients and surgeries compared to pre-COVID-19. The most frequently reported problem was that sperm cryopreservation was not covered by insurance. (Conclusions) This survey should be readministered after additional time has passed to capture longer-term changes following changes to insurance coverage in Japan. We anticipate the responses to the survey will reflect ongoing challenges associated with changes in insurance coverage for male infertility-related services.