Hospitals in Dong Nai intensify investment in subfertility and infertility treatment

In response to the rising rates of subfertility and infertility, several hospitals in Dong Nai province have invested in developing advanced techniques and expanding human resources in this field.

In addition to their in-house medical staff, hospitals have invited infertility specialists from top hospitals in Ho Chi Minh City to directly examine and treat patients, transfer techniques, or send medical teams, doctors, and technicians for training at major infertility hospitals.

Growing demand for infertility treatment

Having worked in infertility treatment for many years, MSc., Specialist Level II Doctor Nguyen Thi Thu Ha of the Obstetrics and Infertility Department at Au Co Hospital noted that infertility among couples is on the rise. On average, the hospital receives about 100 couples each month seeking consultations for delayed conception or infertility. Encouragingly, many young couples are proactively seeking infertility check-ups just three to four months after marriage due to concerns about not conceiving. In such cases, doctors provide counseling and conduct reproductive health examinations to help prepare them for the journey of pregnancy and childbirth ahead. 

Doctors at Au Co Hospital perform embryo transfer for a woman undergoing infertility treatment. Photo: Bich Nhan

“When young couples are concerned early and seek consultation promptly, the early detection of potential infertility can make their journey to parenthood less difficult. In contrast, many older couples, those over 35, or couples who already have one child but wish to have a second, often delay seeking care, only coming for consultation after a long period without conceiving. This delay is one of the reasons behind the rising number of infertility and subfertility consultations and treatments at the hospital in recent years,” said Dr. Ha.

Not only in urban areas but also in rural regions, the number of couples seeking examinations and treatments for subfertility and infertility is on the rise. After just 8 months of marriage, T.H.P. (32) and his wife (26) from Long Khanh ward consulted a doctor regarding infertility. P stated, “Both of us hoped to have a child immediately after marriage. After a few months without any news, I became quite worried, so we decided to seek consultation early.”

Specialist II Doctor Nguyen Thi Lan Phuong, Head of the General Planning Department at Long Khanh Regional General Hospital, shared that in practice, obstetrics and gynecology examination and treatment at the hospital show that many couples from rural areas such as Cam My, Xuan Loc, and Dau Giay have a significant demand for infertility examination and treatment.

MSc., Specialist Level II Doctor Nguyen Thi Thu Ha of the Obstetrics and Infertility Department at Au Co Hospital, noted that statistics from the World Health Organization (WHO) indicate that Vietnam ranks among the countries with the highest infertility rates worldwide. It is estimated that approximately one million couples experience subfertility and infertility each year. The causes of subfertility and infertility arise from both men and women in equal proportions.

Subfertility and infertility examination and treatments are no longer restricted to individuals over 35. Many young couples, after six months to a year of marriage without conceiving, are now seeking infertility examination services. However, not everyone can afford to travel long distances to hospitals in Ho Chi Minh City for initial assessments.

“I have met couples who fell into anxiety and depression after several years of trying to conceive. Part of the reason is the high cost of treatment; another is the long travel distance, which heavily affects both spouses’ work schedules, leading them to keep postponing infertility check-ups. The longer the delay, the lower the chances of successful treatment, and the more stressed they become. I believe they need a medical facility close to home so they don’t have to take too much time off work for treatment. This endeavor would help ease their pressure,” Dr. Phuong shared.

According to Dr. Phuong, in practice, infertility treatment varies depending on each case. Some couples succeed with basic techniques within just one or two attempts, while others may require multiple treatments or several years before achieving a positive outcome.

Strong investment in infertility treatment

Since September 2025, Long Khanh Regional General Hospital has launched a clinic and treatment techniques for subfertility and infertility. According to Dr. Lan Phuong, the hospital has a team of more than 10 doctors and technicians capable of performing infertility treatments for both men and women. Accordingly, the hospital provides male reproductive health examinations, diagnostic tests for men, and intrauterine insemination procedures, including semen analysis, sperm washing, and sperm injection into the uterus.

Many young couples seek early infertility consultations to increase their chances of conceiving sooner. In the photo: Infertility counseling at Long Khanh Regional General Hospital. Photo: Hai Hieu

“Initially, we are providing consultation and treatment for cases such as mild male sperm abnormalities, ovulation disorders in women, or unexplained infertility. Patients will first undergo intrauterine insemination. If the results are unsuccessful, they will need to proceed with in vitro fertilization (IVF), which we will refer to higher-level facilities. According to our roadmap, we plan to implement IVF techniques locally in a few years,” Dr. Lan Phuong shared.

At Au Co Hospital, Executive Director Ly Vu Quoc Bao noted that since its establishment over 10 years ago, the hospital has placed a strong emphasis on subfertility and infertility treatment. Comprehensive investments have been made in facilities, equipment, and specialized personnel for this area. Currently, the Infertility Department has implemented nearly all treatment techniques for both men and women.

Au Co Hospital plans to invest in a Reproductive Assistance Center (IVF Center), aiming to complete the entire closed subfertility and infertility treatment process right within Dong Nai province. Photo: Courtesy of hospital

For more advanced techniques such as egg retrieval, IVF, egg and embryo freezing, and embryo transfer, Au Co Hospital has formed professional partnerships with reputable IVF centers in Ho Chi Minh City. In these collaborations, hospital doctors directly monitor and perform the procedures alongside patients at partner facilities, ensuring continuity in treatment and optimizing results.

Bao shared that the hospital is currently developing a project to invest in a Reproductive Assistance Center (IVF Center), with the goal of completing the entire closed subfertility and infertility treatment process within Dong Nai province. This center will be designed to meet international standards, featuring an ISO-certified embryology lab, cleanroom systems, cryogenic storage for embryos, eggs, and sperm, as well as advanced genetic analysis equipment (PGT, IMSI, ICSI).

“Our goal is not only to assist couples in Dong Nai and surrounding areas in receiving effective local treatment, but also to reduce costs, save time, and ensure ongoing monitoring by the initial treating physician. With examinations and treatments available close to home, patients can promptly return to work after consultations without significantly impacting their jobs,” Bao stated.

In response to the increasing demand for the examination and treatment of subfertility and infertility, hospitals throughout the province have formulated plans for in-depth investment in this area. Departments such as Andrology, Endocrinology, and Obstetrics-Gynecology have also received focused investments, facilitating close collaboration to achieve comprehensive treatment outcomes for each case of infertility.

By Bich Nhan – Translated by Huyen Trang, Minho