Global growth in fertility services

Reports suggest that the global fertility market is expected to reach US$36.2bn by 2026. This growth is driven by a number reasons, including advancements in treatments, better success rates and a global social and cultural shift in the use of techniques such as In Vitro Fertilisation (IVF) and other Assisted Reproductive Technologies (ART). In the latest issue of Healthcare Markets international, Hamid Yunis, Bella North and Daniel Mathias at McDermott Will & Emery take a detailed look at the global market for IVF and highlight where the opportunities exist for investors.

The article suggests that investors in search of a healthy return are increasingly analysing prospects in the fertility services sector following reports that the global market is expected to reach US$36.2bn by 2026 – a CAGR of 10.2%. This growth is driven by a number reasons, including advancements in treatments, better success rates and a global social and cultural shift in the use of techniques such as In Vitro Fertilisation (IVF) and other Assisted Reproductive Technologies (ART).

The authors argue that ART is a possible sub-sector for investment, with some reporting that the ART sector is recession proof. The rapid expansion of middle-class economies across Asia and the MENA region in particular has contributed to a rise in global per capita disposable income, helping to expand global access and demand for services. Coupled with a greater cultural acceptance of the use of ART, demand for treatment continually outstrips supply.

For more mature ART markets such as Europe and North America, the combined offering of fertility preservation such as egg freezing and new techniques such as embryonic genetic testing are creating paradigm shifts in the field, increasing demand, accessibility and competitive pricing.

Globally, demand is progressing a trend for cross-jurisdictional treatment standardisation as economies of scale are recognised through collaboration, a more comprehensive healthcare offering and potential outsourcing of clinical support services that supplement ART.

The full article analyses the some of the latest international transactions in the global fertility market, and the identifies the forces that are driving global market trends in this sector.