Characteristics of the organization of medical care for in vitro fertilization programs in the Russian Federation and the European Union
Galitsyna E.V., Ulyakina N.A.
Background: One of the main reasons for the decline in demographic indicators in European countries and the Russian Federation is infertility. In this regard, providing high-quality medical care to patients with infertility through government-funded assisted reproductive technologies (ART) is of great social importance.
Objective: To compare the organization of medical care for ART in Russia and European countries.
Materials and methods: The characteristics of the medical care organization in Russia and other European countries were compared according to the selected criteria indicated as reference in the European Atlas of Fertility Treatment Policies.
Results: The article discusses the characteristics of the current legal documents regulating the use of ART, the organization of medical psychological support, as well as scientific literature and statistical data on in vitro fertilization (IVF) program implementation in the Russian Federation. To analyze the policy on the use of ART in European countries, the analytical review data and information provided in the European Atlas of Fertility Treatment Policies are considered. The similarities and differences in the organization of medical care for ART in Russia and European countries have been identified.
Conclusion: The analysis revealed that ART programs in most European countries and Russia are financed from public funds. However, there are some differences in the availability of IVF procedures depending on the patient’s age, intrauterine insemination services, medical psychological support, preimplantation genetic testing, as well as waiting time for IVF procedures and different gamete donation policies.
Authors’ contributions: Galitsyna E.V. – formulation of the concept and conclusions of the study, collection, analysis and interpretation of literature data, writing and critical revision of the manuscript; Ulyakina N.A. – formulation of the conclusions of the study, substantiating the theoretical and practical significance of the work, editing and approving the final version of the manuscript for publication.
Conflicts of interest: Authors declare lack of the possible conflicts of interest.
Funding: The study was conducted with the financial support of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation aimed at ensuring the activities of the Coordination Center for Research and Development in Health of the Russian Research Institute of Health.
Ethical Approval: This type of research does not require an expert assessment from a local ethics committee.
Authors' Data Sharing Statement: The data supporting the findings of this study are available on request from the corresponding author after approval from the principal investigator.
For citation: Galitsyna E.V., Ulyakina N.A. Characteristics of the organization of medical care for
in vitro fertilization programs in the Russian Federation and the European Union.
Akusherstvo i Ginekologiya/Obstetrics and Gynecology. 2025; (12): 145-153 (in Russian)
https://dx.doi.org/10.18565/aig.2025.275
Keywords
compulsory medical insurance (CMI)
assisted reproductive technologies (ART)
in vitro fertilization (IVF)
intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI)
intrauterine insemination
anti-Müllerian hormone
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Received 30.09.2025
Accepted 12.12.2025
About the Authors
Elena V. Galitsyna, PhD (Biology), Leading specialist of the Project Support Department of the Coordination Center for Research and Development in the Field of Medical Science, Russian Research Institute of Health, Moscow, galitsynaev@mednet.ru, https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2305-4936Natalya A. Ulyakina, PhD (Pedagogical), Head of the Project Support Department of the Coordination Center for Research and Development in the Field of Medical Science, Russian Research Institute of Health, Moscow, ulyakinana@mednet.ru, https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0187-1898
Corresponding author: Elena V. Galitsyna, galitsynaev@mednet.ru
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