Experiențele și provocările cuplurilor din Republica Moldova care se confruntă cu problema infertilității din perspectiva accesării tratamentelor de reproducere medicală asistată

Infertility is associated with emotional, psychological, and social effects on women and those around them. Medically assisted human reproduction is a timely response to the growing issue of infertility, yet it does not guarantee a solution to this problem. This article presents the results of a qualitative study conducted in September 2024 with 8 experts (reproductive doctors, gynaecologists, representatives from the Ministry of Health, and the Transplant Agency) and 10 women who have undergone medically assisted reproductive treatments. Unlike the treatment of most other medical conditions, assisted reproductive technologies are not accessible to everyone diagnosed with infertility. Thus, financial cost is undeniably the most well-known barrier for couples seeking assisted reproductive medicine. High treatment costs, including consultations, medications, and necessary procedures, can be a significant obstacle for couples with lower incomes. However, there are additional barriers that prevent patients from accessing and/or continuing infertility treatment through assisted reproductive medicine. Common practices among patients who seek assisted reproduction services highlight the complex challenges and decisions involved in treating infertility. Many patients, in particular, delay accessing these services due to social and financial barriers or fear of treatment side effects, thereby missing a higher chance of success at a younger age. Patients may also change treatment centres after experiencing failures, seeking more positive experiences and improved communication. Additionally, receiving treatment abroad, in countries like Ukraine, is common due to perceptions of advanced techniques and high-quality, personalized care. These decisions indicate a continuing need for support and accessibility in fertility treatments.