Support for 'Fertility Tests' 3 Times for Men and Women Under 49 Starting New Year

Ministry of Health and Welfare Prevents Infertility through Health Management and Early Screening for Healthy Pregnancy

The Ministry of Health and Welfare announced on the 30th that starting January 1st next year, the cost of essential fertility tests will be supported up to three times for all men and women aged 20 to 49, regardless of marital status or number of children.

The 'Pre-pregnancy Health Management Support Project,' which began this year, supports essential fertility test costs to detect and manage high-risk factors for pregnancy and childbirth early. Until now, it has provided a one-time support of 130,000 KRW for women (ovarian function test, gynecological ultrasound) and 50,000 KRW for men (semen analysis) to couples preparing for pregnancy (including common-law and prospective couples).

However, from next year, the target group and number of supports will be significantly expanded to provide essential fertility test costs once per cycle, up to a maximum of three times in a lifetime, to men and women aged 20 to 49, including unmarried individuals. The first cycle is for those aged 29 and under, the second cycle for ages 30 to 34, and the third cycle for ages 35 to 49. Seoul, which had been conducting its own project, will join, making all 17 metropolitan cities and provinces nationwide participants.

This project expansion was promoted as one of the tasks in the 'Measures to Reverse the Low Birthrate Trend' jointly announced in June by the High-Aged Society Committee and related ministries. For women, 21 health screening institutions have been designated to allow fertility tests to be conducted alongside national health screenings to improve testing convenience.

Kim Sang-hee, Director of Population and Child Policy at the Ministry of Health and Welfare, said, "Through this project expansion, we expect that men and women who hope to conceive in the future or need reproductive health management will be able to benefit more broadly, regardless of marital status. We will support infertility prevention and healthy pregnancy and childbirth through appropriate health management and early screening by age group."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.