After 13 years, three IVF attempts, and hundreds of thousands of dirhams, Hind fought through the emotional toll of constant setbacks, her marriage on the verge of collapse—before, now 41, she finally held her baby.
Hind is among the 900,000 people battling infertility in Morocco, as fertility rates continue to decline, with women now having an average of just 1.97 children in 2024—down from 2.5 in 2004 and below the replacement level.
Of those, just 4,000 couples access Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART), including IVF, each year across 19 centers, with several located in major cities like Rabat, Marrakech, and Casablanca.
IVF, or In Vitro Fertilization, is a complex medical procedure that helps couples who struggle to conceive naturally. The process involves retrieving eggs from the woman’s ovaries, fertilizing them with sperm in a laboratory, and then transferring the resulting embryos back into the woman’s uterus.
“This delicate process requires specialized expertise, with only biologists specializing in Assisted Reproductive Technologies (ART) or gynecologists with extensive training in fertility treatments qualified to perform IVF procedures,” Mounir Filali, a specialist in reproductive medicine and genetics, and the general secretary of the Moroccan Society of Reproductive Medicine (SMMR).
In Morocco, the total cost for a single IVF cycle ranges between MAD25,000 and MAD30,000, said the doctor.
This includes around MAD10,000 for medications, while the remaining MAD17,000 to MAD20,000 covers tests, clinic fees, and the services of medical professionals, including anesthesiologists, gynecologists, and lab biologists.
And it takes more than just a single attempt to see any results.
“The success rate of IVF typically ranges between 35-45%, especially when the woman is relatively young and there are no other complications. Success rates, though, can vary from case to case,” he underscored.
For Hind, having a baby at 41 followed years of frustration, starting with her first IVF cycle in 2014 at MAD 32,000, plus additional embryo transfer costs of MAD 5,000 and annual freezing fees of MAD 4,000 over four years.
“My body was exhausted, and so was my mind,” she recalled, juggling her PhD in economics and teaching, which she eventually gave up—but it was all worth it when she finally held her baby.
But for women like Ghizlane, who spoke to Hespress English anonymously, IVF didn’t work—married at 36, she spent two years on natural stimulation before switching doctors, only to find she had a low egg reserve.
The success rate of her IVF was very low, as she produced only a few eggs despite ovulation induction. Four egg retrieval procedures–MAD10,000 for each–yielded no viable embryos for transfer, leading her to sadly conclude her fertility journey due to both emotional and financial exhaustion.
“Many couples are silently struggling with infertility. They’re dealing with a health issue that isn’t fully covered by insurance—beyond the cost of fertility medications. Procedures like egg retrieval aren’t included,” Ghizlane said.
This call to action comes amidst growing concerns about Morocco’s future, as highlighted by Aziz Rabbah, head of the Nation First and Always initiative and a former Minister from PJD, who emphasized that “the survival of nations is inextricably linked to strong families and the continuity of generations.”
Rabbah told Hespress English that “we must prioritize the family unit and encourage procreation to counter the efforts of those who seek to undermine our nation’s continuity.”
Yet, the cost of IVF in Morocco remains much more affordable compared to other countries like France and Spain, where these procedures can cost at least 10,000 euros.
For those comparing prices to Tunisia, the doctor pointed out that IVF there costs around 1,000 euros, but that’s just for the procedure—it doesn’t include the cost of medication. Yet, the state covers one IVF cycle, easing the financial burden for couples.
In stark contrast to Morocco, where the government doesn’t cover the procedure itself, leading to around 4,000 Assisted Reproductive Technologies cycles performed annually, Tunisia—despite a smaller population—conducts about 10,000 cycles per year.
In France, more than 60,000 egg retrievals are carried out each year.
“If one IVF cycle were covered, it would significantly help many couples in Morocco,” underscored Filali.
Aziza Ghallam, president of the Moroccan Association of Aspirants to Motherhood and Fatherhood (MAPA), in a statement to Hespressn EN, urged “the government to provide full medical coverage for ART, including IVF, to support couples struggling to conceive.”
“These procedures are not about aesthetics or prestige, but rather essential medical treatments that have helped countless couples build families—a fundamental right.”
In 2020, the National Health Insurance Agency (ANAM) added 9 medications to its reimbursement system, calling it “a positive step forward” while acknowledging ongoing challenges.
ANAM is now developing a therapeutic protocol for Assisted Reproductive Technologies, in collaboration with the Moroccan Society of Medical Sciences and other stakeholders in gynecology and fertility.
The project, still under review, will be submitted to the Health Ministry for approval, though its progress remains uncertain due to ANAM’s transitional phase under HASS. ANAM also noted that biological acts and tests are covered by the CCAM catalog, approved by the Ministry, and HASS will set pricing for new IVF and infertility procedures.
A separate catalog, currently awaiting Ministry approval, aims to optimize coverage for medications and procedures through a therapeutic protocol, which is still a work in progress. Medical procedures and pricing will be revised as part of the national agreements renewal between healthcare providers, CNOPS, CNSS, and HASS.
President of MAPA said more support is needed as infertile couples face instability, leading to social, psychological, and financial challenges, as many are forced to take loans or depend on their families to cover the costs.
“Morocco needs more public fertility centers to provide a wider range of services, as there are currently too few.”
Increasing these centers, she said, would help prevent overcrowding at any single facility and ensure more equal access”—something many couples, like Hind, experience.
At MAPA, the president explained that “the association supports infertile couples by assisting them in accessing partnerships with laboratories, semi-public and private fertility centers while providing psychological support, guidance, and advice”—something Hind is grateful for receiving.
Without proper coverage, infertile couples undergoing IVF often fall into depression and may avoid family gatherings due to fear, frustration, and the stigma surrounding their situation.
This phenomenon can also be seen in Facebook groups created for advice and guidance on IVF in Morocco, where multiple posts were made anonymously, and responses came from members who also chose to remain anonymous.
“This topic remains highly stigmatized within Moroccan society,” stated Meryem, founder of FIV Maroc de l’Espoire au Futur Bonheur.
Having undergone two IVF attempts, with the second successful only on the third embryo transfer, she emphasized her desire to create a space for the Moroccan community to share their experiences, as at that time, she could only find foreign groups.
But this hasn’t prevented women in Morocco from sharing their experiences despite the stigma—whether it’s about affordable labs, competent doctors, or other valuable insights.
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