This information was compiled from AngloInfo Seoul, KISS, personal experience, and word of mouth. Trying to get pregnant can be a very emotional problem for couples suffering from infertility.
Good Resources
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| Buy from Amazon |
TCOYF by Toni Weschler (Taking Charge of Your Fertility)
is an amazing book with information on how to get pregnant and how to
avoid getting pregnant. It's the leading book on fertility and women's
reproductive health. You might also try reading some of these recommended books about fertility and infertility.Support in Korea
KISS (Korea Infertility Support System) is a good support group for those in Korea trying to get pregnant. PCOS (& Endometriosis) Support in Korea also has good info.
Hospitals and Fertility Clinics
Korea has hospitals and clinics that are world-renown for IVF and IUI. There is no wait limit. You don't have to wait 6 months if you're over 35 or 1 year if you're under 35; you can go when you want and get tested to make sure that there are no problems and they can start treatment right away. Legally speaking, Korea only allows fertility procedures to be done to married couples. Be prepared for the hospitals or clinics to ask for your marriage certificate or proof of marriage. Below you can find places that specialize in infertility. You might also be interested in hospitals and birthing clinics in Korea.
Prices
There are many things that influence the price you will pay such as which hospital or clinic you go to, what treatment you require, whether or not one of you is a Korean citizen, what insurance you have, and whether or not the doctor gives you a discount (Some foreigners have received discounts up to 65% and pay what Korean citizens would pay for that particular treatment. I'm not sure why they get discounts or if they ask for them. Some people have said they develop a rapport with their doctor or their doctor takes pity on them. It might be worth asking for a discount.).There is a government program for people with Korean health insurance (at least one of you must be a Korean citizen) to help with fertility costs. Your hospital would have to give you the documents, then you would go to the 보건서 (public health center) for the grant, which is about 1.9 mil won. The grant is good for 3 fresh cycles and 2-3 frozen cycles (though if you don't do a frozen cycle you can get 1 more fresh cycle covered).
Procedures vary by hospital and depend on what insurance you have. Here's a breakdown of what it cost at Marie Fertility Clinic in Daejeon in 2013 and what it cost at Seoul Rachel Fertility Center in 2014. Below you can find average prices.
- IVF costs about 1-10 mil total (with 3-5 mil being the average per cycle)
- IUI costs about 500,000-2 mil total
- Beta tests: 20,000-30,000
- Blood tests: 60,000-200,000
- Egg retrival: 500,000-2,000,000
- Embryo transfer: 500,000-1,000,000
- Freezing embryos: 250,000-500,0000
- Pills, Injectables, suppositories, and pessaries (ex. clomid, femara, menopur, GnRH, and ovidril): 25,000-300,000 per set
- Semen analysis: 20,000-35,000
- Trigger shots: 20,000
- Ultrasounds/sonograms: 30,000-60,000 for regular ones and 100,000-140,000 for 3D ones. (Starting Oct. 1st, 2016 prices will drop by 70% if you have national health insurance. Here's the info in Korean and in English.)
A good place to connect with other people who are suffering from infertility in Korea is KISS (Korea Infertility Support System). There are also some people who blog about it.
- Kimchi's Kid
- Stay Inside Baby!
- The Empty Womb on twitter @emptymamma
Educating yourself is key to getting a good birth. Taking a prenatal class, such as a birthing, breastfeeding, and newborn care class will help you adjust to life with your new baby. Having someone on your side, such as a doula, helps as well. Check out the list of breastfeeding counselors, childbirth educators, and doulas.
SEOUL AND GYEONGGI-DO
Cha Fertility Center: Seoul 569 Nonhyeon-ro, Gangnam-gu, Seoul
Tel: (02) 3468-3000 or (02) 3468-3439
Cha Fertility Center: Bundang
16 Yaptap-ro 65 beon-gil, Bundang-gu, Seongnam
Tel: (031) 780-5000 or (031) 1577-4488
Cheil General Hospital and Healthcare Center: Seoul
17 Seoae-ro, 1-gil, Jung-gu, Seoul
Tel: (02) 200-7357
Cheil Women's Clinic Bundang: BundangInfertility clinic
27 Seonhyeon-ro, 180 beon-gil, Bundang-gu
(031) 725-8500
Dr. Sung's Clinic: Seoul
3rd Floor Hyundai Liberty House
258 Hannam-dong, Yongsan-gu, Seoul
Tel: (02) 790-0802
- Everyone speaks English there.
Dr. Yoo Women's Hospital (유광사여성병원): Seoul
194 Gangseo-ro, Gangseo-gu, Seoul
Tel: 1588-3006 or (02) 2608-1011
- Don't go on the weekends or you'll end up waiting a few hours. It's operated on a first come, first serve basis, even if you have an appointment.
- There's no point making an appointment. Just walk-in during the week.
- The doctor speaks English, but the nurses and office staff don't.
Fiona Clinic: Seoul
3rd Floor Dana Plaza
337 Sanggye 2-dong, Nowon-gu, Seoul
Tel: (02) 591-7111
Haesung Obstetric Gynecology: Cheonan
18-11 Mila 2-gil (Sangyeong-dong 1197), Seobuk-gu, Cheonan
Tel: (041) 572-4567
- Dr Lee Kwang Yeol and Dr Moon speak English very well. The nurses and receptionist don't really speak English.
Inje Paik Hospital: various locations
- Located in Busan, Gimhae, Ilsan, and Seoul
Maria Fertility Hospital: various locations
- Located in Bucheon, Busan, Daegu, Daejeon, Ilsan, Pyungchon, Seoul, and New York.
Marie Clinic: Seoul
76-1 Cheongdam-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul
Tel: (02) 541-9114
Miz Medi: Seoul
1021-4 Daechi-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul
Tel: (02) 1588-2701 or (02) 3467-3814
NHIS Ilsan Hospital: Ilsan
100 Ilsan-ro, Ilsan dong-gu, Goyang, Gyeonggi-do
(031) 900-6965
- Owned by NHS. The translator doesn't speak English well.
Pyeongtaek St. Mary's Hospital: Pyeongtaek
Pyeongtaek-ro 284, Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi-do
Tel: (070) 5012-3420
- There's one male fertility doctor on staff. He hasn't spoken English to me, but the international center is amazing. I've met two women there who are RNs in the USA. They speak perfect English and understand the culture as well.
- They have experience dealing with foreigners as well as military.
- In 2015, they had an IVF success rate of 53%.
- They are famous for IVF south of the Han River.
SAM Medical Center: Gunpo
730 Dangdong, Gunpo
Tel: (031) 467-1000
Sarang-i IVF Center: Seoul
Baekjaegobun-ro 69 (Jamsil-dong 175 beongil), Apple Tower 3F, Songpi-gu
Tel: (02) 419-7501 and (02) 419-7502
Seoul Rachel Fertility Center: Seoul
2nd Floor Lotte City Hotel
109 Mapodae-ro, Mapo-gu, Seoul
Tel: (02) 3286-7500
Shes Medi: Suwon
288 Jangdari-ro, Paldal-gu, Suwon
Telephone: (031) 231-7400
- English speaking. They have some information on their blog about their services. Their website is also in English.
Yale OBGYN: Pyeongtaek
Hapjeong-dong 757-3, Pyeongtaek City, Gyeonggi-do
Telephone: (031) 656-3885 and (031) 659-7360
- There are only male doctors but the nurses, office staff, and doctors speak English.
Yonsei Severance Hospital: Seoul
134 Shinchon-dong, Sudaemun-gu, Seoul
Tel: (02) 392-3404 or (02) 2228-1009
Emergency: (02) 361-2540
International Clinic: (02) 2228-5800 or (02) 2228-5810
OUTSIDE OF SEOUL AND GYEONGGI-DO
Chonnam National University Hwasun Hospital: Hwasun
322 Seoyang-ro, Hwasun-eup, Hwasun-gun, Jeonnam
Tel: (061) 379-7892 or (061) 379-8599
Creation and Love: Gwangju
13-21 Gwangcheon-dong, Seo-gu, Gwangju
Tel: (062) 368-1700
Elle Medi: Changwon
540 beongi, Dangcheon-dong, Changwon, Gyeongsangnam-do
Tel: (055) 252-2111, (055) 252-2112, or (055) 252-2113
Good Moonhwa Hospital: Busan
899-8 Beom-il2-dong, Dong-gu, Busan, 601-803
Tel: (051) 644-2002 or (051) 630-0123
Hyosung Hospital: Daegu
105-2 beon-gil, Jung-dong, Suseong-gu, Daegu
Tel: (053) 766-7073
Ilsin Christian Hospital: Busan
Donggu, Jungkandan-ro 27
(051) 630-0300 (main) or (051) 630-0597 (Infertility clinic. Ask for Nurse Bora. She speaks English)
- There is only one doctor there, Dr. Seol, but she is fluent in English and patiently answers questions.
Inje Paik Hospital: various locations
- Located in Busan, Gimhae, Ilsan, and Seoul
Joy Mom Baby (조이맘 산부인과): Daegu
8th Floor Banwol Medical Tower (Namsan-dong)
359 Jungandae-ro, Jung-gu, Daegu
Tel: (053) 254-5252 or (053) 254-5292
Kwangju Christian Hospital: Gwangju
37 Yangnim-ro, Nam-gu, Gwangju
Tel: (062) 650-5000
Mari Fertility Clinic: Daegu
ezezlee@hanmail.net
Beomeo-dong, Apple Tower 5F, Daegu
Tel: (053) 745-5888
- Has good reviews from foreigners.
Maria Fertility Hospital: various locations
- Located in Bucheon, Busan, Daegu, Daejeon, Ilsan, Pyungchon, Seoul, and New York.
Premedi: Gwangju
Myeongan Building 4F, 950 Moonjindae-lo, Seogu, Gwangju
Tel: (062) 363-6655
Saewha Fertility Clinic: Busan
132 beon-gil 28, Minam-ro, Donglae-gu, Busan
Tel: (051) 505-1333
- Known to be professional and foreigner-friendly.
- People travel from other countries just to go to this clinic.
- Very advanced technology.
Seoul Women's Hospital: Daejeon
1143 Dunsan-dong, Seo-gu, Daejeon
Tel: (042) 488-8275
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Tender Embrace Birthing offers childbirth, breastfeeding, and newborn care classes and support.
Infertility clinic in Pohang
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure. Try KISS on FB.
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