Recovery for US clinics predicted in 2021

The US$6 billion fertility clinics/infertility services industry in the USA had been booming through 2019, thanks to growing demand from American couples who have delayed childbearing, more widespread acceptance of fertility treatment and use by gay couples, improved success rates, a strong economy, and significant demand from medical tourists from Europe and China.

Demand has declined as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak. 50% of fertility clinics closed for two months beginning in mid-March while those that have continued to operate face new state regulations and lower patient volumes.

There has also been a sharp decrease in medical tourism from China and Europe, which is expected to continue well into 2021.

150 hospital-based fertility clinics were closed for two months beginning in mid-March. 25% of the remaining 300 private clinics were also closed although some remained open with restrictions on patient numbers.

The market consists of 450 fertility clinics, 100+ sperm donor banks, the egg donors market, fertility drugs, and 1,700 reproductive endocrinologists – all competing for the same business. ART / IVF procedures performed by fertility clinics represent US$3.3 billion of the total.

This market is largely untapped, as 75% of potential clients are not using infertility services. However, the number of IVF cycles performed has grown from 70,000 in 1997 to an estimated 331,000 in 2019, which indicates the growing acceptance of fertility treatment among Americans.

The US infertility services market will fall 18%, from US$6.0 billion to US$4.8 billion this year according to MarketData. Due to COVID-19 related closures and the expected decrease in medical tourists, the fertility clinics industry is facing a worse slump than the great recession and analysts do not predict a strong rebound in 2021.