IVF in Singapore: success rates by age, what each cycle involves and the funding

IVF success rates in Singapore depend far more on the woman's age than on anything else. In an answer to Parliament on 8 October 2026, MOH gave a success rate of 18.4% per IVF cycle for women aged 35 to 39, 12.1% at 40, 7.8% at 42 and 3.7% at 44, and said age and medical history matter more than how many cycles you try. Government co-funding at public centres covers up to 75% of a fresh cycle for a Singaporean couple, capped at $7,700, for up to 3 fresh and 3 frozen cycles, and you can add MediSave. This guide lays out the numbers, what happens in each cycle, what it costs after subsidies, and how couples get through the waiting.

IVF success rates in Singapore by age

These are the official figures MOH has given Parliament, oldest at the bottom. MOH didn't define "success" in its 2026 answer; in earlier answers it counted the share of fresh cycles that ended in a live birth.

At public centres, MOH says 20.5% of co-funded cycles led to a live birth in 2021, 16.4% in 2022 and 13.2% in 2023.

Why clinics quote higher numbers

KKH says its clinical pregnancy rate is about 40 to 44% per cycle and its take-home-baby rate about 30%, and SGH's centre reports around 40% of fresh cycles and 50% of frozen cycles ending in a pregnancy. Those figures count pregnancies, including ones that later miscarry, and depend on who each clinic treats. MOH's figures count babies across a whole age group. When a clinic gives you a number, ask whether it means a positive test, a pregnancy on scan or a live birth, and for women your age.

Does trying more cycles help?

Yes, up to a point. Of co-funded cycles between 2013 and 2015, MOH said 75.3% had not succeeded after the first cycle, 79.3% after the second and 81.9% after the third, and that younger women had a better chance each time. MOH's 2026 answer puts it plainly: as a couple gets older, each extra cycle adds less. Frozen embryos from one egg collection can give you more than one transfer without another round of injections, which is why many couples count their chances per egg collection rather than per transfer.

What one IVF cycle involves, step by step

Going by KKH's timings, a fresh cycle takes roughly five to seven weeks from the first injection to the pregnancy test.

KKH warns that you need to be around during the monitoring phase, because there are several compulsory appointments, so plan leave or flexible hours before you start. Spare good-quality embryos can be frozen; KKH says about 83% survive thawing.

What can go wrong in a cycle

KKH is upfront about the odds at each step. About 5% of its cycles are cancelled before egg collection. In about 10% of couples, no eggs fertilise. Once pregnant, about 5% of IVF pregnancies are ectopic, so KKH asks every IVF patient to book an early scan, and 10 to 15% end in miscarriage. Fewer than 1% of KKH patients need a hospital stay for ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS).

Call your IVF centre or go to hospital for severe bloating, chest pain or difficulty breathing during stimulation, or for heavy bleeding or severe tummy pain after egg collection or transfer.

When to see a fertility specialist

Most couples conceive within a year of regular sex without contraception. If the woman is under 35, see a specialist after about 12 months of trying; from 35, after about 6 months. Go sooner if periods are irregular or absent, or if there's a history of pelvic infection or surgery, endometriosis, cancer treatment, a low sperm count or a vasectomy.

KKH notes that IVF is not recommended when BMI is above 30 or below 19, because the chance of success is much lower and the risks higher, so weight is often the first thing a clinic talks about. If you're earlier on, our guides on trying to conceive in Singapore and your ovulation and fertile window are a good first step.

The tests before treatment

A fertility work-up looks at both of you, because the cause can sit with either partner, both, or neither.

For the woman, expect a history of your cycles and past pregnancies, blood tests for hormones and egg reserve (often AMH), a pelvic ultrasound and, when needed, a test that the fallopian tubes are open, such as an HSG. For the man, a semen analysis looks at sperm count, how well they move and their shape. It's repeated if the first result is abnormal. The aim is to find the simplest treatment that gives you a fair chance.

The treatment ladder

Many couples start on a lower rung and move up if it doesn't work. Others start higher because of age or diagnosis.

1. Lifestyle and timed sex: a healthy weight, stopping smoking, less alcohol and caffeine, managing diabetes or thyroid problems, and timing sex to your fertile window.
2. Ovulation induction: tablets or injections to make the ovaries release an egg, with scans to check the response, often for women with polycystic ovary syndrome.
3. Intra-uterine insemination (IUI): washed sperm placed in the womb around ovulation. Cheaper and less invasive than IVF, and co-funded for up to 3 cycles.
4. IVF: eggs fertilised in the lab and an embryo placed in the womb. Usually the most effective option for blocked tubes, a severe sperm problem, older age, or when simpler treatment hasn't worked.

You'll also hear about two add-ons. ICSI injects a single sperm into each egg and is used mainly for male-factor infertility. Preimplantation genetic testing (PGT) checks embryos for chromosome or inherited conditions before transfer, and is offered in specific situations.

IVF costs, co-funding and MediSave

KKH puts the cost of an IVF cycle at $10,000 to $17,000, with the exact figure set by the treatment you choose. Those prices date from 31 December 2023. SGH estimates $15,000 to $18,000. Government co-funding only applies at public Assisted Reproduction centres, and it is given automatically to eligible couples; there's no form to fill in.

The rules, from MOH's page last updated on 17 March 2026:

• Co-funding covers up to 3 fresh and 3 frozen cycles, plus up to $1,000 a cycle for 3 cycles of IUI.
• The woman must be under 40 when the cycle starts. Women 40 and over can still get co-funding for up to 2 of the 6 cycles, as long as they tried assisted reproduction or IUI before turning 40.
• At least one spouse must be a citizen, and a doctor must find you clinically suitable.
• Counselling before IVF is mandatory under MOH guidelines.

MediSave can pay on top of co-funding, from your own or your spouse's account: up to $6,000 for the first cycle, $5,000 for the second and $4,000 for the third and later cycles, with a lifetime limit of $15,000 per patient. It works whether the treatment is inpatient or outpatient. If a cycle stops for a non-medical reason, MediSave can't be used for it.

What does that leave you to pay? In 2021, MOH said that after co-funding and MediSave, 8 in 10 eligible Singaporean couples paid nothing for their first cycle and 9 in 10 paid no more than $500. Since 2020 there has been no upper age limit and no cap on the number of cycles you can have, but co-funding stops after the 3 fresh and 3 frozen cycles. Ask your centre's finance counsellor for an itemised estimate after subsidies before you start. If you're also planning for the birth, our delivery cost calculator compares public and private hospital bills.

The emotional load, and how couples keep going

IVF takes over a calendar and a mood. There are early clinic visits before work, injections at the same time each evening, hormone swings, and then the two weeks between transfer and test, which many couples say is the hardest part. KKH says a failed cycle can lead to emotional strain and depression, and that psychological counselling is there if you ask.

What helps, from couples and counsellors alike:

• Agree as a couple, before the first cycle, how many cycles you'll try and how much you'll spend, and revisit it calmly between cycles, not in the middle of one.
• Decide together who you'll tell, so you aren't answering questions on a bad day.
• Use the counselling sessions. KKH builds one into the preparation, and you can ask for more.
• Take a break between cycles if you need one. With frozen embryos stored, a pause doesn't always cost you a chance.
• Tell your doctor if low mood lasts. It's common and treatable.

If a cycle fails, ask for a review appointment. Your specialist can tell you whether to change the drug plan, transfer a frozen embryo, add ICSI or PGT, or consider other paths to parenthood.

Where to get treatment in Singapore

The public Assisted Reproduction centres are at KKH, the National University Hospital and Singapore General Hospital, and co-funding applies only there. Licensed private clinics also offer IVF, without co-funding. When you compare centres, look at how clearly they explain your own odds and the cost after subsidies, how long the wait is and what counselling they offer. If you don't have a gynae yet, our guide on how to choose a gynae in Singapore helps you find one for a referral.

Frequently asked questions

What is the IVF success rate in Singapore?

MOH gave Parliament a success rate of 18.4% per cycle for women aged 35 to 39, 12.1% at 40, 7.8% at 42 and 3.7% at 44, in October 2026. For treatments from 2015 to 2019, women 34 and under had rates above 24%. Your own odds depend on your age, diagnosis and embryos.

How long does one IVF cycle take?

Roughly five to seven weeks from the first injection to the pregnancy test: 2 to 4 weeks of injections, egg collection about 36 hours after the trigger, transfer 2 to 5 days later, and a blood test 14 to 17 days after that. The tests beforehand can take up to 3 months.

How much does IVF cost in Singapore after subsidies?

A cycle costs about $10,000 to $18,000 at public centres before subsidies. A Singaporean couple can get 75% co-funding up to $7,700 for a fresh cycle and use up to $6,000 of MediSave on the first, and MOH said in 2021 that 8 in 10 eligible couples then paid nothing for their first cycle.

Can I get co-funding for IVF after 40?

Yes, for up to 2 of the 6 co-funded cycles, if you tried assisted reproduction or IUI before you turned 40. Otherwise the woman must be under 40 when the cycle starts.

Is IVF painful?

The injections sting briefly. Egg collection is done under sedation, and some cramps and bloating afterwards are common. The transfer uses a fine tube and usually doesn't need sedation.

Should we keep trying naturally while seeing a specialist?

Often yes, unless your specialist tells you otherwise for a medical reason. Keep reading our guides on trying to conceive and the early signs of pregnancy while you're in treatment, because knowing your cycle still helps.