IVF in Ghana: cost, process and what to expect

In-vitro fertilisation (IVF) is a fertility treatment in which an egg and sperm are joined in a laboratory, and the resulting embryo is placed in the womb. At Aneeja Hospital in Accra, one full IVF cycle typically takes about four to six weeks from the first injection to the pregnancy test — and the figures below give you an honest sense of what it involves and what it costs.

What is IVF, and who is it for?

IVF helps couples and individuals conceive when natural conception has not worked. It is often recommended after blocked or damaged fallopian tubes, low sperm count or motility, ovulation problems, endometriosis, or what doctors call unexplained infertility — when every test is normal but pregnancy still has not happened.

A common first step before IVF is a simpler treatment such as ovulation induction or intra-uterine insemination (IUI). Our Fertility & IVF team will only recommend IVF when it is genuinely the right option for you, and will explain why in plain English or French.

How does the IVF process work, step by step?

One IVF cycle moves through five clear stages:

Stimulation. For about 10–12 days you give yourself small daily hormone injections so that your ovaries grow several eggs instead of one. We monitor progress with ultrasound scans and blood tests.
Egg retrieval. A short procedure under sedation collects the eggs with a fine needle, guided by ultrasound. It takes around 20 minutes and you go home the same day.
Fertilisation. In our embryology laboratory, the eggs are joined with sperm — often by injecting a single sperm directly into each egg (a technique called ICSI).
Embryo culture. The fertilised eggs grow in the lab for three to five days while our embryologists watch which embryos develop best.
Embryo transfer. A doctor places one embryo into the womb through a thin catheter — a quick, painless step that needs no anaesthetic. Any remaining good-quality embryos can be frozen for later.

How long does one IVF cycle take?

From your first injection to the pregnancy test is usually four to six weeks. The pregnancy blood test happens about two weeks after the embryo transfer — the part patients call the hardest wait. If the first cycle is not successful, a frozen embryo from the same cycle can often be transferred in a later month without repeating the full stimulation.

How much does IVF cost in Ghana?

Cost is the question we are asked most. The honest answer is that it depends on the medication doses you need and whether you use add-ons such as ICSI or embryo freezing. The table below shows illustrative ranges for one cycle at Aneeja so you can plan — your personalised quote is confirmed after your first consultation.

Illustrative cost of one IVF cycle at Aneeja Hospital
Stage	Typical range (GHS)
Consultation & baseline tests	1,500 – 3,000
Stimulation medication	8,000 – 16,000
Egg retrieval & lab (with ICSI)	18,000 – 26,000
Embryo transfer	4,000 – 6,000
Frozen embryo storage (per year)	1,500 – 2,500

DEMO DATA — illustrative figures only, to be verified with the client. Your personalised quote is confirmed after your first consultation.

What affects your chances of success?

The single biggest factor is age — specifically the age of the eggs. Success rates are highest in the early thirties and decline gradually afterwards. Other factors include the cause of infertility, egg and sperm quality, and general health such as weight, smoking and underlying conditions like diabetes or thyroid problems.

Be cautious of any clinic that promises guaranteed success. A realistic, well-run programme is honest about the odds for your specific situation, and supports you whether a cycle works first time or takes more than one attempt.

How do you start treatment at Aneeja?

The first step is a consultation with our fertility team, where we review your history, arrange the necessary tests for both partners, and explain your options and costs before you commit to anything. You can book an appointment online or talk to one of our bilingual doctors in English or French. Everything is handled with privacy and care.