Having trouble conceiving?

For couples who suspect or know that they have fertility issues, lesbian couples and single women, medically assisted conception offers the chance to fulfill the dream of becoming parents.

Belgium is a world leader in umedically assisted reproduction, making these life-changing techniques available relatively easily, and well covered by the basic health insurance system.

Who should I / we contact and when?

Heterosexual couples

Couples where the woman is under the age of 35 (who have no reason to think that they or their partner may have fertility issues) are often encouraged to seek medical advice after one year of trying to conceive naturally.

Couples where the woman is over the age of 35, or where the couple has reason to suspect that they have fertility issues, are encouraged to seek help sooner.

In Belgium, couples might decide to visit their family doctor, midwife or gynaecologist for some initial tests, e.g. blood tests, sperm analysis etc. He/she may then direct you towards a fertility clinic or a more specialised gynaecologist/reproductive endocrinologist for further investigations and/or treatment if necessary.

You may also decide to contact a fertility clinic directly, and you do not need a referral to do so.

Single women and same-sex couples

You can contact a fertility clinic directly and do not need a referral from a doctor.

Fertility clinics

In Belgium there are two types of fertility clinic:

type A clinics, which offer fertility treatments until and including egg retrieval, and then send you a type B clinic for the embryo transfer. There are 14 of these types of clinics in Belgium; and
type B clinics, which offer all kind of fertility treatment, including embryo transfer. There are 17 of these kind of clinics in Belgium.

As you may have to go to the clinic for regular tests/treatments, it can be a good idea to choose one relatively close to where you live or work.

Type A infertility clinics in Brussels and the surrounding areas

Clinique Ste Elisabeth
Avenue De Fré, 1180 Bruxelles
Tel : +32 (0)2 614 27 32
www.cliniquesdeleurope.be/fr/fertilite

Delta Hospital
Boulevard du Triomphe, 201 – 1160 Auderghem (Brussels)
Tel: +32 (0)2 434 40 83
https://www.chirec.be/en/parent_center/medically-assisted-reproduction-centre

Clinique St-Pierre
Avenue Reine Fabiola 9, 1340 Ottignies
Tel : +32 (0)10 43 73 60
www.cspo.be/gynecologie_obstetrique (French)

AZ Jan Portaels
Gendarmeriestraat 65, 1800 Vilvoorde
Tél : +32 (0)2 254 64 00
www.azjanportaels.be (Dutch)

Type B infertility clinics in Brussels and the surrounding areas

UZ Brussel
Laarbeeklaan 101, 1090 Jette
Tél : +32 (0)2 477 66 99
www.brusselsivf.be/default.aspx?lang=EN (in English)

WORTH KNOWING: The Centrum voor Reproductieve Geneeskunde (CRG) at UZ Brussel is one of the most popular fertility clinics for expats. Solo parents and queer/lesbian parents have commented that this clinic has been extremely non-judgemental and that they have felt very welcome.

UZ Leuven (Leuven university fertility centre)
Herestraat 49, 3000 Leuven
Tél : +32 (0)16 34 36 50
www.uzleuven.be/en/fertility-centre – in English

The Leuven university fertility centre also operates three satellite centres:

AZ Diest, Diest
Clinique St Jean, Brussels
AZ Turnhout, Turnhout

These satellite centres can handle the initial consultation, ovulation tracking, and even IUIs, while the actual IVF procedure is done in Leuven.

CHU St-Pierre
Rue Haute 322, 1000 Bruxelles
Tél : +32 (0)2 535 34 06
www.fivette.be (in English, French and Dutch)

Erasme Hospital
Route de Lennik 808, 1070 Anderlecht
Tél : +32 (0)2 555 36 89
https://www.erasme.be/en/services/gynaecology-obstetrics

CHU St-Luc
Avenue Hippocrate 10, 1200 Woluwe Saint Lambert
Tél : +32 (0)2 764 95 02
www.saintluc.be/services/medicaux/gynecologie/reproduction.php in French

Braine l’Alleud Waterloo
Rue Wayez 35, 1420 Braine-l’Alleud
Tel : +32 (0)2 389 05 55
www.chirec.be/en/centres/840000-medically-assisted-reproduction-centre/ (in French)

Dienst Fertiliteit AZ Middelheim
Lindendreef 1, 2020 Antwerp
Tél : +32 (0)3 280 24 80
www.zna.be/nl/fertiliteitscentrum-centrum-voor-reproductieve-geneeskunde (in Dutch)

Life-URG Unit at Heilig Hart
Naamsestraat 105, 3000 Leuven
Tél : +32 (0)16 20 90 30
www.lifeleuven.be – in English

For a full list, see http://www.jeveux1bebe.be/examens-et-diagnostics/centres-a-et-b (available in French and Dutch).

Tests and treatment

Where can I read more about the kind of tests and treatment available in Belgium?

Several fertility clinics in Belgium have produced very informative websites and other documentation.

The Centrum voor Reproductieve Geneeskunde (CRG or Centre for Reproductive Medicine) at the Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel (UZ Brussel) has put together a very informative website about fertility issues in men and women (website in English). As well as explaining the various procedures in detail, it also gives practical information about how treatment is organised at the CRG at UZ Brussel.
The website of the fertility centre in CHU Saint Pierre explains treatment options, including estimated costs.

Is ‘mini-IVF’ available in Belgium?

While mini-IVF is not typically offered as a possible treatment in Belgium, it may be possible to find doctors in Belgium who are prepared to carry out this method of IVF which uses lower doses of ovarian stimulants.

Can single women and lesbian couples undergo fertility treatment?

Unlike in some countries that impose restrictions on who can undergo fertility treatment, in Belgium, single women and lesbian couples can undergo fertility treatment with the use of donor sperm (or egg cells, if required).

What is the age limit for fertility treatment?

In Belgium, fertility treatments are available to women over 18 years of age – on special request, and for specific medical reasons, it may be possible to retrieve eggs from a girl under 18 years of age. The following upper age limits apply:

Type of treatment

IVF - Oocyte aspiration Up to 46 years

IVF - Embryo transfer (with frozen embryos upon request before 46 years of age) Up to 48 years
IUI - Up to 48 years, provided application is submitted before 46 years
Ovulation induction and fertility surgery Up to 48 years

Source: www.uzleuven.be/nl/fertiliteitscentrum/fertiliteitsbehandelingen-bij-de-vrouw (in Dutch – accessed December 2024)

Note: Reimbursement under the Belgian health care system for IVF/ICSI, artificial insemination and ovulation induction with gonadotropins is only possible for women under the age of 43. Read more about Costs and insurance.

Glossary

In Vitro Fertilisation (IVF): During IVF, one or more eggs (either the woman’s own or from a donor) are brought together with sperm (from either the woman’s partner or a donor) in a laboratory. The aim is that mobile sperm will spontaneously fertilise one or more of the eggs. If fertilisation happens, the embryos continue to grow in the laboratory for several days, after which one or more are transferred to the woman’s uterus
Intra-Cytoplasmitic Sperm Injection (ICSI): If the quantity of sperm is low, or is the sperm are not very mobile, ICSI may be performed instead of IVF. With ICSI, each egg is injected individually with a single sperm. If fertilisation happens, the embryos continue to grow in the laboratory for several days, after which one or more are transferred to the woman’s uterus.

Ovulation induction with gonadotropins / ovarian stimulation: This may be done with one of the following goals:
- for women who do not ovulate on their own, or who have irregular cycles, the goal may be to ensure that at least one ovum matures per cycle
- for women who require IVF or ICSI, the goal is super-ovulation, whereby not one but eight, ten, twelve or more ova mature simultaneously.

This can increase the chance of success with IVF or ISCI treatments. Various types of drugs may be used, depending on your situation, and the desired outcome.

Fertility surgery: Various procedures are possible to either:
- investigate a woman’s reproductive system, e.g. check the inside of the uterus and the openings of the fallopian tubes, take a sample of the uterine membrane for testing; or
- correct issues that may be making conception difficult/impossible, e.g. correcting anatomical abnormalities, removing/empty cysts, removing fibroids, repairing blocked/damaged fallopian tubes, reversing male/female sterilization, removing uterine tissue damaged by endometriosis etc.

Artificial insemination: After ‘filtering’, the most mobile sperm (from either the woman’s partner or a donor) are introduced directly through the cervix into the uterus using a fine catheter/tube.

Costs and insurance

If you are covered by the Belgian social security system, a large part of the costs related to fertility consultations, tests and fertility surgery is covered by your mutuelle. Hospitalisation insurance is not usually necessary, as overnight hospital stays are not usually required.

In the case of IVF/ICSI, artificial insemination and ovulation induction with gonadotropins, costs are only reimbursed for women under the age of 43.

If you are not covered by the Belgian system, you will be liable for all costs related to your treatment. In this case, the following link from the French-language support site NatiSens may be useful, as it outlines the cost of many of the drugs that are involved in fertility treatments: http://www.natisens.com/Articles/Administration/Prix_medocs.html

How many cycles of treatment are covered by the mutuelle and how much will I still have to pay?

Since 2009, and for women under the age of 43, the Belgian health care system reimburses a large part of the costs related to 6 cycles each of:

In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) / Intra-Cytoplasmitic Sperm Injection (ICSI);
egg donation (i.e. costs incurred by the receiver of the eggs)
other fertility treatments like ovarian stimulation with gonadotrophins (note: stimulation with Clomid is not restricted in the same way) and artificial insemination

Laboratory costs and most of the cost of ovarian stimulation drugs are reimbursed. The outstanding costs include the ‘ticket modérateur’ (i.e. non-reimbursable part) of any costs that are covered by the mutuelle, including consultation costs, blood tests, ultrasounds, other medications, etc.

For IVF/ICSI, and depending on your personal situation, the cost to you may still be between €300 to €500 per cycle. Make sure to investigate any health insurance policies you have, so that you can claim any assistance you are entitled to.

Ask your fertility clinic for more details about possible costs.

How do I benefit from these reimbursements?

To be reimbursed for cycles of IVF / ICSI, egg donation, or other fertility treatments like ovarian stimulation with gonadotropins and artificial insemination, your gynaecologist will need to provide you with the relevant form that needs to be submitted to the ‘medecin-conseil’ for approval.

If your request is approved, you will then receive an official form which needs to be stamped by your care provider each time you begin a treatment cycle. Note: All drugs related to these treatments need to be provided by the hospital/fertility clinic’s own pharmacy.

Complementary therapies

While complementary therapies may not cure infertility, many couples like to supplement medical treatment with other approaches.

Some popular therapies include:

Yoga therapy: Emily Gold, Yoga Therapist, offers private Fertility Focused Yoga Therapy Sessions as well as a 6-Week Mind-Body-Fertility Support Course.
Acupuncture: see the website of the Belgian association of doctor acupuncturists for lists of acupuncturists per region (site in French/Dutch but easy to navigate)
Homeopathy: see the website of the Unio Homeopathica Belgica for a list of doctors who practice homeopathy, per region (site in French/Dutch but easy to navigate)

Useful information

Support and counselling in Belgium

Many fertility clinics offer fertility counselling with a psychologist, whether before or during fertility treatment. Counselling may be individual or per couple, or group sessions may also be available. If your care provider does not mention counselling, ask what services are available.
The BCT has a support group for anyone considering or undergoing IVF or other assisted reproductive treatments, as well as a support group for (future) mums by choice – both open to non-BCT members. Contact groups@bctbelgium.org for more information.
Brussels-based yoga teacher Emily Gold runs a 4-week ‘Mind-Body-Fertility-Support’ course which aims to help those struggling with fertility issues to connect with their own mind and body, find space to relax, and learn about local resources and lifestyle strategies to enhance your wellbeing beyond the course.