Starting a family is one of life's biggest goals, and infertility — whether it affects the woman, the man, or both partners — is more common than many people realise. Medespoir supports international patients, including many from across Africa, through every stage of the journey: understanding the diagnosis, choosing between treatments such as IVF, ICSI or IUI, and travelling to Tunisia or Turkey for care.
Infertility is generally diagnosed when a couple hasn't conceived after 12 months of regular, unprotected intercourse (or sooner if the woman is over 35), and it can involve either partner or both. Treatment options include IVF, ICSI and intrauterine insemination (IUI), chosen according to the diagnosis. Medespoir offers these treatments through fertility clinics in both Tunisia and Turkey, with in vitro fertilization starting from €1,850 without accommodation, or €2,850 with an all-inclusive stay covering the medical team's fees, medication, transportation and hotel accommodation.
Infertility is generally defined as the inability to conceive after 12 months of regular, unprotected intercourse. It's a common — though often misunderstood — medical issue, and in many cases it isn't the result of any single dramatic cause: either partner may have a fertility factor that makes conception difficult, or a woman may struggle to carry a pregnancy to term.
As a general guide, couples are usually advised to consult a doctor after trying to conceive for 12 months without success, or sooner — around 6 months — if the woman is 35 or older, since fertility naturally declines with age. The reassuring part is that infertility can very often be treated once its cause has been identified through the right tests.
Infertility can affect women, men, or both partners in a couple, and its causes are wide-ranging — which is exactly why an accurate diagnosis matters more than guesswork.
In women, infertility is often linked to blocked or damaged fallopian tubes — caused by infection, previous pelvic surgery or endometriosis — which can prevent the egg and sperm from meeting. It can also result from an ovulation disorder, including:
In a proportion of cases, no clear cause is found even after testing — this is known as unexplained infertility, and it doesn't mean a couple has no options; treatments such as IUI or IVF are still commonly considered.
In men, infertility is most often related to a disturbance in sperm production — a low sperm count, or sperm that is abnormally shaped or has reduced motility. Other contributing factors include erectile difficulties, an obstruction in the ducts that carry sperm, and genetic factors. Psychological factors, including chronic stress and anxiety, can also play a role in male fertility, which is why a fertility work-up typically looks at overall health and not only the reproductive organs.
Because infertility can involve either partner, fertility specialists usually recommend that both members of a couple are assessed together. For women, this typically includes hormonal blood tests, a pelvic ultrasound to check the ovaries and uterus, and sometimes a hysterosalpingogram — an imaging test used to check whether the fallopian tubes are open or blocked. For men, the key test is a semen analysis, which looks at sperm count, shape (morphology) and movement (motility) to identify any issues with sperm production.
These tests are what allow a fertility clinic to recommend the treatment best suited to the couple's specific situation, rather than a one-size-fits-all approach.
There is no single treatment for infertility — the right approach depends entirely on the diagnosis. Medespoir's partner clinics in Tunisia and Turkey offer the full range of assisted reproductive technology (ART) options, from the simplest intervention to more advanced laboratory techniques.
| Treatment | What It Involves | Typically Considered When |
|---|---|---|
| IUI (intrauterine insemination / artificial insemination) | Prepared sperm is placed directly into the woman's uterus around the time of ovulation. | Mild male infertility, unexplained infertility, or often as a first step before more advanced treatment is considered. |
| IVF (in vitro fertilization) | Medication stimulates the ovaries to produce several eggs, which are collected and mixed with sperm in a laboratory; a resulting embryo is then transferred to the uterus. | Blocked or damaged fallopian tubes, ovulation disorders, unexplained infertility, or when simpler treatments such as IUI haven't led to a pregnancy. |
| ICSI (intracytoplasmic sperm injection) | A specialised form of IVF in which a single sperm is injected directly into an egg before the resulting embryo is transferred. | Male infertility factors such as a low sperm count, poor sperm motility or abnormally shaped sperm. |
An IVF cycle typically takes a few weeks from the start of ovarian stimulation to the embryo transfer: medication stimulates egg development, the eggs are retrieved in a short procedure, fertilization (conventional IVF or ICSI) takes place in the lab, and one or more embryos are transferred back to the uterus a few days later. IVF can also help couples dealing with male infertility (when combined with ICSI) or unexplained infertility, once simpler options haven't succeeded.
For men with no sperm present in the ejaculate (azoospermia), a testicular biopsy — taking a small tissue sample from the testicle for examination under a microscope — can sometimes retrieve sperm directly, which may then be used with ICSI.
Many couples look into fertility treatment abroad for a combination of reasons: the cost of IVF and ICSI can be considerably lower than in their home country, waiting times at established fertility clinics abroad are often shorter, and an all-inclusive package can make budgeting for treatment — including medical fees, medication, transportation and accommodation — far more predictable than arranging each element separately.
Combining fertility treatment with dedicated recovery time away from daily routine and responsibilities is also something many patients value, particularly when an IVF cycle involves several clinic visits over a short period.
Medespoir offers infertility treatment through partner fertility clinics and IVF centres in both Tunisia and Turkey — two well-established destinations for reproductive medicine, each with its own strengths, and neither presented here as "better" than the other; the right choice depends on your personal circumstances, travel logistics and preferences.
Tunisia has authorised in vitro fertilization since the late 1980s, reflecting a long-standing, modern gynaecological and reproductive medicine sector. Turkey, and Istanbul in particular, is home to a number of active infertility treatment centres that carry out a high volume of IVF and ICSI procedures each year. Both countries offer internationally experienced reproductive medicine specialists and dedicated IVF centres equipped for the full range of fertility treatments described above.
Since 2009, Medespoir has welcomed patients from across Africa exploring fertility treatment options, and our patient advisors and fertility treatment teams are used to coordinating care for couples travelling from a wide range of countries, including Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Zambia and Malawi, as well as Guinea, Algeria, Mauritania, Cameroon, Benin, Mali, Chad, Burkina Faso, Senegal, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Niger and Ivory Coast.
In practice, this means patients researching IVF in Turkey or fertility treatment in Tunisia for Nigerian patients often reach out from Lagos or Abuja; from Ghana, from Accra or Kumasi; from Kenya, from Nairobi or Mombasa; from Uganda, from Kampala; from Tanzania, from Dar es Salaam or Arusha; from South Africa, from Johannesburg, Cape Town or Durban; from Zimbabwe, from Harare; from Zambia, from Lusaka; and from Malawi, from Lilongwe or Blantyre. Wherever you're travelling from, our teams can talk you through what an IVF package abroad typically involves and answer your questions in English before you book anything.
Yes — an online consultation before travelling is possible and generally recommended. It allows a fertility specialist to review your medical history and any previous test results, discuss which treatment may be suitable, and give you a clearer idea of costs before you commit to travel.
For the trip itself, you'll generally need a valid passport, any previous fertility test results or medical records you have (including a semen analysis or hormone results, where available), and a list of any current medications. The exact length of stay depends on your treatment protocol, but many patients travelling for IVF plan for roughly two to three weeks in-country to allow for ovarian stimulation monitoring, egg retrieval and embryo transfer; simpler treatments such as IUI generally require a much shorter visit.
Medespoir offers infertility treatment for men and women through an all-inclusive package designed to make costs predictable for international patients. In vitro fertilization pricing is available in two forms, depending on whether you need accommodation included:
These packages also apply to ICSI and to associated procedures such as intrauterine insemination and testicular biopsy. Your exact price is confirmed after a consultation, once your treatment plan has been discussed with a fertility specialist.
If you've been trying to conceive for over a year (or six months if the woman is 35 or older) without success, it's worth arranging an evaluation with a doctor. Certain signs can also point to an underlying condition worth investigating sooner, including:
In IVF, eggs and sperm are mixed together in a lab dish and fertilization happens naturally. In ICSI, a single sperm is injected directly into each egg — a technique used mainly when male infertility factors, such as a low sperm count, make conventional IVF less likely to succeed on its own.
Intrauterine insemination is often considered first for mild male infertility or unexplained infertility, since it's a simpler procedure. If IUI doesn't lead to a pregnancy after a few cycles, IVF or ICSI is typically the next step.
No. Infertility affects men and women in roughly equal measure, and in some couples both partners have a contributing factor. This is why fertility specialists usually recommend testing both partners rather than assuming the cause lies with one person.
At Medespoir, in vitro fertilization starts from €1,850 without accommodation, or from €2,850 with an all-inclusive stay covering the medical team's fees, medication, transportation and hotel accommodation. Your exact cost depends on your treatment plan.
Yes. An initial online consultation lets a fertility specialist review your history and any existing test results and discuss suitable treatment options before you commit to travelling.
This depends on your treatment protocol, but many patients plan for around two to three weeks to allow for ovarian stimulation monitoring, egg retrieval and embryo transfer. Simpler procedures such as IUI usually require a shorter stay.
Speak with our team about infertility treatment in Tunisia or Turkey and receive a personalised quote based on your diagnosis, treatment plan and travel needs.
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