IVF (In Vitro Fertilisation) in Israel

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. 1

   In brief

   In vitro fertilisation (IVF) — sometimes called artificial insemination or test tube babies — is one of the most common and widely used advanced fertility treatments today. The procedure unites an ovum (egg) and sperm under laboratory conditions, as an alternative to the natural setting in the woman's fallopian tube. The newly formed embryo is then inserted into the womb while supportive hormonal treatment is given.

   Originally invented for women whose fallopian tubes were blocked or missing, IVF is now also used to address other fertility issues, including severe sperm problems, acute endometritis (growth of cervical tissue outside the womb), complex ovulation and hormonal disturbances, and combinations of issues in both partners.

2. 2

   Who is eligible?

   Under the National Health Insurance Law and the basic health basket, IVF is covered for:

   • Couples who have no children in their current marriage — including couples who each have children from previous marriages but want to have a shared child together.
   • Women without children who want to establish a single-parent family (mishpachah chad-horit) or have children with sperm from a man who is not their partner.
   • Patients undergoing pre-implantation genetic diagnosis (PGD).

   Key limits:

   • Treatments are covered for the birth of a first or second child. A woman is eligible under the health basket until 2 children are born (not 2 pregnancies). If twins are born, the woman is considered to have exhausted her entitlement.
   • The woman's age at the time of egg treatment must be between 18 and 45 (up to the day she turns 45). For treatments involving an egg donation (tromat beitzit), eligibility extends up to age 54.
   • Eligibility also applies when pregnancy is achieved via surrogacy (pundaka'ut).

   Supplementary health-fund insurance:

   The supplementary insurance plans offered by the kupot cholim cover treatments that are not included in the basic health basket — for example, treatments for a third child, some costs related to egg donation, and private-hospital co-payments.

   Most health funds split the IVF process into 3 stages (each with its own co-payment and commitment-to-pay):

   1. Stage A: Hormonal treatment to induce ovulation, plus required tests.
   2. Stage B: Egg retrieval, fertilisation, and embryo transfer.
   3. Stage C: Thawing of a frozen embryo and its transfer to the uterus.

   Waiting periods — health funds impose a waiting period (kufat achsharah) between joining the supplementary plan and being able to use fertility benefits. The duration varies by fund.

   Fertility treatments are billed to the health fund where the woman is insured, even when the fertility issue lies with the man. The man is treated in his own fund only when treatment is required on the sperm itself. For more detail on the specific supplementary coverage each kupah offers, see the Ministry of Health's Kol HaBriut IVF page.

3. 3

   How to apply for treatment

   1. See a fertility specialist through your kupah. Ask for a referral to IVF treatments.

   2. Get approval from your kupah's fertility committee. Applications are usually submitted at the branch where the woman is registered — check with your kupah for the exact process.

   3. Once approved, go to one of the IVF units in public hospitals. You'll need to bring a Form 17 (Hitchayvut — commitment form) from your kupah.

   Legal requirements before treatment can begin:

   • The responsible doctor must explain the treatment's meaning and possible outcomes to each person involved, and receive informed consent (haskamah muda'at) from each of them separately.
   • For a married woman, any IVF procedure requires the husband's consent.
   • If the IVF involves a woman using sperm from a man who is not her partner and both wish to be co-parents, a detailed written agreement must be drawn up between them beforehand, meeting all statutory requirements.
4. 4

   Preparation for the treatment

   Before the IVF treatment begins, several preparatory steps and tests rule out causes that may interfere with pregnancy or harm the mother or fetus:

   • Laboratory tests including rubella antibodies, immune-deficiency antibodies, viral hepatitis B and C antigens, and a pap smear (to rule out cervical cancer or infections).
   • Family-history review to rule out hereditary diseases.
   • Uterine imaging or hysteroscopy to confirm a healthy uterus.
   • Recent semen analysis.
   • Baseline blood sample to determine hormone levels and rule out other potential problems (such as infections).
5. 5

   The treatment — 4 stages

   1. Ovary stimulation. Several methods are used to stimulate the ovaries to produce a large number of ova suitable for fertilisation.

   2. Ovum extraction. Once the ovaries have been stimulated, the eggs are extracted in an operating theatre adjoining the IVF laboratory. The procedure is done under local cervical anaesthetic or short-term general anaesthetic. It involves discomfort that can be painful, and several hours of rest are needed afterwards.

   3. Fertilisation of the eggs and embryonic growth. The eggs are transferred to the laboratory and placed in a cultured petri dish. The male partner provides a sperm sample, which is thoroughly prepared, and the sperm cells and eggs are then combined in the culture medium.

   4. Implanting the embryo in the womb. A very narrow tube (catheter) is inserted into the uterus via the cervix, and the embryos are injected into the uterine cavity. The procedure is straightforward, painless, and does not require anaesthetic.

   After implantation: rest in a supine position (lying on your back) for a couple of hours at the clinic, then go home and rest in bed for the entire next day. Avoid sexual intercourse for the following two weeks.

6. 6

   More information

   For detailed information on navigating IVF as an Oleh — eligibility for funding through your kupat cholim, what's covered, and YL's guidance on the process in Israel — see the Yad L'Olim fertility guide. For the original Ministry of Health source, see the Ministry of Health — IVF page (English).

   If there is any difference or conflict between the information on this page and the law or your specific clinical situation, your treating physician and the applicable regulations take precedence.