Malaga doubles fertility treatments in five years and leads growth in Andalusia

Assisted reproduction treatments have seen a significant growth in Andalusia over the past five years, with Málaga leading this evolution. According to an analysis by IVI, the number of fertility treatments in this province has doubled during this period, with an increase of 110%, placing it among the areas with the highest development nationally.

This increase is largely due to the progressive delay of motherhood and changes in reproductive planning. In this context, the average age of women resorting to assisted reproduction techniques in Andalusia is around 37.5 years.

The director of IVI Málaga, Dr. Federico Merino, explained that the profile of the patients has changed “significantly” in recent years. “Today we see how many women plan motherhood within broader life projects and turn to reproductive medicine to accompany that decision with greater security,” he noted. However, he warned that many patients come “relatively late”, when ideally they should do so at 35 years or earlier.

One of the treatments that has grown the most is oocyte vitrification. In Málaga, this technique has increased by 241% over the last five years, while in Almería the increase has been 23.3%. This procedure allows the preservation of eggs at younger ages, maintaining higher chances of success in the future.

In this field, Merino also highlighted the role of artificial intelligence in improving outcomes. “We are able to predict more personalized success rates from those vitrified oocytes, thanks to the help of AI,” he stated.

Moreover, in vitro fertilization (IVF) with own oocytes also continues to show a remarkable evolution in the region. In Málaga, this treatment has grown by 108% over the last five years, establishing itself as one of the main options for achieving pregnancy.

According to IVI, the evolution of these treatments reflects how assisted reproduction is increasingly integrated into family planning, in a context marked by the delay of motherhood and a greater understanding of fertility.