The numbers have been rising. In 2019, 707 people were diagnosed, dropping slightly to 495 in 2020, before climbing to 603 in 2021.
By 2022, the figure had jumped to 926, then doubled to 1,845 in 2023. In the first half of 2024 alone, 1,349 people were recorded.
The data comes from four major hospitals: the University Teaching Hospital of Butare, the University Teaching Hospital of Kigali, King Faisal Hospital, and Mediheal Hospital and Fertility Centre.
In response to the growing need, Rwanda's Parliament passed a new law regulating healthcare services on 4 August 2024, introducing a clear legal framework for assisted reproduction.
The legislation covers in-vitro fertilisation (IVF), surrogacy, and the preservation of eggs and sperm for future use. It allows married couples or individuals whose infertility has been confirmed by a qualified medical professional to access these services.
Surrogacy will also be regulated. It involves fertilising an egg with sperm in a laboratory to create an embryo, which is then transferred to a surrogate's womb, typically via IVF. The new law requires a formal agreement between the surrogate and the intended parents, overseen by doctors, to ensure all parties understand their roles and obligations.
Minister of State in the Ministry of Health, Dr. Yvan Butera, said the law was a 'major milestone' in improving access to healthcare.
'We continue to receive a high number of requests for assisted reproduction from people who cannot conceive naturally. This law establishes clear guidelines on how such services will be provided, removing barriers for those who currently have to seek them abroad,' he recently posted on X.
Infertility in Rwanda is linked to a variety of causes. Dr. Butera noted that 30 percent of cases are related to men, 30 percent to women, another 30 percent to both partners, and 10 percent to unknown factors.
The IVF process, often used when other treatments fail, involves stimulating a woman's ovaries with hormones to produce eggs, which are then retrieved and fertilised with sperm in a lab.
The resulting embryos are monitored for several days before two are typically implanted into the uterus to increase the chances of pregnancy. This approach explains why IVF often results in twins or multiple births.
The procedure is becoming more common in Rwanda. At Kanombe Hospital alone, more than 108 babies had been born through IVF by July 2024. Globally, IVF contributes to the birth of over half a million babies each year.
The law also permits the storage of eggs and sperm for individuals at risk of infertility due to illness or other medical conditions. Approval will be granted by a doctor, and the preserved material can be used later when the individual is ready to conceive.
Health officials say that with demand for assisted reproduction climbing each year, the new legal framework will make these services more accessible within Rwanda, ensuring they are delivered safely, ethically, and without the need to travel abroad.
IGIHE
