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In some countries there are attempts to provide fertility treatment at low cost. A few years ago, presenter Claudia Hammond travelled to Cape Town in South Africa to visit a clinic trying to keep costs to a minimum. They use lower doses of drugs to stimulate the ovaries and produce eggs, and also carry out fewer on-going blood tests of women’s hormone levels. The patients don’t pay to use the hospital or the lab, just for the medication. At the clinic in Tygerberg hospital, Claudia met programme director Dr Thabo Matsaseng, and one of his patients Nosiphiwo. She was ostracised by her family after years of trying, in vain, to have a baby. After having fertility treatment at a fraction of the usual price she ended up having twins and now says she is a completely different person.

Professor Ian Cooke from the University of Sheffield, UK, explains why he thinks it's important to provide low cost fertility treatment in South Africa.

(Image: Woman holding a pregnancy test, Credit: Getty Images.)