YEREVAN. – In line with the research conducted in Armenia in 2009, the infertility rate constitutes 16.8 percent among the country’s women, and 11.8 percent among the men, Maternal and Child Health Protection Research Center’s Deputy Director of Science Karine Arustamyan said during a press conference on Tuesday. 

Incidentally, according to the World Health Organization, an infertility rate exceeding 15 percent is considered a national security threat. 

Also, there are various causes for infertility, but the most widespread are the combined causes of unknown origin.     

In his turn, Center Director, Professor Georgy Okoyev spoke about artificial insemination, and noted that this procedure is geared toward curing infertility among families. In his words, the first artificially-inseminated babies in Armenia were born in 2004, and they were triplets.   

Okoyev noted that the number of artificial inseminations is growing in Armenia on a yearly basis, and, as case in point, this has increased by 10 percent as compared with the year past.   

The specialist also informed that one artificial insemination in Armenia costs AMD 1.2-1.7 million (approx. US$ 2,940-$4,170), and, if the process is unsuccessful, the money is not refunded because expensive medications and materials are being used. 

According to Georgy Okoyev, 38-39 percent of the artificial insemination conducted in Armenia results in births while the pregnancy rate is much higher. 

Photo by Sona Barseghyan