A Survey on Public Perception and Satisfaction with the Korean Medicine Infertility Support Program in Korea

Suyeon Kim; Ian Ha; Hyein Jeong; Wonsug Son; Byunghee Choi; Hanul Kim; Kyeong Han Kim; Kim, Suyeon; Ha, Ian; Jeong, Hyein; Son, Wonsug; Choi, Byunghee; Kim, Hanul; Kim, Kyeong Han

doi:10.13048/jkm.25022

JKM > Volume 46(2); 2025 > Article

Kim, Ha, Jeong, Son, Choi, Kim, and Kim: A Survey on Public Perception and Satisfaction with the Korean Medicine Infertility Support Program in Korea

Original Article

The Journal of Korean Medicine 2025; 46(2): 108-123.

Published online: June 1, 2025

DOI: https://doi.org/10.13048/jkm.25022

A Survey on Public Perception and Satisfaction with the Korean Medicine Infertility Support Program in Korea

Suyeon Kim¹^{, §}

, Ian Ha¹^{, §}

, Hyein Jeong²^{, §}

, Wonsug Son³

, Byunghee Choi⁴

, Hanul Kim⁴

, Kyeong Han Kim⁵^{, *}

¹School of Korean Medicine, Woosuk University

²Department of Preventive Medicine, College of Korean Medicine, Kyung Hee University

³Department of Formula Science, College of Korean Medicine, Woosuk University

⁴KM policy team, Korea Institute of Oriental Medicine

⁵Department of Preventive Medicine, College of Korean Medicine, Woosuk University

Correspondence to: Kyeong Han Kim, College of Korean Medicine, Woosuk University, 61 seonneomeo 3-gil, wansan-gu, Jeonju 54986, Republic of Korea, Tel: +82-63-290-9031, E-mail: solip922@hanmail.net

§ These authors contributed equally

Received April 14, 2025 Revised May 8, 2025 Accepted May 22, 2025

Abstract

Objectives

This study aimed to investigate public awareness, perception, and satisfaction regarding the Korean medicine-based infertility support program in South Korea, and to explore its implications for future healthcare policy.

Methods

A nationwide online survey was conducted from September 1 to 30, 2024, targeting men and women with infertility experience. A total of 300 valid responses (200 women and 100 men) were analyzed. The survey included questions on medical history, experience with conventional and Korean medicine treatments, awareness and perception of the infertility support program, and views on its safety and effectiveness.

Results

Among respondents, 50.7% had received an infertility diagnosis, and 80.3% had undergone treatment, primarily through hospitals. Korean medicine treatments such as acupuncture and herbal medicine received relatively high satisfaction ratings. Awareness of the support program remained low (29.0%), yet the perceived necessity was high (74.7%). Among participants with experience in the program, 56.3% reported satisfaction, and 81.3% expressed willingness to recommend it. However, concerns remained regarding treatment effectiveness and long-term use of herbal decoctions. While 55.3% responded positively to the program’s safety and 52.6% to its effectiveness, neutral responses were also significant.

Conclusions

Despite low awareness, there is substantial demand and satisfaction with Korean medicine infertility care. These findings underscore the need for stronger public outreach, enhanced clinical evidence, and more accessible, standardized treatment models to promote broader utilization and policy development.

Keywords: Subfertility, Infertility, Korean Medicine, Infertility support program

Table 1

Characteristics of Participants

			n	%
Sex	Male		100	33.3
Sex	Female		200	66.7

Age	20–29		5	1.7
	30–39		81	27.0
	40–49		129	43.0
	50–59		67	22.3
	60–69		18	6.0

Infertility diagnosis status	Yes		152	49.3
	Place of diagnosis	Hospital	142	85.2
		Clinic	11	6.5
		Korean medicine hospital	4	2.4
		Korean medicine clinic	10	5.9
		others	0	0
	No		148	49.3

Experience of infertility treatment	Yes		122	80.3
	Type of medical institution for treatment	Hospital	108	74.0
		Clinic	11	7.5
		Korean medicine hospital	22	15.1
		Korean medicine clinic	5	3.4
		others	0	0
	No		30	19.7

Table 2

Patients’ Experience and Satisfaction with Infertility Treatment in Conventional Medical Hospitals

	classification	n	Score (Mean ± SD)
Male	Medication (pharmacological) treatment	16	2.94±0.93
	Intrauterine insemination (IUI)	16	2.88±1.15
	In vitro fertilization (IVF)	17	3.53±1.07

Female	Ovulation induction	57	3.35±0.67
	Intrauterine insemination (IUI)	36	3.33±0.79
	In vitro fertilization (IVF)	37	3.89±0.99
	Others	3	4.33±0.94

Table 3

Patients’ Experience and Satisfaction with Infertility Treatment in Korean Medicine

classification	n, Score (Mean ± SD)

	Total population	Male	Female
Acupuncture	12, 3.75±0.75	3, 3.67±0.58	9, 3.78±0.83
Moxibustion	10, 3.90±0.74	1, 3.00±0.00	9, 4.00±0.71
Cupping therapy	6, 3.67±0.82	0	6, 3.67±0.82
Pharmacopuncture	9, 3.89±0.60	2, 4.00±0.00	7, 3.86±0.69
Herbal Decoction	22, 3.55±0.96	7, 3.43±1.13	15, 3.60±0.91
Herbal formula	2, 4.00±1.41	1, 5.00±0.00	1, 3.00±0.00
Chuna	0	0	0

Table 4

Awareness of Korean Medicine Infertility Support Program

classification	Mean ± SD
classification	Total population	Male	Female	Western medicine group	integrative medicine group
Were you aware of the Korean Medicine infertility support program?	2.55±1.25	2.55±1.27 (n=100)	2.55±1.25	2.82±1.35	3.33±1.12
Were you aware that the Korean Medicine infertility support program also supports males?^*	2.98±1.21	2.98±1.21 (n=47)	-	3.17±1.29	3.50±0.71
Do you think the Korean Medicine infertility support program is necessary?	3.93±0.89	3.90±1.09 (n=100)	3.95±0.77	3.90±0.90	4.56±0.53
Do you think the Korean Medicine infertility support program for males with infertility is necessary?	3.85±1.15	3.85±1.15 (n=100)	-	3.82±1.24	4.75±0.50

* n = Only men aware of male participation for the Korean Medicine infertility support program were surveyed

Table 5

Participation Experience in the Korean Medicine Infertility Support Program

	classification	Score (Mean ± SD), N(%)
Participation Experience (n=16)	Are you satisfied with the Korean Medicine infertility support program?	3.50±1.03
	Would you consider recommending the Korean Medicine infertility support program to others?	3.94±0.77
	What stage of pregnancy was achieved within two years after completing the Korean Medicine infertility program?	No Pregnancy	7(43.8 %)
		Pregnancy Maintained for 3 Months	3(18.8 %)
		Pregnancy Maintained for 6 Months	2(12.5 %)
		Full-Term Delivery	4(25.0 %)
		Others	0(0%)
No Participation Experience (n=284)	Would you consider participating in the Korean Medicine infertility support program or recommending it to others?	3.62±0.97

Table 6

Awareness of the Safety and Efficacy of the Korean Medicine Infertility Support Program

classification	Mean ± SD
classification	Total population	Male	Female	Western medicine group	integrative medicine group
Do you think Korean Medicine infertility treatment is safe?	3.58±0.87	3.58±0.96	3.58±0.83	3.60±0.88	4.00±0.50
Do you think Korean Medicine infertility treatment is effective?	3.52±0.86	3.45±0.98	3.55±0.79	3.53±0.90	3.67±0.86

Table 7

Awareness of the Advantages Regarding Korean Medicine Infertility Treatment

	classification	N, % (Rank)		Score^#
	classification	First choice	Second choice	Score^#
What do you think are the advantages of Korean Medicine infertility treatment?	Infertility, as well as symptoms such as indigestion and menstrual pain, improve together.	91, 30.3% (2)	75, 25.0% (1)	257
	Treatment and management are tailored to individual conditions.	115, 38.3% (1)	72, 24.0% (2)	302
	There is little fear as the treatment process does not involve severe pain or physical abnormalities.	29, 9.7% (4)	47, 15.7% (3)	105
	There are fewer side effects during treatment, making it sustainable without significant burden.	37, 12.3% (3)	45, 15.0% (4)	119
	The treatment cost is relatively affordable.	5, 1.7% (7)	26, 8.7% (5)	36
	There are many Korean Medicine clinics nearby for infertility treatment, making it easily accessible.	2, 0.7% (8)	12, 4.0% (6)	16
	The Korean Medicine practitioner provides significant emotional support during the treatment process.	9, 3.0% (6)	20, 6.7% (7)	38
	Others^*	12, 4.0% (5)	3, 1.0% (8)	27

# Score: The response selected as the first priority is assigned 2 points, and the response selected as the second priority is assigned 1 point, with the total score calculated accordingly.

* Uncertain, improves constitution, seems beneficial for those already receiving Korean Medicine treatment, No advantages, Korean Medicine infertility treatment seems meaningless

Table 8

Awareness of the Concerns Regarding Korean Medicine Infertility Treatment

classification		N, % (Rank)		score
classification		First choice	Second choice	score
What do you think are the concerns regarding Korean Medicine infertility treatment?	It is difficult to receive an infertility diagnosis at Korean Medicine clinics.	54, 18.0% (2)	14, 4.7% (7)	122
	There are doubts about the effectiveness of Korean Medicine infertility treatment.	76, 25.3% (1)	36, 12.0% (5)	188
	It is difficult to consistently take herbal medicine for a long period (about 3 months).	48, 16.0% (3)	31, 10.3% (6)	127
	There are concerns about safety, such as liver toxicity, due to long-term herbal medicine use (about 3 months).	43, 14.3% (4)	45, 15.0% (4)	131
	Korean Medicine infertility treatment often needs to be paid out-of-pocket, making it financially burdensome.	35, 11.7% (5)	71, 23.7% (1)	141
	There are not many Korean Medicine clinics for infertility treatment nearby, making it difficult to access.	23, 7.7% (6)	52, 17.3% (2)	98
	There may be issues when Korean Medicine infertility treatment is combined with medical treatments (e.g., IVF).	21, 7.0% (7)	49, 16.3% (3)	91
	Others^*	0, 0% (8)	2, 0.7% (8)	2

* Uncertain

Table 9

Perceived Benefits of Integrative Western and Korean Medicine Treatment for Infertility

classification	Score (Mean ± SD)
classification	Total population	Male	Female	Western medicine group	integrative medicine group
Do you think combined treatment with Western medicine and Korean medicine infertility programs is necessary?	3.71±0.92	3.72±0.99	3.70±0.88	3.63±0.99	3.78±0.83
Do you think combined treatment with Western medicine and Korean medicine infertility programs is more effective than treating each separately?	3.75±0.93	3.76±1.01	3.74±0.89	3.73±0.95	4.00±1.00

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