How Much Does IVF Cost? – Forbes Health
If you are pricing IVF at fertility clinics in the US, expect to be quoted between $12,000 and $14,000 for a cycle. this, however, does not mean that you will pay that figure and that’s it. There are parts of the IVF process, some required, some optional, that most clinics treat as add-ons to the base fee. Depending on your needs, a single IVF cycle can cost $30,000 or more. more often, the total bill will be between $15,000 and $20,000.
Often, an IVF clinic’s base fee will cover follow-up appointments, blood tests, egg retrieval, and follow-up care. If your quote is less than $12,000, it could mean the base rate covers less than what is listed above. if your quote is over $14,000, the base rate could cover more. always ask for a clear list of what is included in the base rate and what will be charged as additional fees.
At most clinics, the price quoted does not cover the price of injectable hormones, which can cost anywhere from $3,000 to more than $6,000, usually paid directly to the pharmacy that filled the prescription.
Additional clinical fees may include intracytoplasmic sperm injection (a specialized way of creating embryos), genetic testing of embryos, a trial transfer (also called a simulated embryo transfer), and/or cryo-storage fees for the embryos you want keep.
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when making your budget, keep in mind that you may have to go through several embryo transfers or several complete IVF cycles. ask your clinic about the price of additional embryo transfers if the first transfer does not result in a successful pregnancy and delivery, as well as the price of additional gonadotropin cycles if you need to create more embryos. Many patients go through multiple IVF cycles before conceiving or moving on to other options, but some clinics offer discounted prices on the second or third cycle. There’s no way of knowing how you’ll do with IVF, but your clinic can provide you with statistics based on your age and ovarian reserve, the quality of your partner’s or donor’s sperm, and any other relevant medical factors.
If you are using a sperm donor, egg donor, gestational carrier, or surrogate, that can cost anywhere from a few hundred dollars extra for a sperm donation to tens of thousands of dollars for a carrier or surrogate.
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Here is a breakdown of the fees you may be charged as you go through the IVF process. not everything listed below will be required of all patients. And while we’ve included the procedures you’re most likely to encounter during IVF, other tests or procedures may be required, depending on your health history. Your fertility clinic will help create a plan that’s right for you.
The figures below are all estimates. Make sure you get prices directly from your clinic before starting the IVF process or signing paperwork.
expenses before the procedure (non-donor IVF)
- base fee: $12,000 to $14,000 (generally includes follow-up appointments, egg retrieval, embryo creation, and fresh embryo transfer)
- fertility evaluation: $250 to $500. This evaluation usually involves an ultrasound of the ovaries, a blood test, and a physical exam.
- semen analysis: $200 to $250
- injectable drugs: $3,000 to $6,000
- follow-up appointments: normally included in the base rate
- egg retrieval: usually included in the base fee
- anesthesia (during egg retrieval): included in the base rate up to $725
- donor sperm: $300 to $1600
- intracytoplasmic sperm injection (icsi): included in the base rate up to $2000. the standard way to create an embryo is to place an egg in a dish with tens of thousands of sperm and wait for fertilization. however, if enough sperm cannot be provided, if the sperm have trouble adhering to the egg, if the egg was frozen before the procedure, and/or if you plan to do genetic testing on the embryo, doctors may recommend ICSI. During ICSI, the embryologist will inject a single sperm into each egg with a small needle.
- simulated embryo transfer: $240 to $500. doctors mimic what they will do during embryo transfer (insert a catheter into the uterus) only without an embryo in the catheter. Since every body is different, this procedure helps the doctor determine what type of catheter to use and where to direct it when it’s time for the actual transfer. it is a low-risk procedure, although a recent randomized controlled trial of 200 patients suggests that it is not always necessary[1]borkar a, shah a, gudi a, homburg r. Outcome of sham embryo transfer before the first IVF cycle: a randomized control trial. int j reprod biomed. 2020;18(11):951-960. . some clinics do not charge for a simulated transfer.
- fresh embryo transfer: generally included in the base fee
- embryo cryopreservation: $1,000 to $2,000. freezing embryos requires several steps that can increase the cost of your ivf package. Doctors must first expose the embryos to a cryoprotective agent to prevent ice crystal formation. The embryos then undergo vitrification, a quick-chill freezing process (comparable to flash freezing) that also reduces the risk of ice crystal formation.
- embryo storage: $350 to $600 per year. Some clinics include up to a year of free storage in the base IVF price.
- genetic testing: $1,800 to $6,000. Embryos can be frozen to await the results of PGT, short for Preimplantation Genetic Testing. there are several types of tests and you will likely pay separately for each one. Prices vary depending on the test your doctor recommends and the genetics lab your clinic outsources to perform the tests.
- pgt-a, or preimplantation genetic testing-aneuploidy, detects extra or missing chromosomes.
- pgt-m, or monogenic preimplantation genetic testing, looks for specific genetic mutations that the embryo is at risk of inheriting based on the genes of the egg and sperm providers.
- pgt-sr, or preimplantation genetic testing: structural rearrangements, tests for inversions, translocations, deletions, and/or insertions within individual chromosomes.
- pgt-p, or Preimplantation Genetic Testing: Polygenic Disorders, the newest test, detects the risk of polygenic diseases such as cancer, heart disease, and diabetes.
- frozen embryo transfer (fet): included in the base rate up to $6400. the price of a frozen embryo transfer sometimes depends on the timing as well as previous transfer attempts. at some clinics, if you don’t attempt a new transfer, the first frozen transfer is included in the base fee. At other clinics, FET is always an additional fee (often to cover the price of embryo thawing and follow-up testing). some clinics also charge more per fet if you wait more than a year after embryo creation to do so.
- fet medication: $300 to $1,500. Your clinic may prescribe progesterone injections prior to a frozen embryo transfer to help increase the chances of a successful implantation.
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cost of mini ivf versus cost of full ivf
minimal stimulation cycle IVF, or mini IVF, is the term for an IVF cycle performed with minimal medications. You may also hear it referred to as IVF with mild ovarian stimulation, low-dose IVF, or low-dose IVF. instead of injecting hormones, a mini ivf patient might take an oral medication, such as clomid, or they might opt for an injectable medication but take a lower dose than is typically prescribed for an ivf cycle.
mini ivf is less expensive per cycle, often around $5,000 to $6,000 plus medications, which can range from $50 or less for clomid to $1,000 to $2,000 for injectable hormones. however, in terms of total cost, it is difficult to predict whether mini ivf will save you money. the lower dose of hormone will likely result in fewer eggs retrieved and therefore fewer potential embryos. If a mini IVF patient needs to do several embryo creation cycles, that can end up being more expensive and risky than doing conventional IVF.
However, a review of 31 randomized controlled trials published in the Human Reproduction Update in November found good news for individuals or couples exploring low-dose IVF with injectable medications. Although fewer eggs were retrieved from patients who received low doses compared to patients who underwent conventional IVF, the number of high-grade embryos created was similar, putting both groups of patients on more equal footing in terms of pregnancy outcomes, but reduced cost per low-dose patients[2]datta ak, maheshwari a, felix n, campbell s, nargund g. Mild versus conventional ovarian stimulation for IVF in poor, normal, and hyper-responders: a systematic review and meta-analysis. drone playback update. 2021;27(2):229-253. .
There are also reasons to explore mini IVF that have nothing to do with price, including its reduced risk of ovarian hyperstimulation.
costs of using donor eggs
If you are using donor eggs as part of your IVF cycle, the price will depend on the options the clinic offers.
Some fertility clinics have relationships with egg cryobanks and/or fresh egg donor agencies and require or suggest that you work within their system. in that case, the clinic will likely present you with a base price that includes the cost of the suppositories (usually in batches of six to eight) and some, but not all, medical expenses.
Frozen donor egg base cycle fee: $14,000 to $20,000+
fresh donor egg basic cycle fee: $27,000 to $47,000+
As with non-donor IVF, this fee is a starting point. ask your clinic what is included in the price of an egg donation cycle and what additional charges you should prepare for.
Other clinics allow you to work directly with a cryobank or agency to obtain fresh or frozen eggs. Depending on the bank or agency you choose, you could end up spending less than you would directly at a clinic, or you could end up spending more. it is unlikely that the total price will be drastically reduced by separating the fees. You can save a few thousand dollars by finding a cryobank that sells eggs in smaller batches; however, starting the IVF process with fewer eggs could mean you end up with fewer viable embryos.
If a clinic allows it, you may be able to save money by having a friend or family member donate eggs (called a known donor or directed egg donor). Most clinics, per American Society for Reproductive Medicine guidelines, will require the known donor to undergo a medical exam and psychological evaluation, and many will require a consultation with an attorney. Talk to your clinic about their requirements regarding known donors and associated costs.
costs of using a gestational carrier or surrogate
Using a gestational carrier usually involves legal fees and medical expenses. There are also agency fees if you choose to use an agency, as well as the fee paid to the person taking the child. in total, expect to pay between $60,000 and $150,000 or more.
The term “traditional surrogate” is used to describe a gestational carrier who also provides the eggs. The fees involved in traditional surrogacy are similar to gestational surrogacy, although medical expenses can be significantly reduced if IUI is used to inseminate the eggs. however, most states do not allow traditional surrogacy.
There is also compassionate surrogacy, an arrangement in which the surrogate or surrogate mother does not charge a fee to carry the child. this could save between $30,000 and $50,000.
