Navigating the Costs of Fertility Treatments

The Story

More than 1 in 10 women face obstacles having children the old fashioned way, which can make the path to parenthood extra expensive.

Wait, won’t my health insurance cover fertility treatments?

It depends on your policy...and where you work. And where you live. Some companies offer fertility benefits, but only 16 states require insurance providers to cover or at least offer coverage. Sooo you could be riding solo. 

Related: Health Insurance Terms to Know

Then what kinda bill am I up against?

Docs typically suggest taking meds that can kick start egg production first. Some names to know: Clomid, Serophene, and Femara. These guys cost about $1,200 per cycle, including consultations, ultrasounds, blood tests, and monitoring. 

If the ones you swallow aren’t working, say hello to gonadotropins. Fancy word for the ones you inject. They’re stronger, but can add another $1,000 to $7,000 to your bill. 

And if meds don’t do the trick on their own?

The next step is usually IUI (intrauterine insemination), which is when the doc  shoots sperm directly into your uterus. It’s almost always paired with meds so tack on another $150 to $1,000 to the above number for your grand total. 

What about IVF?

This time, egg and sperm meet outside your body. And surprise: there’s a cost for getting the eggs out, injecting the sperm, and putting the fertilized egg(s) back in. With the medication, ultrasounds, blood tests, anesthesia, genetic screenings, and monitoring, the avg cost tops $20,000 per cycle. 

Oh, and most people need to do more than two rounds to actually have a baby. So you could be looking at a bill closer to $40,000 or $60,000. 

Ouch. Anything else?

Maybe. If you need a donor egg, tack on another $12,000 to $25,000 per cycle. Sperm’s cheaper at about $1,000 a vial. You can also pull a Kim K. and ask someone else to carry your baby. If you can’t find a friend, family member or other volunteer, expect to shell out up to $100,000 for a surrogate.

If you wanna put your eggs on ice to use later, you could be on the hook for anywhere from $4,000 to $13,000 depending on your health, insurance coverage, and the clinic or hospital you go to.

Related: I Froze My Eggs to Focus on My Career

theSkimm

When it comes to having babies, you have options – but none of them are free (or guaranteed). Reviewing the costs can help you adjust your budget for baby-making. And pick the right method for you.