Treatment Costs: What You Can Expect to Pay for Infertility Treatment

Treatment Costs: What You Can Expect to Pay for Infertility Treatment

A variety of consultations, tests, medications, and procedures are involved in the diagnosis and treatment of infertility. These tests and treatments can be expensive, and health insurance plans offer varying degrees of coverage, if they offer coverage at all. Know what the potential expenses are, so you can plan accordingly.

Ask Questions

Since pricing tables supplied by clinics often don’t include all potential costs you might incur, it is important to ask some additional questions:

• What pre-cycle screening tests are required and what are their costs?
• Will you be required to pay in advance, and what methods of payment are acceptable?
• What are the costs of different treatment procedures and medications?
• Will the clinic submit any bills to your insurance company if applicable?
• What payment is expected if the treatment cycle is canceled before egg retrieval?
• What costs are involved with embryo freezing and storage?

Average Costs

While costs vary by clinic and are subject to change, the following offers some average prices on several typical treatments to give users an idea of what lies ahead. Some of these estimates were obtained by the American Society of Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) in a survey of over 30 clinics across the country. Others were obtained by our own research.

• The average cost of an intrauterine insemination (IUI) cycle: $865; Median Cost: $350. Note: prices range from $2,000-$2,500 when ovulation induction, medications and screenings are included.
• The average cost of an in vitro fertilization (IVF) cycle using fresh embryos (not including medications): $8,158; Median Cost: $7,500 Note: Medications for IVF are $3,000-$5,000 per fresh cycle on average.
• The average additional cost of an intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) procedure:$1,544; Median Cost: $1,500
• The average additional cost of a preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) procedure: $3,550; Median Cost: $3,200
• The average additional cost of a donor egg: $12,000 plus medications for the egg donor which can range from $2,000-$3,000.
• The average cost for clomiphine citrate: $10 per pill or $50 per month.
• The cost of embryo cryopreservation: $700-$900, and storage can cost $600-$1000 per year.

Interesting trends surfaced during the research process. In geographic areas with few clinics, prices, on average, were higher. Also, higher treatment costs were not associated with geographical areas with higher costs of living.

If cost is a factor, as it is for many, make sure to ask for a detailed list of procedures, medications and associated costs to become educated about the financial demands that treatment brings.