One in five women of childbearing age will have trouble getting pregnant "naturally." Aware of today's economic woes, two fertility doctors share how much IVF costs, how to budget for it, and the IVF discounts you should research. (Yes—sometimes there are coupons!)
Celebrities having babies later in life is a big trend: Janet Jackson had a baby at 50, Hillary Swank at 48, Halle Berry was 47, Laura Linney gave birth at 49, Kelly Preston was 48, Geena Davis had twins at 48, and Brigitte Neilsen was 54 years old when she had her fifth child.
For older hopeful parents, this is encouraging…but most anyone can guess that these women are taking advantage of the science that’s on our side in the 2020s. Biologically, fertility for the average woman or an individual assigned female at birth (AFAB) still declines rather significantly after about 38 years old: By age 45, there’s just a 3% to 5% chance she will get pregnant on her own. Especially for the many families who have been affected by recent employment layoffs, pursuing fertility treatments can seem out of the question. It doesn’t have to be—but there’s a download of IVF wisdom you’ll need to know.
To start, yes—it’s almost certain these Hollywood moms having babies in their forties and fifties are undergoing reproductive assistancesays Sherry Ross, MD, an OB/GYN, fertility specialist and the author ofShe-ology: The Definitive Guide to Women’s Intimate Health. Period.“They’re using assisted reproductive technology, most likely IVF,” Dr. Ross says. “The window of fertility realistically ends around age 40 for most women, and after that the miscarriage rate is over 50%. What you see on TV and on social media can be very misleading, especially if they’re not honest about using fertility treatments.” Dr. Ross adds that these women may have used eggs from donors, while cryopreservation science for egg retrieval—better known as “egg freezing“—has also significantly grown in popularity over the past decade as technologies (and state and national fertility preservation regulations) evolve.
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What is IVF?
IVF, or in vitro fertilization, is one type of assisted reproductive technology (also called fertility treatments). A brief overview of what occurs throughout an IVF treatment is this: A doctor extracts eggs from the woman herself (after she has undergone several weeks of hormonal treatments), or the doctor uses donor eggs, which are then fertilized with sperm outside of the body in a laboratory dish. The fertilized egg, or embryo, is then transferred back into the woman’s uterus where it will hopefully implant and, around 40 weeks later, produce a baby.
There are many factors that go into deciding whether or not to use fertility treatments and IVF specifically—but for many couples a primary dictator is cost, says Anate Aelion Brauer MD, reproductive endocrinologist and IVF Director, SGF-New York Shady Grove Fertility.
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So, how much does IVF cost?
The short answer: On average, IVF in the US costs between $10,000 and $30,000 per treatment.
“IVF is expensive, there is no doubt about it,” says Dr. Brauer, adding that this is a decision that calls for this scale of investment. “Making babies in a lab setting is a risky business that requires the best practitioners and technology—both come at a high price.”
There’s also a more in-depth answer. Here’s how the costs of IVF might break down.
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Factors that influence the cost of IVF
These are the most common factors that affect the bottom number on the IVF bill, according to the doctors we spoke with:
Geographic location: Costs vary widely across the US based on the location alone. One reliable trend is that IVF treatments tend to cost more in major cities, or in areas where the cost of living is high. Often, however, these are the same areas where you’re most likely to find the procedure available at all—and where the most skilled IVF doctors and lab technicians work.
Clinic reputation and success rates: Clinics known to have a good reputation and high success rates often charge more for their services—and it’s always important to check references and reviews of clinics. (One IVF patient’s husband we spoke with works in the medical field and told us Yelp was one resource he and his wife referred to frequently to reach about other patients’ experiences with certain doctors.) Another excellent resource is SART.org, the site for the Society of Assisted Reproductive Technology. There, you can research the IVF success rates of doctors and clinics in a given geographical area.
Type of treatment: Within and surrounding the process of IVF, there are several different options for adding on services—such as genetic testing, the use of donor eggs or sperm, and type of embryo storage—and this is likely to cost more. However, many prospective parents find this type of additional investment to be sound.
Age and health of the parent: People who are older, have certain medical conditions, or are predisposed to particular pregnancy complications may require additional monitoring or treatments. This may also be true for semen analysis if the biological parent who is providing sperm is older or has undergone certain medical treatments (chemotherapy as one example).
Insurance coverage: Insurance may cover a portion of IVF but rarely all of it, and sometimes only under certain circumstances—and what it covers will vary from plan to plan.
Additional fertility services: You may need other services to increase your chances of IVF success. These may include hormone treatments to prepare your body, embryo selection and advanced testing, certain medications, facility costs, and storage.
A piece of good news? Talk to your certified public accountant (CPA): It’s not commonly known, even to some CPAs, but some states allow for tax deductions for at least a portion of medical expenses that have gone toward procedures or treatments that are done to ensure pregnancy in the future.
How can you find out how much will IVF cost for you?
Due to the many variables, most clinics will not give pricing over the phone or their website, says Dr. Brauer. “There are simply too many unknowns to give accurate pricing without seeing the patient,” she says. “Additionally, cost cannot be discussed until the patient knows exactly what type of treatment they will need. Schedule a consult with the doctor first to review a history and solidify a treatment plan, then you should be offered a financial consultation to better understand your specific costs and what your insurance will cover.”
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What can you do if you can’t afford IVF?
“This is a common and heartbreaking problem,” says Dr. Brauer. She offers some suggestions for making IVF more affordable:
Choose only what you need: IVF options are many and can add up quickly. Two that you may be able to cut, depending on your situation, are ICSI (intracytoplastic sperm injection) and PGS (preimplantation genetic screening). Your doctor can tell you if these are necessary for your case or just nice to have.
Checkbenefits coverage fromyour employer (or, if it applies, your partner’s employer): If you know you will want assisted reproductive technology, look for a job that offers that as part of its benefits package. If it doesn’t include the cost of fertility treatments, some employers offer a separate stipend or fertility benefit that could potentially be negotiated.
Ask about self-pay options: Some IVF programs have creative self-pay programs such as money back guarantees, discount programs and special financing plans.
Ask about need-based help: Some fertility centers will adjust pricing on a sliding scale according to need.
Look for discounts: Clinics may offer discounts or package deals for certain types of IVF.
Check out money back programs: These programs, often called “shared risk” or “fertility access,” are a way to pay for IVF without risking losing all your money if it isn’t successful.
Apply for a grant: In the US, there are several grant programs specifically for help with fertility costs. These include The Cade Foundation, Babyquest and Stardust but there are others, particularly for people of a certain demographic or social group related to factors like religion or race.
Plan your fertility
“From a young age, we teach women about how to prevent a pregnancy, but we teach almost nothing about how to plan for a pregnancy when they are ready,” says Dr. Ross. This planning—learning about your own fertility, your family history, your health risks, and what treatments are available—is ultimately empowering.
“Don’t be afraid of your ‘ticking biological clock,'” she says. “Work with it. As women, we’re encouraged to have this Oh, if it is meant to be it will just happen naturally attitude, when the reality is that having a baby can be a lot of work, time, sacrifice, and money … and those are things you can and should have a plan for,” she says.
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Popular Videos
Sources
Anate Aelion Brauer MD, Reproductive Endocrinologist and IVF Director, SGF-New York Shady Grove Fertility
Sherry Ross, MD, OB/GYN and Women's Health Expert at Providence Saint John's Health Center in Santa Monica, CA and author of she-ology
CDC: "Infertility"
FAQs
How Much Does IVF Cost in 2023? Fertility Doctors Share the Pointers to Consider? ›
The short answer: On average, IVF in the US costs between $10,000 and $30,000 per treatment. “IVF is expensive, there is no doubt about it,” says Dr. Brauer, adding that this is a decision that calls for this scale of investment.
How much is one round of IVF? ›According to the American Society of Reproductive Medicine, the average cost for one in vitro fertilization (IVF) cycle is more than $12,000. 1 However, prices vary significantly and basic IVF can be as much as $25,000 or may be as low as $10,000. It's rarely lower than that.
How much does it cost to get pregnant by IVF? ›The average cost of in vitro fertilization in the U.S. is currently about $11,000 to $12,000. General infertility treatments such as ovarian stimulation plus intrauterine insemination, IUI are significantly less expensive than in vitro fertilization. However they are also significantly less effective.
Why is IVF so expensive? ›There are add-ons, including genetic testing of the embryos and surgical procedures (such as sperm extraction or laparoscopy), which can increase the cost of I.V.F. by thousands of dollars. Most people will require more than one round of treatment, though exactly how many cycles you'll need is hard to predict.
What is the success rate of IVF over 40? ›IVF Success Rates Over 40
For women over 40, the IVF success rate is around 7%, with women under 42 having a higher rate of success than women over 42 years of age. In many cases, women over 40 may decide to use donor eggs.
According to NICE, women under 40 should be offered three rounds of NHS-funded IVF treatment if they've been trying unsuccessfully to start a family for two or more years, or if they've had 12 or more unsuccessful rounds of artificial insemination.
What is the cheapest price for IVF? ›The average IVF cost for one cycle of IVF in India ranges from INR 1,00,000 to 3,50000 (approximately $1,317 to $4,610), but this does not include medications, testing, or additional procedures that may be required.
Can you choose twins with IVF? ›Yes, a couple can ask for twins, but the clinic will counsel on the risks. The main risk with IVF is pre-term births. Pre-term births account for 60% of twin deliveries and bring a host of complications for the babies.
Can you choose gender with IVF? ›Intended Parents can determine gender through PGD/PGS/PGT-A during an IVF journey. Given a fertility doctor's ability to identify XX or XY chromosomes in the embryo with PGD tests, the gender selection process is almost 100% accurate.
How many rounds of IVF is average? ›Most couples have to undergo that previously mentioned three IVF rounds or more. The process takes its toll on mental and emotional health, and infertility/fertility treatments also take their toll on relationships.
Can you negotiate IVF cost? ›
These prices are generally flat and often represent the costs patients are typically quoted when they call a clinic to ask what IVF will cost. We've seen patients negotiate discounts for up to 10% and, according to our data, 27% of all U.S. patients have this fee covered entirely by insurance.
How can I make IVF cheaper? ›- Read Your Insurance Plan Carefully.
- Use Your Health Savings Dollars.
- Price Shop and Negotiate.
- Medical Tourism for IVF.
- Saving Money on Fertility Drugs.
- Shared Risk or IVF Refund Programs.
If loans or credit cards aren't an option for IVF financing, there are foundations, organizations and some treatment centers that offer grants — money that doesn't need to be repaid — for infertility treatments. Some grants may cover a portion of IVF treatment, while others pay for an entire cycle.
What is the best age for IVF? ›IVF is most successful for the women in their 20's and early 30's . Success rates start steadily decreasing once she reaches her mid 30's.
What age is most successful with IVF? ›Studies show that women in their 20s and 30s have the most success when getting pregnant through IVF and other reproductive technologies. According to the CDC, the average percentages of assisted reproductive technology (ART) cycles that lead to a live birth are: 31% in women younger than 35 years of age.
How many rounds of IVF do you need to get pregnant at 40? ›Women under the age of 35 are the most likely to benefit from a six-cycle regimen. Women 40-42 (using their own eggs) had a 31.5% live birth rate at the six-cycle mark. Women older than 42 (using their own eggs) had a <4% live birth rate at the six-cycle mark.
How successful is IVF on first try? ›Overall, first-time IVF success rates often fall between 25-30% for most intended parents. However, this probability tends to increase after multiple IVF cycles.
Where is the cheapest IVF in the world? ›- Czech Republic. IVF cost in the Chech Republic starts at €2,100 and egg donation IVF packages range from €4,600 to €5,500 – however you may find clinics where egg donation packages are cheaper – around €4,300.
- North Cyprus. ...
- Poland. ...
- Ukraine.
How long does it take to get pregnant with IVF? One cycle of IVF takes about two months. Women younger than age 35 will get pregnant and have a baby with their first IVF egg retrieval and subsequent embryo transfer(s) about half the time.
What are the disadvantages of IVF? ›With IVF treatment, the risk of an ectopic pregnancy doubles, to 1-3%, particularly in women with damaged fallopian tubes. There is evidence that high oestrogen levels associated with high stimulation IVF can increase the risk of prematurity and low birth weight in babies.
How long do you have to inject yourself for IVF? ›
The medicine is given either as a daily injection that you'll be taught to give yourself, or as a nasal spray. You continue this for about 2 weeks.
How many injections do you need for IVF treatment? ›Depending on the course of specific treatment and cycle, a patient may receive up to 90 shots per cycle with a frequency of 1–2 injections per day.
How many eggs do they implant with IVF? ›Even if ovulation is normal, fertility drugs are used to produce more than a single egg because pregnancy rates are higher when more eggs enable more embryos to be produced so that more embryo transfers are possible. An average of 10 – 20 eggs are usually retrieved for IVF.
How many eggs is normal for IVF? ›Women under 35 have the highest success rates in all of the “egg number” groups. Women under 38 in our IVF program have acceptable live birth rates even with only 3 – 6 eggs, do better with more than 6 eggs, and do best with more than 10 eggs.
Why are twins higher with IVF? ›The main reason for the seemingly higher occurrence rate of twins through IVF is the practice of transferring more than one embryo at a time in an IVF cycle. Until recently, most fertility doctors routinely transferred multiple embryos in the hope of achieving a better chance of success.
What gender is most common in IVF? ›Babies born by in vitro fertilization — when a woman's egg is fertilized outside of her body and then implanted back into her uterus — skew more heavily male than babies conceived naturally.
Are IVF babies normal? ›Having considered all the facts, IVF is still a boon to those who are unable to expect a baby in a normal process. The majority of the babies born through this process are healthy both physically and mentally. This, itself, assures the success of the process.
Are frozen embryos more likely to be female? ›Patients undergoing intracytoplasmic sperm insemination (ICSI), where one sperm is selected and injected into an egg, are significantly more likely to have girls, while freshly created embryos, as opposed to those frozen and thawed, are more likely to be male.
How long is 1 round of IVF? ›One full cycle of IVF takes about three weeks. Sometimes these steps are split into different parts and the process can take longer.
Do you pay per round of IVF? ›Depending on your needs, a single IVF cycle can cost $30,000 or more. More often, the total bill will fall somewhere between $15,000 and $20,000. Often, a clinic's base fee for IVF will cover monitoring appointments, bloodwork, egg retrieval and follow-up care.
How many people get pregnant after one round of IVF? ›
| Woman's age at first IVF cycle | Chance of a baby after first cycle | Chance of a baby after second cycle |
|---|---|---|
| Under 30 | 43% | 59% |
| 30-31 | 48% | 61% |
| 32-33 | 44% | 60% |
| 34-35 | 40% | 54% |
Baby Quest Foundation provides financial assistance through fertility grants to those who cannot afford the high costs of procedures such as IVF, gestational surrogacy, egg and sperm donation, egg freezing, and embryo donation. Grants are awarded two times per year and vary in amount.
Do you have to pay again if IVF fails? ›IVF refund programs offer the possibility of a full or partial refund if IVF treatment is not successful. These programs are sometimes called IVF shared risk because the clinic is also taking a risk that they will need to return some or all of the money.
Do you still have to pay if IVF fails? ›Seventy percent of IVF cycles fail, and when patients do multiple cycles the costs climb fast. To offset this, roughly half of U.S. clinics offer the chance to pay up front to buy a package of treatments at a discount, sometimes with a refund if you don't succeed.
Can you claim IVF on taxes? ›To start, fertility treatments, including IUI, IVF, embryo/egg/sperm storage, lab fees, and any other medications and required procedures due to infertility are tax deductible. In that same vein, birth control, which many of us use at the outset of our IVF cycles, is also an expense that you are allowed to write off.
What is a better option than IVF? ›Couples with infertility often start treatment with IUI, which is much less invasive than IVF. IUI involves placing a washed sperm directly into the woman's uterus during the fertile window.
Why is IVF not covered by insurance? ›Because infertility has long been considered a women's health issue, insurance companies perceived it as a niche issue and denied coverage to those experiencing it. This is despite the fact that nearly half of all cases are due to “male factor infertility.”
Can I take money out of my 401k for IVF? ›You may also qualify to actually withdraw money from your 401(k) to pay for out-of-pocket medical expenses, if your plan allows what's called a hardship withdrawal . You'll have to pay taxes and a 10% penalty on the amount you take out.
Can you do IVF at home? ›The color-coded kit includes oral and vaginal medications as well as nasal spray and urine testing strips for ovulation monitoring. The patient does all the preparation for egg retrieval on their own at home and does not regularly come to the fertility doctor's office for monitoring, bloodwork or ultrasounds.
What should a married couple do if they want the success rate of IVF to increase? ›- Maintain a healthy weight. ...
- Optimize sperm health. ...
- Partner with an excellent doctor and embryology laboratory. ...
- Reduce your stress. ...
- Quit smoking. ...
- Look into taking supplements.
Is IVF successful at 45 with own eggs? ›
Although of course there are exceptions, using own eggs for IVF by women over the age of 45 is unlikely to be successful. This means that you are very unlikely to get pregnant at 45 with own eggs. Fortunately, this does not necessarily mean that a woman is incapable of carrying her own child.
Is IVF over 40 worth it? ›Likelihood of pregnancy in your 40s with IVF
At an average, your chances of getting pregnant at 40 with Natural IVF* is 9%, whilst your chances with Mild IVF* are 20%. However, it is important to note that your chance of IVF success is dependent on your own specific circumstances.
However, pregnancy success rates using your own eggs drops considerably for women over 40. In the U.S., the likelihood of achieving a live birth from one egg retrieval in women between ages 41-42 is less than 20% (http://sart.org); in women above age 42, the rate is less than 5%.
Which stage of IVF is most difficult? ›Many people think that the embryo transfer is the most stressful part of in vitro fertilization (IVF). But for me, and most of the other women I've spoken to, it's egg retrieval that's most difficult.
How many times can you do IVF in a year? ›Since IVF treatments take such a hard toll on the body both mentally and physically, most doctors recommend that you shouldn't try more than three times without changing something.
Which IVF clinic has the highest success rate? ›Best Overall CCRM Fertility
With over 100,000 babies born to parents who sought support from CCRM and a higher-than-average success rate than most other clinics, CCRM tops our list as the best fertility clinic. Patient care and results are the highest priority for those who work at CCRM.
How many eggs does a woman have at 40? By the time a woman reaches 40, she'll be down to about 18,000 (3% of her pre-birth egg supply).
What is the chance of Down syndrome at 40 IVF? ›The risk for chromosome problems increases with the mother's age. The chance of having a child with Down syndrome increases over time. The risk is about 1 in 1,250 for a woman who conceives at age 25. It increases to about 1 in 100 for a woman who conceives at age 40.
How many IVF cycles does insurance cover? ›DOES MY INSURANCE COVER INFERTILITY AND IVF? New York requires all fully-insured employer groups to cover up to 3 cycles of IVF for people with a medical diagnosis of infertility.
How successful is one round of IVF? ›Overall, first-time IVF success rates often fall between 25-30% for most intended parents. However, this probability tends to increase after multiple IVF cycles.
Is one round of IVF enough? ›
The results show most people who go through IVF, regardless of their age, do not have a baby after one cycle. The data also demonstrates that the younger you are when you start IVF, the more likely you are to have a baby.
What age is IVF most successful? ›Studies show that women in their 20s and 30s have the most success when getting pregnant through IVF and other reproductive technologies. According to the CDC, the average percentages of assisted reproductive technology (ART) cycles that lead to a live birth are: 31% in women younger than 35 years of age.
How do people afford multiple rounds of IVF? ›If loans or credit cards aren't an option for IVF financing, there are foundations, organizations and some treatment centers that offer grants — money that doesn't need to be repaid — for infertility treatments. Some grants may cover a portion of IVF treatment, while others pay for an entire cycle.
What is the success rate of IVF on the first try? ›The national average for women younger than 35 able to become pregnant by in-vitro fertilization (IVF) on the first try (meaning, the first egg retrieval) is 55%. However, that number drops steadily as the woman ages.
What are the dark side of IVF? ›Conceiving with IVF does carry an increased risk of pregnancy complications. In particular, there is an increased risk of preterm birth, low birth weight, hypertension, maternal gestational diabetes, and placental complications⁷.
How can I increase my IVF success rate? ›- Maintain a healthy weight. ...
- Optimize sperm health. ...
- Partner with an excellent doctor and embryology laboratory. ...
- Reduce your stress. ...
- Quit smoking. ...
- Look into taking supplements. ...
- Ensure you have adequate levels of vitamin D. ...
- Focus on persistence and patience.
An IVF cycle typically takes around 6-8 weeks. The process includes an initial consultation, ovarian stimulation that lasts 8-14 days, egg retrieval, fertilisation, embryo transfer, and a pregnancy test. The embryo transfer and pregnancy test are typically performed 5 days after fertilisation.
How much is IVF for twins? ›It turns out, it can actually cost much more to have twins than to pay for additional IVF cycles. An IVF cycle costs $12,000 on average. A study in 2013 found that it costs roughly $21,000 to have a singleton baby, and that rate skyrockets to $105,000 for twins and more than $400,000 for triplets or higher.