Seeing a fertility doctor is the right decision when planning to conceive or facing reproductive health issues like infertility. Fertility treatment involves various costs, from consultation to medication and procedures. No standard cost exists because everyone has unique needs.
While some treatments may require thousands of dollars, others hardly crack the $10 mark in monthly payments. Here’s an overview of the costs involved in fertility treatment:
1. Consultation Costs
Consultation fees are some of the most common costs featured in medical bills. Fertility clinics will charge varying or fixed fees, depending on their pricing structures. Some clinics waive the consultation fees if you choose their doctor for diagnosis and treatment.
Most charge a fixed cost that allows you to schedule a one-on-one appointment with a fertility doctor. You can contact them via phone or live chat, which is free except for the phone bill.
Once you schedule an appointment with a doctor, you’ll pay a small consultancy fee. The amount varies from doctor to doctor, depending on the clinic’s status, doctor’s experience, appointment length, and other factors.
You can make cost inquiries online or during the initial phone call when scheduling an appointment. Virtually all first visits to a fertility clinic involve consultancy fees. Regular clients may receive discounted prices.
2. Examination & Diagnosis Costs
After the first appointment, your doctor may recommend various tests. The first appointment involves examining your medical history and discussing your needs. If there’s a fertility problem, the doctor will determine the ideal diagnostics to identify it.
Popular tests include a blood test, ovulation test, and hormonal test. Others include hysterosalpingography, ovarian reserve testing, imaging tests like sonohysterogram, pelvic ultrasound, and laparoscopy.
Each test, including a physical examination of the reproductive organ, has an attached fee. Some diagnostics are more expensive than others because they involve advanced equipment or thorough analysis. Your doctor will discuss each test required and how much it costs.
The cost of each test varies depending on the fertility clinic you visit. High-end clinics with experienced doctors and advanced equipment leveraging the latest technology charge more.
3. Drugs & Medications Costs
Many fertility issues are treatable without advanced or invasive procedures. Oral medications and injectable hormones are popular ways to buffer the chances of conception. Fertility medications are generally affordable, with oral pills costing around $5 to $20 per month.
Your doctor will also perform ultrasound monitoring to track progress and determine if the drugs are effective. A typical cycle involving ultrasound, oral pills, and intrauterine insemination (IUI) can cost up to $700 per month.
IUI isn’t necessary in some cases, so the cost of treatment can drop. Injectable hormones like gonadotropins are a tad expensive and almost always require intrauterine insemination. Some couples choose oral medication with low-dose injections instead of full-cycle injections.
Your doctor will discuss the ideal treatment to give you the best chance of getting pregnant. Injectable hormones can cost anything from $1,500 to $3,500 per month.
4. IUI & IVF Treatment Costs
Oral medication and injectable hormones may not work for some couples. Your doctor may recommend assisted reproductive technology (ART) treatments like intrauterine insemination and in vitro fertilization (IVF).
ART treatments like IVF are highly successful but also expensive. IUI involves placing sperm cells in the uterus to initiate fertilization and conception. IVF fertilizes an egg in a petri dish and transfers the embryo to the womb for implantation.
On route to an IVF or IUI procedure, the subject may need medications, blood work, ultrasounds, anesthesia, and embryology procedures. Such components add up the total cost of the ART. You could pay up to $13,000 or more depending on the procedure, clinic, and doctor performing the IVF.
ART treatments offer the best solution for infertility that doesn’t respond to medication and lifestyle changes but tend to cost more.
5. Surgeries & Other ART Options
Fertility issues can stem from conditions that require surgical operations to correct. Conditions like fibroids or endometriosis are fixed by removing the abnormal tissues that block the reproductive tract.
Your doctor will also recommend treating underlying reproductive health issues before targeting infertility. The cost of treatment will depend on the procedures you need, medication, examinations, and other factors.
IUI and IVF are popular assisted reproductive technologies, but couples have many other options. Your doctor may recommend frozen embryo transfer, egg/sperm donation, gestational carrier, egg preservation, and more.
Exhausting your options is advisable when looking for affordable fertility treatment. Your condition and budget will determine the most suitable treatment. Some involve regular visits throughout pregnancy and may cost more.
Working With an Experienced Fertility Doctor
Fertility clinics offer various services and treatments, and each facility has a unique cost structure. Since every couple is different, there’s no fixed cost of treatment. Most clinics customize the services to the client’s needs to guarantee the best results.
You can discuss costs during the initial appointment to understand and plan your treatment. Make sure you work with a reputable fertility doctor that can focus on your unique needs.
Not everyone needs an IVF, so you should choose trustworthy clinics for accurate diagnosis and customized treatment. You should also compare treatment options to find the most effective remedy at an affordable cost.
