Fees Involved In Infertility Treatments
As infertility rates continue to climb amongst both men and women, the need for effective and affordable fertility treatments is also growing. Though some fertility procedures, like IUI and ovulation testing, are quite inexpensive, other very effective treatment options remain out of the question for most couples. So, if you are considering undergoing fertility treatments, it is important that you know what to expect when it comes to the pricing. By becoming familiar with the costs of various fertility procedures, you and your partner will be better able to plan your future needs.
Why are Infertility Treatments So Expensive?
If you and your partner are pursuing fertility treatments, you are probably actively comparing the prices offered by different fertility clinics. If you were not previously familiar with fertility treatments, the cost of these procedures may surprise or even shock you. You may even be wondering how it is possible that these treatments cost so much money.
The bottom line is that fertility treatment requires a lot of education, expertise, and experience. In order to get the best health care professionals involved in these procedures, it costs a lot of money, and these fees have to be passed on to the consumer. Additionally, with the introduction of highly precise and technological procedures, clinics need to find a way to pay for sophisticated and expensive machinery. Again, this cost is passed down to the patient. Moreover, health care practitioners usually need to perform multiple tests and examinations in order to diagnose and treat infertility, all of which take up time and money.
Can You Afford Fertility Treatments?
Before you and your partner decide on fertility treatments, you will want to spend a little time assessing your financial status. It is a good idea to write out exactly how much money you have to spend on fertility treatments and use this as a guideline on which to base your treatment choices. You may also want to investigate infertility insurance, which is now mandated by some states in the US. This mandate requires insurance companies to pay for at least part of some fertility procedures.
Typical Costs Involved
Here is some information about the typical fees involved in various fertility procedures. Depending upon your age, health status, and the country in which you live, costs may be higher or lower than those stated here.
Fertility Testing
In order to diagnose any fertility issues, it is likely that you and your partner will have to engage in some amount of fertility testing. Tests may vary, but often include:
- semen analysis: $40
- FSH testing: $35 to $60
- LH testing: $35 to $60
Diagnostic Procedures
In addition to the simpler fertility tests, you may also need to undergo more invasive techniques in order for your reproductive endocrinologist to determine any factors that may be contributing to your infertility. Tests may include:
- ultrasound: $200
- hysterosalpingogram: $600 to $900
- endometrial biopsy: $300
- diagnostic laparoscopy: $1500
Fertility Medications
When undergoing fertility treatments, including IUI and IVF, you may be required to take a variety of fertility medications, in order to encourage ovulation and increase your chances of pregnancy. These medications can be taken orally or are administered via subcutaneous or intramuscular injections. Cost for these medications can very widely, depending upon the policies of your clinic. Common medications include:
- Clomid: $750 per cycle
- Suprefact (GnRH): $100 per injection
- estradiol: $100 per cycle
- progesterone: $100 per cycle
- testosterone: $90 per cycle
Male Fertility Procedures
In cases of male factor infertility, there are many treatment alternatives that are often very effective when it comes to producing a pregnancy. Treatments may include:
- PESA: $2,000
- TESE: $3,000
- donor sperm: $150
Assisted Reproductive Procedures
A large percentage of the couples that visit fertility clinics choose to undergo some type of assisted reproductive therapy in order to increase their chances of becoming pregnant. These procedures range greatly in price, and may need to be performed for numerous cycles before they are successful.
- IUI: $300 to $500 per cycle
- IVF: $6,000 per cycle
- frozen embryo transfer: $3,000 per cycle
- donor embryos: $4,000
- donor eggs: $3,000 to $6,000
Additional Costs
You will find that there are additional costs that must be considered in addition to the costs of diagnostic procedures, fertility medications, and treatment procedures. These include:
- consultations: $150 to $300 per consultation
- hospital costs: $1,000
- screening costs: $100 per screen
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