Infertility Options and Costs

Key Points:

• Many couples experience infertility and face physical and emotional challenges in trying to become parents.
• The costs associated with infertility treatments can become overwhelming.
• Surrogacy is a chance for a hopeful couple to become parents, and working with the right agency increases the chance of success.

There are quite a few infertility options you and your partner can consider if you’re trying to conceive.

A few common infertility options include:

• Infertility medications
• Surgical procedures
• Assisted conception
• Surrogacy

If you want to find out more about your family-building options, we’re ready to help!

Speak with a specialist today!

But continue reading to learn more about infertility options and costs associated with those treatments.

Coping with an Infertility Diagnosis

Before we detail the different infertility options and costs associated with them, we want to tell you it’s normal to feel frustration, grief, and “alone” after receiving an infertility diagnosis. But infertility is quite common.

According to the Mayo Clinic, 10% to 15% of couples in the United States are considered infertile. Infertility support groups are dedicated to helping people work through this tough time. When you and your partner agree to pursue other options, you can move forward together.

Infertility Options and Costs

There are quite a few treatments people experiencing infertility can try. Your doctor can help you determine which option is best for you.

Medication for Infertility

Sometimes, a doctor will prescribe a medication to induce ovulation. These oral or injectable medications are often used with intrauterine insemination (IUI).

Two common oral ovulation-stimulating medications are:

• Clomid
• Femara

These infertility medications typically cost anywhere from $5 to $20 a month.

A doctor also may prescribe injectable hormones called gonadotropins. These typically cost $2,500 to $3,500 per month.

Surgical Procedures for Infertility

A doctor may perform surgery to repair blockages, treat an underlying health condition, and more.

Some common reasons a doctor may choose to treat infertility with surgery are:

• Fallopian tube repair
• Surgery to correct endometriosis, fibroids, or polycystic ovary syndrome
• Epididymal repair
• Sperm retrieval

All surgery costs vary due to factors like where a patient lives and insurance coverage.

Assisted Conception for Infertility

There are two types of assisted conception a doctor may suggest: Intrauterine insemination (IUI) and in vitro fertilization (IVF).

Understanding IUI Basics

A doctor will try IUI before IVF because it’s less invasive and more affordable (one round typically costs $3,000-$3,500).

IUI is a good option if:

• You are a woman with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)
• You or your partner have experienced other infertility challenges
• And more

The IUI Cycle

IUI happens in a doctor’s office or fertility clinic. During IUI, the following occurs:

• Cycle tracking: During the first 12 to 14 days of your cycle, a doctor will take blood and perform ultrasounds to ensure eggs are ready for ovulation. A doctor also may prescribe fertility medications to increase your chance of getting pregnant.
• Sperm collection, ovulation, and insemination: A doctor will take a sperm sample and separate the healthy sperm from all other seminal fluid. The sperm is then inserted into the uterus during ovulation.
• Determine pregnancy: A doctor will test to determine if you are or are not pregnant. If you are, you’ll start to work with an OBGYN. If you aren’t, you may try another round of IUI or go on to IVF.

Understanding IVF Basics

Doctors often try other fertility treatments (medication, etc.) before suggesting IVF because it’s more invasive and expensive (it ranges from $15,000 to $30,000).

A medical professional may offer IVF as the primary treatment for infertility if you or your partner:

• Is a woman over 40
• Have certain health conditions
• Has experienced fallopian tube damage or blockage
• Have ovulation disorders, endometriosis, uterine fibroids, previous tubal ligation, or impaired sperm production
• Are experiencing unexplained infertility

The IVF Cycle

After a doctor determines IVF is the best fertility option for you, you or your partner will go through the following IVF steps.

• Undergo screening: These screenings determine if IVF can be successful.
• Take fertility medications: A doctor will likely prescribe fertility medications to help egg production and prepare the body for implantation.
• Pre-retrieval tests: A doctor will run a few tests – including a vaginal ultrasound and bloodwork – to determine whether eggs are ready for collection.
• Sperm production: The male will provide a sperm sample that is combined with their partner’s eggs.
• Insemination at a fertility clinic: Eggs and sperm are combined and stored at a fertility clinic to encourage fertilization. If the doctor thinks there is a lower chance of fertilization, they may use intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI).
• Prepare for transfer: This happens three to five days after egg retrieval and fertilization. If the transfer is successful, the embryo will implant into the uterus lining in six to 10 days.

IVF Results

After 12 days, a doctor will take blood to confirm a pregnancy. If a pregnancy is confirmed, you or your partner will begin to see an OBGYN. If pregnancy isn’t confirmed, you and your partner have a few choices:

• Try another round of IVF
• Try another family-building option, like gestational surrogacy

Building Your Family Through Surrogacy

Deciding to pursue surrogacy can be exciting and emotional. You likely have experienced a lot of loss during your infertility journey, and it’s OK to take time to collect your thoughts before calling a surrogacy agency.

Surrogacy Basics

Surrogacy is when a gestational surrogate, intended parents (you), and surrogacy agency work together to create your baby.

A surrogacy agency will provide you with a surrogacy professional who will have your back throughout your surrogacy.

Intended parent surrogacy fees range from $60,000 to $150,000.

Surrogacy Agency Benefits

Although intended parents sometimes pursue independent surrogacy, working with a surrogacy agency is beneficial. Surrogacy agencies will provide you with:

• A surrogacy professional who will help you from the beginning through the end of your journey
• Other professional references to ensure your surrogacy is legal and safe
• Surrogate matching services
• And more

How Does Surrogacy Work?

Generally, intended parents go through the following steps on their surrogacy journey.

• Step 1: Choose a surrogacy agency
• Step 2: Complete surrogacy screenings with the support of your agency
• Step 3: Match with a surrogate
• Step 4: Sign a surrogacy contract
• Step 5: Start the medical surrogacy process
• Step 6: Confirm the pregnancy
• Step 7: Bring your child home

Next Steps in Weighing Infertility Options and Costs

There are a lot of infertility treatments you and your partner can try. You and your doctor can determine the best option for your situation.

Contact us today if you want to learn more about infertility options and costs and determine how you can build your future family.