Fertility Treatment Costs: How to Pay for IVF

First, it’s important to understand the costs of fertility treatments, what is covered by insurance, and ways to pay for out-of-pocket costs. Once you’ve figured out how you can afford IVF or other fertility treatments, you can focus on your goal of starting a family.

We’ve put together an overview of common fertility treatments, focusing on in vitro fertilization—one of the most frequently utilized types of fertility procedures.

Table of contents

• Fertility treatment costs and options 
• How much does IVF (in vitro fertilization) cost?
• How much do other fertility treatments cost? 
• How do people afford IVF and other fertility treatment costs?

Fertility treatment costs and options

The methods to help treat infertility have continued to expand in recent years. Treatments include intrauterine insemination (IUI), in vitro fertilization (IVF), donor egg IVF (DE IVF), and various medications. Surgeries and third-party surrogates are also sometimes options.

Each of these treatments entails different procedures and costs. Insurance coverage for various fertility alternatives may be available and can vary by state. 

How much does IVF (in vitro fertilization) cost?

IVF is defined as a multistep process that involves egg stimulation, egg retrieval, lab fertilization, and transfer.¹ While IVF treatment costs may be as low as $12,000, they can exceed $60,000, depending on individual procedure, testing, and medications.² Factors such as your age, medical history, location, and the number of accessible fertility clinics can also affect the price.

In general, IVF costs often range from about $15,000 to $30,000, based on an individual’s or a couple’s unique situation.³

For example, treatments may depend on which medications your doctor recommends or whether you need to use donor eggs or sperm. You might also choose a technique called intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), in which a single healthy sperm is injected directly into a mature egg.

Doctors may also suggest testing embryos to check for chromosomal abnormalities. Some people believe it may help reduce miscarriage rates and unsuccessful transfers. The tests generally cost around $5,000 for each IVF cycle.

If you need more than one IVF cycle to get pregnant, you’re multiplying the costs. The overall journey to pregnancy may be quite expensive. The use of ICSI in the process could increase this further, from $800 to $2,500 more, depending on the clinic.⁴

Working closely with your doctor to understand your specific plan is important and could also potentially save on costs.

How much do other fertility treatments cost?

While IVF is among the most common fertility treatments, there are other options your specialist might recommend, depending on your specific needs. 

FET (Frozen embryo transfer)

If previous embryos were produced through IVF, healthy embryos may be frozen for future transfer into the uterus. FET may also be recommended for medical reasons. The cost for this procedure could be about $3,000 to $5,000.²

IUI (Intrauterine insemination)

With IUI, healthy sperm are placed directly in the uterus around the time that the ovary releases one or more eggs to be fertilized. IUI may be performed to coincide with a menstrual cycle or in tandem with fertility medicines. 

The cost of IUI is substantially lower compared with IVF, often running from $500 to $4,000 per cycle, depending on the clinic, medications, blood work, and additional visits.⁵ But IUI is often less effective than IVF. Couples may need several rounds of IUI before one is effective, which would increase the overall cost.

Fertility medications

If you struggle with ovulation, doctors may recommend fertility medicines as a primary treatment. However, there are many medications that are used in fertility treatments for assorted reasons. Medicines may be used to regulate hormones, stimulate follicle growth, suppress ovulation, or trigger ovulation. The estimated cost of fertility medications can range from $2,000 to $7,000 or more for each cycle.³

To save costs, you might want to ask your doctor about generic medications or see if they have free samples available.

Third-party gestational surrogacy

For some people pregnancy may pose a serious health risk or may not be possible for other reasons. Choosing IVF using a gestational carrier can also be an option. When surrogacy is chosen, a fertilized embryo is placed in the uterus of a third person. According to some estimates, the cost of a third-party gestational carrier can range from more than $30,000 to nearly $38,000.⁶ An additional $15,000 to $30,000 might be needed to pay agency fees. In all, a third-party surrogate may cost well over $100,000 after lawyer fees, hospital costs, and other factors are also added in.⁷

Fertility surgery

There are many types of surgeries that might be considered to treat infertility. Some surgeries may be performed with small incisions. Others might require larger cuts to treat conditions such as endometriosis, pelvic adhesions, and larger fibroids. The cost of these procedures can vary widely, depending on the location and the complexity of the surgery.

Talk to your doctor, the fertility coordinator, billing office, or your insurance provider to understand the possible procedures, costs, and potential out-of-pocket expenses. Knowing all the possible charges will help you make the right financial decisions.

Unfortunately, not every insurance policy covers all these expenses. But there may be other ways for you to pay for the treatment.

How do people afford IVF and other fertility treatment costs?

If you are looking for ways to pay for fertility treatments, you may have several options, such as insurance, grants, tax-free spending accounts, provider payment plans, and personal loans.

Insurance

Your health insurance may be an option to cover fertility treatments. As of 2024, 22 states had laws requiring insurers to either offer coverage or to provide coverage for infertility treatment.  The amount of coverage can vary from state to state.

If you have insurance coverage, check if the labs and technicians your doctor uses are in-network through your provider. Just because your doctor is in-network doesn’t mean all related services will be. Be sure to carefully review your insurance policy, and reach out to your HR coordinator or provider to confirm what is covered.

For example, your plan may cover fertility medications, but only those of a specific brand. Or it may cover routine lab work, but only at designated labs. It may only cover a second IVF treatment if you have a successful pregnancy from the first treatment. Ask all the questions you can to minimize out-of-pocket costs when seeking treatment.

Nonprofit organizations and charities

There are many national and local nonprofit organizations that support fertility treatments and related costs. Some were established to assist with specific types of patients, while many include income thresholds. They each have individual requirements and may take some time to approve applications. By researching available grants and charities, you may be able to find more financial assistance.

Flexible spending accounts (FSA)

If your employer offers an FSA as part of your benefits package, you may be able to set aside a portion of your pre-tax income to help cover IVF treatment costs. Look into your company’s policy or contact your human resources department to see if this option is available.

Payment plans or financial assistance from your provider

Your doctor may also offer a payment plan, discounts for uninsured patients, or even a shared-risk program. Be sure to ask what financial support they can offer and how it may affect your out-of-pocket expenses. It never hurts to ask.

Personal loans

A personal loan may be a strong option for affordable financing for your fertility treatments. You could receive a much better interest rate than you would with a credit card. And, you don’t risk your assets by mortgaging your home or face penalties as you might with a 401(k) loan.

With a Discover personal loan, additional benefits include a fixed interest rate, along with one set regular monthly payment and flexible repayment terms. Knowing the date your loan could be paid off may give you additional peace of mind.

You don’t have to go broke to have a baby. Use our personal loan calculator to estimate your monthly payments based on your needed loan amount and credit score.

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The information provided herein is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be construed as professional advice. Nothing contained in this article shall give rise to, or be construed to give rise to, any obligation or liability whatsoever on the part of Discover Bank or its affiliates.