How Much Does It Cost to Get Pregnant From IVF? - GoodRx (2024)

In vitro fertilization (IVF) is one kind of assisted reproductive technology (ART) that can address infertility and help you, your partner, or a surrogate carrier become pregnant. IVF is a complex process that includes ovarian stimulation, egg retrieval, fertilization, and embryo transfer.

IVF is costly. Including procedures, imaging, bloodwork, and medications, a single cycle can cost $15,000 to $30,000 or more. Some people go through more than one IVF cycle, which can multiply treatment expenses.

One in 10 U.S. women ages 15 to 44 have used some form of fertility service. Among them, about 2% have received IVF, according to the Pew Research Center.

What do IVF costs include?

Not including medications and genetic testing for embryos, the average IVF cycle costs $12,400 in the U.S., according to the American Society for Reproductive Medicine. This price typically includes:

• Facility fees: This covers fertility center or clinic charges for the work of medical professionals as well as laboratory services.

• Lab work and imaging: This includes monitoring and clinic visits during the ovarian stimulation phase when hormone medications (a separate cost) prompt your ovaries to produce eggs.

• Anesthesia: This is necessary to reduce pain as eggs are retrieved from your ovaries.

• Egg retrieval: This is the procedure to extract eggs from your ovaries. If you are using fresh sperm, this stage of the IVF process may also include sperm retrieval.

• Embryo creation: This egg fertilization procedure adds sperm to eggs in the laboratory.

• Embryo transfer: One or more embryos are placed in your uterus.

In addition, you will need prescription fertility medications for several steps in the process and genetic testing for the embryos. Most of your medication costs will come during the ovarian stimulation phase.

The total cost for one IVF cycle can range from $15,000 to $30,000, according to Forbes. Fertility IQ reports that the average cost exceeds $20,000. Its analysis of eight major cities and regions found a range of $20,000 to more than $25,000.

What factors affect the overall cost of IVF treatment?

Often, the cost of IVF treatment only describes what the fertility center or clinic charges. But your expenses will include prescription fertility medications as well as genetic testing for embryos.

The main factors affecting overall IVF treatment costs include:

• Medications: Fertility medication costs can range from $2,000 to $7,000 or more for each cycle. What you pay depends on the prescribed medications —which usually come from a speciality pharmacy —as well as treatment duration.

• Fertility clinic location: Costs vary by region. According to FertilityIQ data, total average IVF costs in selected metropolitan areas range from $20,010 in Boston to more than $25,000 in Los Angeles.

• Consultations: Fertility specialist consultations cost $200 or more.

• Donor eggs, sperm, or embryos: Using donor eggs, sperm, or embryos can increase costs. The price may be different depending on whether the eggs and/or sperm are fresh or frozen. Also, you may have costs for agency and storage fees.

• Number of cycles: You may have more than one cycle. Some clinics offer a discount when you commit upfront to multiple cycles, and you may receive a refund if you don’t need all of them. Some clinics offer unlimited IVF until you have a baby.

• Mini vs. traditional IVF: Mini IVF typically costs substantially less than traditional IVF. This is because mini IVF, as its name suggests, is a shorter process that requires fewer medications.

• Testing: IVF may include preimplantation genetic testing for the embryos created.

• Add-ons: These optional services include egg, sperm, and/or embryo storage. A 2023 report in The Washington Post about fertility storage fee hikes tracked annual prices from $600 to more than $1,500 for egg and embryo storage.

How are IVF costs determined?

IVF costs depend on how fertility clinics and centers charge for their services.

Some charge separately for fertility doctors, anesthesiologists, and IVF laboratories. Others bundle these costs.

It’s important to understand how you’re going to be billed — and what you’re going to be charged — before beginning IVF treatment. You should also check your prescription plan to see how the medications you need are covered.

Does insurance cover IVF?

Many comprehensive health insurance plans cover IVF, though benefits may be limited. For instance, your plan may only cover services for diagnosing infertility and/or fertility treatment.

According to Resolve: The National Infertility Association, about two dozen states have laws that mandate some sort of coverage for fertility treatment. Check the organization’s map to see what kind of coverage is mandatory in your state. Your state may require:

• IVF coverage

• Fertility preservation benefits that cover services such as freezing eggs

• IVF and fertility preservation coverage

• Some fertility coverage

The American Society for Reproductive Medicine provides this directory of state and territory infertility insurance laws.

According to one Texas fertility center, an insurance plan may provide coverage “up to the diagnosis,” which can be one visit —even though the process of diagnosis can be more than one appointment. In this case, you want to work with your center or clinic to request as much testing as possible during your initial visit.

Ways to make IVF more affordable

Without health insurance, fertility treatment is unaffordable and inaccessible to many people. IVF can require one or several cycles. Here are some ways to make IVF affordable:

• Find IVF grants and scholarships. Some nonprofits offer financial assistance for fertility treatments. Eligibility depends on factors such as income, marital status, and location.

• Shop around. Compare prices at different IVF clinics. We discuss how you can research clinic success rates below.

• Look for package deals. Some fertility centers offer discounts if you pay upfront for two or more IVF cycles. Sometimes, you can receive a full or partial refund if you don’t need all the services in the bundle.

• Take advantage of tax deductions. If your out-of-pocket medical expenses for a year are more than 7.5% of your adjusted gross income, your IVF costs could be tax deductible.

• Use a tax-advantaged account. With a health savings account (HSA) or flexible spending account (FSA), you can use pretax dollars to save on IVF costs.

• Find ways to reduce medication costs. GoodRx may be able to save you money on fertility medications.

• Look into military discounts. Active-duty military and veterans, as well as their partners, may be eligible for Tricare coverage and military discounts.

Managing IVF expectations

If you’re considering IVF, it’s important to manage your expectations. After all, the cost of IVF is high, and there are no guarantees.

You can use this CDC tool to check ART success rates (which include IVF) and other data for fertility clinics in the U.S. You can search for clinics near your ZIP code as well as in each state, Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico. Contact information for each clinic is also provided.

If you’re trying to gauge your likelihood of having a baby, you can use the CDC’s IVF Success Estimator.

It’s also important to note that your IVF treatment may have some hidden costs. These include lost income from time off from work as well as transportation and other expenses associated with doctor visits.