By Evelina Weidman Sterling, PhD

            It’s no secret once you walk through that door marked “infertility,” you are going to pay more than you expected.  But, how much does it really cost to treat infertility?

            With appropriate treatment, nearly 90 percent of families can bring home a baby.  The key is finding the most appropriate treatment for you.   About half of families seeking infertility treatment become pregnant with lower-tech and less expensive options like fertility medications and intrauterine inseminations (IUIs)  For the other half, this means utilizing more expensive assisted reproductive technologies (ARTs).

            In vitro fertilization (IVF) is by far the most common ART.  In fact, well over one million babies have been born world-wide through the use of IVF.  For most families, IVF is not covered by insurance.  Over 70 percent pay for this treatment completely out-of-pocket. 

            Because no official data have been collected, no one is completely sure how much IVF really costs to perform.  Costs include the clinic fees, doctor’s time, lab expenses, and other overhead costs that keep the fertility clinic running day-to-day.  Still, the amount that clinics charge for IVF varies greatly—from about $6,000 to more than $25,000. 

            Before you get too excited or disappointed, know what this price includes.  Some clinics include everything related to IVF in their quote.  Other clinics start with a lower number and then tack on every imaginable charge, including related testing, monitoring, anesthesia, and education.  As you can tell, this can make a huge difference in the amount you pay in the end. 

            The cost of IVF does not correlate to quality of care.  Don’t assume that the more you spend, the more likely your IVF will be successful.  There are plenty of very successful clinics that charge towards the lower end of the scale.  Likewise, not all high-priced clinics deliver great outcomes. 

            Basically, clinics charge whatever the market will accept.  As reproductive technologies have improved and people are much more willing to seek medical care to become pregnant, the market has tolerated a lot.  Doctors have quickly learned people will line up to pay big bucks for the chance to bring home a baby.  And because there are so few fertility clinics (only about 450 in the entire U.S.), they have a captive audience and are able to demand a lot for what they do.

            Geography plays an important role in price as well.  Clinics located in large, metropolitan areas with a higher cost-of-living tend to charge more.  Similarly, areas that have a limited number of clinics are also able to charge more since people don’t have other options.  Size of clinic also influences prices.  The bigger the clinic, the more overhead is needed to cover the additional space, staff, and other related costs. 

In order to attract even more higher-paying patients, some clinics go all out when it comes to their office environment.  High-rent districts, beautiful décor, and slick marketing result in these costs being shifted directly to the patient through increased pricing.  Economically speaking, it is more advantageous for these types of clinics to charge more money and see fewer patients, therefore maximizing their bottom line. 

            In order to keep their prices down, some clinics try to be more modest in their spending—smaller offices, less desirable neighborhoods, simpler decorations, and fewer “extras.”  These cost-savings are transferred to the patients by charging less for services.  It is their goal to help as many families as possible become pregnant.  It is often these clinics that accept the most diverse population of infertility patients, including the hardest cases and those who would not be able to seek care elsewhere.

            How do you lessen some of these expenses and bring the cost of IVF into a more manageable range?  Most importantly, shop around.  This is a huge investment for you—emotionally, physically, and financially.  Not all clinics are equal so don’t just run to the closest one without doing your homework.  Sometimes traveling a couple of hours can save you thousands of dollars and a great deal of frustration. 

            Don’t be afraid to talk money.  Ask the tough financial questions up front, including why treatments cost a certain amount, what’s included, and if there is any room for negotiation.  Figure out how much you can realistically afford.  Sometimes clinics might be willing to work with you, especially given the current economic crisis.

            While we all like to think the sky’s the limit when it comes to building our families, being a smart consumer and saving money are critical.  Fertility treatments don’t always work the first time, or you might decide to have another child down the road.  The money you save now could make the difference of being able to afford one more chance at having a baby. 

Evelina Weidman Sterling, PhD, MPH, CHES is the award-winning and best-selling author of several consumer health books focusing on infertility, including Budgeting for Infertility, Having Your Baby through Egg Donation, and Living with PCOS.  Evelina is also the CEO of My Fertility Plan (www.myfertilityplan.com) a consulting firm aimed at providing patients and professionals with a wide range of action-oriented information about reproductive health.