A single round of fertility treatments can cost over $20,000 - a couple who did it breaks down where the money went
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Lauren Lyons Cole
Jun 25, 2017, 19:15 IST
Courtesy of Anna Almendrala
IVF adds up. Anna Almendrala and Simon Ganz are pictured.
The story of the birds and the bees, as told to children, typically doesn't involve dollar signs.
But an increasing number of couples struggling with infertility are turning to expensive reproductive technologies, such as in vitro fertilization (IVF), to help them start a family.
$1,121.33: medication to stimulate egg production and prevent ovulation
$2,410: five ultrasounds and blood tests at about $500 each
$1,195: surgical clinic fee
$445: anesthesia fee
$2,440: procedure fee for egg extraction
$2,100: embryo handling by embryologist
$1,600: assisted oocyte fertilization (this was a "splurge"), which resulted in five embryos
$1,950 embryo scope to test embryos (time lapse photos as they grow)
$1,650 biopsy on embryos for pre-implementation genetic screening
$3,950 pre-implementation genetic screening
$1,800 freezer to store embryos for weeks while waiting for test results
In total, the couple spent about $21,000 for one round of IVF. Almendrala found a silver lining, at least: "So many credit card points!"
"Thankfully, we had insurance with an infertility benefit. So, after we submitted our $21,161.33 in bills to the insurance company, we got back $5,000," Ganz said.
"We believe that about 50% of people who are told that IVF is the way for them never actually access IVF because of finances," Collura told Almendrala and Ganz. "IVF is not something anybody plans for, or saves up for."
The other challenge with IVF - both financially and emotionally - is that one round may not be enough.
IVF success rates vary depending on many factors, including the mother's age. One Swedish study found that after three IVF cycles, the success rate increased to 66%. But three rounds of IVF would mean spending over $60,000 without any guarantee that the process would work.
For couples who need IVF, but are concerned about the high price tag, Collura told Almendrala and Ganz that they may have options:
"We always recommend you sit down with the clinic first, and ask all the questions about what kind of financing programs they have ... Maybe you can pay it over a certain number of months ...
"A lot of clinics do have something called a shared risk program where you might be able to purchase a certain number of IVF cycles, and you actually might even get your money back if you don't have a baby."
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