How Much Is Infertility Costing You?

Did you know that infertility is an issue for 1 in 6 couples. If you've been trying to conceive for more than a year without any success, it may be time to make an appointment with your doctor. They will conduct fertility tests on both you and your partner. Once you have the results are back, your doctor can go over different options with you. Each can range drastically in price. Some couples have insurance that covers a portion of these costs.Unfortunately in the US, currently only 12 states have laws regarding insurance coverage of fertility treatments.Couples have several different treatment options to choose from depending on the specific cause of your infertility. Medicine is the most common first choice. Clomid causes ovulation by acting on the pituitary gland. Normally it is prescribed for women that are having ovulation problems, and is taken by mouth. Injections are also a popular choice for couples.Pergonal and Repronex are injected directly on the ovaries to stimulate ovulation. The cost for this is minimal compared to others ranging from $500.00 up to $1500.00 per treatment. IUI or Intrauterine insemination is another type of treatment.You may know it as artificial insemination. This procedure involves injecting the woman with specially prepared sperm. Sometimes taking medicine to increase ovulation prior to the procedure. the average cost for one cycle is $865.00. Most couples require three cycles on average.In vitro fertilisation is a process by which egg cells are fertilised by sperm outside of the woman's womb. The fertilised egg is then transferred to the uterus with the intent of establishing a successful pregnancy.This treatment is normally a last resort option due to the high cost. With the average IVF cycle using fresh embryo is $8,158.00. This does not include the cost of medication for your IVF which can range from $3,000.00 to $5,000.00 per cycle. No matter which treatment option you and you partner choose the cost can be overwhelming.There are some things you can do to lower your expenses. First always ask your doctor or clinic when discussing various procedures if the cost of tests, lab work, and any medication are included in the price? Do they provide psychological counseling for you and your partner? Is this included in the fees? Are they a member of the Advanced Reproductive Care, Inc. network? If so you may be eligible for the ARC Affordable Payment Plan™. it offers you the option of monthly payments and a money back guarantee. Not everyone qualifies for this program, but worth looking into. Some companies offer infertility insurance. Please read each plan carefully as they can vary tremendously in amount of coverage and cost for each procedure. Another option is asking your clinic if they offer a shared risk or refund IVF program. You pay for your IVF treatments in advance. Then the clinic or shared risk program will refund all or part of your money if you do not have a successful IVF cycle within the number of cycles that you paid for. Please look closely at the definition of successful in the contract. If your pregnancy were to end in miscarriage would you receive your money back? You would prefer successful to be baby in hand. No matter which treatment option you choose, having a successful pregnancy makes it all worth while. Good luck on your journey to parenthood.