How Much Does In Vitro Fertilization Cost? Is IVF Over Priced?
IVF, can we afford it?
Can we afford IVF? In today's economic climate and with the amount of average household incomes barely managing to pay the mortgage, is it financially feasible to have a baby through IVF?
Can we really afford to have a baby with the current in vitro fertilization cost? Or to play devils advocate, should couples in financial strife and having fertility issues, NOT be considering trying to conceive through IVF?
These are the tough questions and to be honest it would be difficult to give definitive answers to both of these. But I will outline a few views and provide information based on the in vitro fertilization cost and success rates with the 2012 perspective. As well as what our alternatives are.
The basics and costs of IVF
IVF is a process where the eggs are removed from the female and sperm received from the male and they are manually combined in a laboratory dish. Once this procedure has been successful the fertilized egg or eggs are placed into the females uterus (embryo transfer).
The IVF process
1. Monitor and stimulate the development of healthy egg(s) in the females ovaries
2. Collect the eggs
3. Receive the sperm cells
4. Combine the sperm and eggs together in a laboratory and provide the appropriate environment for fertilization
5. Transfer the embryos into the females uterus
This process costs approximately $10,000 USD to $20,000 USD per procedure. Unfortunately there are no guarantees with this process. Research tells us that the average number of IVF cycles needed before this fertility treatment is successful is between three to five (or more). But of course there have been some happy couples that have had success with IVF the first time round.
The Success Rates of IVF
For women under the age of 35, the success rate of IVF is 38.8%. However those aged between 41 to 42 years old have an IVF success rate of 10.95%. This is generally due to women under 35 usually having little to no health concerns or issues, whilst those aged over 40 usually have reproductive health issues and lower egg production and quality.
There are absolute benefits of undergoing the IVF treatment. Firstly, it is possible for a sperm to fertilize an egg outside of the female body and then have the embryo inserted back in once itEUR(TM)s fertilized - technology has truly excelled with this medical break through. This treatment makes all other procedures such as frozen embryo transfers, assisted hatching, ICSI and genetic counseling possible. Technology has given many couples the opportunity to have babies, which is a true success and blessing for many couples.
It also bodes well for women and men who have no partners the chance to use donor sperm or donor eggs respectively to have a baby.
In addition to this couples that do not have healthy eggs and or sperm can also use such donors to conceive through IVF.
Right, so with all of that being said, can we afford it? Is the in vitro fertilization cost to high? How do we negate through this if IVF seems like our only option or our physician has stated its our only option?
IVF Cost
Yes the in vitro fertilization cost is too high!
The requirement of a specialist fertility doctor is necessary
The specific fertility laboratory is necessary
The assistants/nurses to the fertility specialist are necessary
The specialist fertility equipment is necessary
The only thing that isn't necessary is the exuberant cost. I understand the IVF cycle can be weeks or even months from the initial visit to the injections to promote egg production to the day when the eggs are taken and the manual combining of both eggs and sperm are completed. However, lets do some comparisons - without compromising why we are here!
1. The average cost of a Face Lift $6,408 USD
2. The average cost of a Butt Lift $4,498 USD
3. The average cost of Breast Implants $3,694 USD
Resource http://www.surgery.org/ The American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (the national average from 2011 for physician/surgeon fees per procedure)
What's the point I'm trying to make? Do you look at these figures for elective plastic surgery and think, 'Whoa they are cheaper than I thought. Then you would be right! This is due to a decline in price of some elective plastic surgery procedures. Why is that? Well due to the economic downturn the amount of people opting for plastic surgery has decreased considerably. As with any business trying to make a buck, the state of the economy has put them between a rock and hard place to adjust their prices (price reduction) to ensure viability and continued business.
So the next logical question would be, why hasn't the in vitro fertilization cost reduced? I know that its comparing apples with oranges, but the commonalities are that they require specialist equipment, specialist doctors and specialist nurses. These two very different practices have the same fundamental necessities to exist, to practice, to do what they do. The glaring difference is that plastic surgery is elective and IVF is generally the last stop to bring a baby into this world. Is the cost of IVF not at all influenced by the social and economic climate?
What are our Alternatives?
My motto has always been to try everything else first the low cost yet high quality solutions first before moving onto practices such as IVF or ICSI.
Now I know there are many couples out there, where IVF or ICSI or another fertility practice is their only option. ItEUR(TM)s hard but a great thing at the same time. Technology will assist you to have a child, but it will cost you. Which I donEUR(TM)t necessarily think is appropriate, your not electing this type of procedure. Its out of necessity. That is a different article all together, but the point Im trying to make, is that if you get the opportunity to try other methods first, DO IT!
There are some countries that provide one + cycles of IVF free through the health system, this is also a great contribution to couples (with fertility issues) trying to conceive. In some countries health insurance companies have made agreements to cover fertility treatment expenses also. So it could be worth checking out these two options first before paying for it yourself.
Ive compiled a list of alternative fertility methods for those who are ready to take their fertility by the horns and ride with it. Hopefully you will find an alternative that works best for you. Remember these can be for both women and men.
Good luck on your fertility journey I will end this article with some amazing quotes that will hopefully inspire, bring strength and give you perseverance, enjoy.
Fertility Alternatives
Fertility Diets
Fertility Supplements
Yoga
Fertility Herbs
Fertility Tea
Lifestyle (omit smoking, drugs, alcohol, caffeine and so on)
Meditation
Massage
Reiki
Osteopathic
Chiropractic
Acupuncture
Hypnotherapy
Homeopathy
Guided Imagery (guided meditation)
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
Biofeedback (relaxation training)
Naturopathy
Chinese Herbal Medicine
Ayurveda Medicine (Hindu traditional medicine)
Quotes
Most of the important things in the world have been accomplished by people who have kept on trying when there seemed to be no hope at all."Dale Carnegie
"Our greatest weakness lies in giving up. The most certain way to succeed is always to try just one more time."Thomas A. Edison
"When you feel like giving up, remember why you held on for so long in the first place."Unknown
"Between you and every goal that you wish to achieve, there is a series of obstacles, and the bigger the goal, the bigger the obstacles. Your decision to be, have and do something out of the ordinary entails facing di
Can we afford IVF? In today's economic climate and with the amount of average household incomes barely managing to pay the mortgage, is it financially feasible to have a baby through IVF?
Can we really afford to have a baby with the current in vitro fertilization cost? Or to play devils advocate, should couples in financial strife and having fertility issues, NOT be considering trying to conceive through IVF?
These are the tough questions and to be honest it would be difficult to give definitive answers to both of these. But I will outline a few views and provide information based on the in vitro fertilization cost and success rates with the 2012 perspective. As well as what our alternatives are.
The basics and costs of IVF
IVF is a process where the eggs are removed from the female and sperm received from the male and they are manually combined in a laboratory dish. Once this procedure has been successful the fertilized egg or eggs are placed into the females uterus (embryo transfer).
The IVF process
1. Monitor and stimulate the development of healthy egg(s) in the females ovaries
2. Collect the eggs
3. Receive the sperm cells
4. Combine the sperm and eggs together in a laboratory and provide the appropriate environment for fertilization
5. Transfer the embryos into the females uterus
This process costs approximately $10,000 USD to $20,000 USD per procedure. Unfortunately there are no guarantees with this process. Research tells us that the average number of IVF cycles needed before this fertility treatment is successful is between three to five (or more). But of course there have been some happy couples that have had success with IVF the first time round.
The Success Rates of IVF
For women under the age of 35, the success rate of IVF is 38.8%. However those aged between 41 to 42 years old have an IVF success rate of 10.95%. This is generally due to women under 35 usually having little to no health concerns or issues, whilst those aged over 40 usually have reproductive health issues and lower egg production and quality.
There are absolute benefits of undergoing the IVF treatment. Firstly, it is possible for a sperm to fertilize an egg outside of the female body and then have the embryo inserted back in once itEUR(TM)s fertilized - technology has truly excelled with this medical break through. This treatment makes all other procedures such as frozen embryo transfers, assisted hatching, ICSI and genetic counseling possible. Technology has given many couples the opportunity to have babies, which is a true success and blessing for many couples.
It also bodes well for women and men who have no partners the chance to use donor sperm or donor eggs respectively to have a baby.
In addition to this couples that do not have healthy eggs and or sperm can also use such donors to conceive through IVF.
Right, so with all of that being said, can we afford it? Is the in vitro fertilization cost to high? How do we negate through this if IVF seems like our only option or our physician has stated its our only option?
IVF Cost
Yes the in vitro fertilization cost is too high!
The requirement of a specialist fertility doctor is necessary
The specific fertility laboratory is necessary
The assistants/nurses to the fertility specialist are necessary
The specialist fertility equipment is necessary
The only thing that isn't necessary is the exuberant cost. I understand the IVF cycle can be weeks or even months from the initial visit to the injections to promote egg production to the day when the eggs are taken and the manual combining of both eggs and sperm are completed. However, lets do some comparisons - without compromising why we are here!
1. The average cost of a Face Lift $6,408 USD
2. The average cost of a Butt Lift $4,498 USD
3. The average cost of Breast Implants $3,694 USD
Resource http://www.surgery.org/ The American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (the national average from 2011 for physician/surgeon fees per procedure)
What's the point I'm trying to make? Do you look at these figures for elective plastic surgery and think, 'Whoa they are cheaper than I thought. Then you would be right! This is due to a decline in price of some elective plastic surgery procedures. Why is that? Well due to the economic downturn the amount of people opting for plastic surgery has decreased considerably. As with any business trying to make a buck, the state of the economy has put them between a rock and hard place to adjust their prices (price reduction) to ensure viability and continued business.
So the next logical question would be, why hasn't the in vitro fertilization cost reduced? I know that its comparing apples with oranges, but the commonalities are that they require specialist equipment, specialist doctors and specialist nurses. These two very different practices have the same fundamental necessities to exist, to practice, to do what they do. The glaring difference is that plastic surgery is elective and IVF is generally the last stop to bring a baby into this world. Is the cost of IVF not at all influenced by the social and economic climate?
What are our Alternatives?
My motto has always been to try everything else first the low cost yet high quality solutions first before moving onto practices such as IVF or ICSI.
Now I know there are many couples out there, where IVF or ICSI or another fertility practice is their only option. ItEUR(TM)s hard but a great thing at the same time. Technology will assist you to have a child, but it will cost you. Which I donEUR(TM)t necessarily think is appropriate, your not electing this type of procedure. Its out of necessity. That is a different article all together, but the point Im trying to make, is that if you get the opportunity to try other methods first, DO IT!
There are some countries that provide one + cycles of IVF free through the health system, this is also a great contribution to couples (with fertility issues) trying to conceive. In some countries health insurance companies have made agreements to cover fertility treatment expenses also. So it could be worth checking out these two options first before paying for it yourself.
Ive compiled a list of alternative fertility methods for those who are ready to take their fertility by the horns and ride with it. Hopefully you will find an alternative that works best for you. Remember these can be for both women and men.
Good luck on your fertility journey I will end this article with some amazing quotes that will hopefully inspire, bring strength and give you perseverance, enjoy.
Fertility Alternatives
Fertility Diets
Fertility Supplements
Yoga
Fertility Herbs
Fertility Tea
Lifestyle (omit smoking, drugs, alcohol, caffeine and so on)
Meditation
Massage
Reiki
Osteopathic
Chiropractic
Acupuncture
Hypnotherapy
Homeopathy
Guided Imagery (guided meditation)
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
Biofeedback (relaxation training)
Naturopathy
Chinese Herbal Medicine
Ayurveda Medicine (Hindu traditional medicine)
Quotes
Most of the important things in the world have been accomplished by people who have kept on trying when there seemed to be no hope at all."Dale Carnegie
"Our greatest weakness lies in giving up. The most certain way to succeed is always to try just one more time."Thomas A. Edison
"When you feel like giving up, remember why you held on for so long in the first place."Unknown
"Between you and every goal that you wish to achieve, there is a series of obstacles, and the bigger the goal, the bigger the obstacles. Your decision to be, have and do something out of the ordinary entails facing di