The cost of IVF is usually the predominant worry for people who don't have large bank accounts and who are enquiring about IVF treatment.
And it's difficult to tie clinics down to a definite figure owing to the complexity of the subject.
So here are six vital checkpoints to help you through the maze.
1.
Your age This is one of the most important factors, together with how long you have been infertile.
This affects the number of IVF cycles you are likely to need before conceiving, if indeed you do conceive.
If you're under 35 you have a 50 to 60 per cent chance of success with each cycle, so one or two cycles of IVF treatment should be sufficient.
But if you're over 40 that percentage goes down sharply.
Fewer than one in twelve cycles on average will be successful.
The bottom line is that, while the average cost of one cycle of IVF treatment in the United States is around $12,000, it can be as little as $10,000 or as high as $15,000.
But the average cost of successful treatment is $35,000 for a younger woman, with this rising to over $132,000 for women over 40.
2.
Your physical condition Linked to age is the physical state of your uterus and endometrium.
If you haven't had a recent doctor's examination then the clinic will have to do this at additional cost.
If you can get it done more cheaply by your regular doctor then do so.
3.
Where you live This affects the cost because the fees charged by clinics in large metropolitan areas tend to be higher than in less populated areas.
The country you live in is also important, with European countries tending to be more expensive, especially the UK, where, in fairness, the success rate is above the average.
4.
The clinic's quotation policy Avoid clinics that give a low all-inclusive quotation - there will almost certainly be unspecified extras.
For example, does the quote include initial consultation fees and the cost of fertility drugs? A cheaper quote may mean that the clinic giving it has a low success rate which in turn means you're more likely to need more than one cycle, possibly making the total cost higher.
You must insist on an itemized quotation for traditional IVF treatment.
Distinguish this from mini-IVF or micro-IVF treatment, which should be given only to women who are marginally infertile and only need a little help.
5.
Variations to your treatment Bear in mind that your treatment may change as you progress through it if, for example, you respond better to one drug than to another, or change from IUI treatment to IVF.
As you might expect, this does happen in many cases, with a resulting variation in the total cost.
6 Payment plans and refunds Most clinics now offer payment plans, so you can spread the cost, and this is something else to consider before selecting your clinic.
Refund programs are also common now, but be careful here.
Typically a percentage of the total fees is offered as a refund if your treatment is unsuccessful, but the key question here is - what amounts to a "successful cycle"? What if you conceive but miscarry at a later date? Most clinics will interpret that as a "successful cycle" in spite of the later miscarriage (which, in fairness, might not be their fault).
In any event, it is important to clarify this with the clinic.
And it's difficult to tie clinics down to a definite figure owing to the complexity of the subject.
So here are six vital checkpoints to help you through the maze.
1.
Your age This is one of the most important factors, together with how long you have been infertile.
This affects the number of IVF cycles you are likely to need before conceiving, if indeed you do conceive.
If you're under 35 you have a 50 to 60 per cent chance of success with each cycle, so one or two cycles of IVF treatment should be sufficient.
But if you're over 40 that percentage goes down sharply.
Fewer than one in twelve cycles on average will be successful.
The bottom line is that, while the average cost of one cycle of IVF treatment in the United States is around $12,000, it can be as little as $10,000 or as high as $15,000.
But the average cost of successful treatment is $35,000 for a younger woman, with this rising to over $132,000 for women over 40.
2.
Your physical condition Linked to age is the physical state of your uterus and endometrium.
If you haven't had a recent doctor's examination then the clinic will have to do this at additional cost.
If you can get it done more cheaply by your regular doctor then do so.
3.
Where you live This affects the cost because the fees charged by clinics in large metropolitan areas tend to be higher than in less populated areas.
The country you live in is also important, with European countries tending to be more expensive, especially the UK, where, in fairness, the success rate is above the average.
4.
The clinic's quotation policy Avoid clinics that give a low all-inclusive quotation - there will almost certainly be unspecified extras.
For example, does the quote include initial consultation fees and the cost of fertility drugs? A cheaper quote may mean that the clinic giving it has a low success rate which in turn means you're more likely to need more than one cycle, possibly making the total cost higher.
You must insist on an itemized quotation for traditional IVF treatment.
Distinguish this from mini-IVF or micro-IVF treatment, which should be given only to women who are marginally infertile and only need a little help.
5.
Variations to your treatment Bear in mind that your treatment may change as you progress through it if, for example, you respond better to one drug than to another, or change from IUI treatment to IVF.
As you might expect, this does happen in many cases, with a resulting variation in the total cost.
6 Payment plans and refunds Most clinics now offer payment plans, so you can spread the cost, and this is something else to consider before selecting your clinic.
Refund programs are also common now, but be careful here.
Typically a percentage of the total fees is offered as a refund if your treatment is unsuccessful, but the key question here is - what amounts to a "successful cycle"? What if you conceive but miscarry at a later date? Most clinics will interpret that as a "successful cycle" in spite of the later miscarriage (which, in fairness, might not be their fault).
In any event, it is important to clarify this with the clinic.
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