There are some things in life that cost a ton of money: a new home, a new car, a college education. Even a rare, pet bird. But what about the cost of having a baby? Cha-ching. What about the cost of having a baby through in vitro fertilization (IVF)? What about IVF cost? Cha-ching, cha-ching!
Ugh. It doesn’t come cheaply, that is for certain.
Through my research and well, my personal experiences, pockets do get burned with a cycle of IVF. The costs do average $12,000 but can cost as much as $20,000. Some insurance policies cover most of of the IVF cost and there are supposedly IVF grants that also assist. But for most couples, it is standard to pay an average of $12,000. Ouch, right?
What goes in to the IVF cost? Why is it SO costly? IVF drugs are about $3000 – $4000 dollars and most insurance policies DO NOT cover the more expensive drugs in the IVF cycle.
Then there are the costs of genetic testing, ICSI (a procedure where a single sperm is injected in to the egg directly), embryo freezing, the doctor visits and ultrasounds, blood work, the egg retrieval with a general anesthesia, and the embryoic transfer (once the egg and sperm are fertilized together and create blastocyst embryos.) Among other expenses I can’t even fathom at the moment.
One way of saving some moolah is by asking your physician if he/she has any drug samples. You might just have a free week of injectables just by asking this question. Also, more unconventionally, it might not hurt to ask other couples who went through IVF if they have additional medicine they aren’t using any longer.
In my situation, I had SO much extra AND unopened medicine (not returnable. Talk about a profit for the pharmaceutical companies, right?) that I donated to a couple who needed it. Of course, this couple showed the meds to their doctor PRIOR to using and he approved some of it. Some of it. Why? Not every couple uses the same IVF protocol and drugs as each woman is tailored to her program and vice versa.
SO PLEASE CONSULT YOUR PHYSICIAN FIRST. BEFORE USING SOMEONE ELSE’S UNOPENED DONATIONS.
And that goes for anyone posting on a forum on the computer. A friendly donation through an internet friend is great but please be wary of who is helping you out. It might not be worth the savings in money because health is wealth, right?
So, yes, speaking of wealth? No IVF cycle will cause financial wealth for a couple. But what you CAN do is inquire about those mystical grants I keep seeing through google searches, ask your physician for samples, and ask a friend if they have any meds to donate (with caution.) Those are my personal choices in cutting IVF costs.
And let’s face it, having a successful cycle is well worth the money. It’s priceless. Unlike the diaper costs in months to come. Or that first bicycle, right?
