Everything you need to know before hiring a fertility clinic.
IUI (Intrauterine Insemination) places washed sperm directly into the uterus during ovulation. It is less invasive and less expensive ($1,500–$4,000/cycle) but has lower success rates. IVF (In Vitro Fertilization) retrieves eggs, fertilizes them in a lab, and transfers embryos to the uterus. IVF has significantly higher success rates and is used for more complex fertility challenges.
IVF success rates vary by age. Using your own eggs: under 35 = ~50–55% live birth rate per retrieval; 35–37 = ~35–45%; 38–40 = ~25–35%; 41–42 = ~15–20%; over 42 = ~5–10%. Using donor eggs significantly improves success rates regardless of age. Always ask for age-specific data from the specific clinic.
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Find a ContractorCoverage varies widely. About 20 states have fertility insurance mandates requiring some coverage. Plans vary in what they cover — some include diagnostics only, others cover IUI or limited IVF cycles. Review your benefits carefully and ask your clinic's financial coordinator about your specific coverage.
IVF typically involves injectable gonadotropins to stimulate egg production, GnRH agonists or antagonists to prevent premature ovulation, trigger shots (hCG or Lupron) to mature eggs, and progesterone support after transfer. Medications commonly add $3,000–$7,000 to the base IVF cost.
PGT screens embryos for chromosomal abnormalities (PGT-A) or specific genetic disorders (PGT-M) before transfer. It can improve implantation rates, reduce miscarriage risk, and help carriers of genetic conditions avoid passing them on. PGT adds $2,000–$6,000+ to IVF costs and typically requires sending embryos to a genetics lab.
Many patients succeed in 1–2 cycles; others may need 3 or more. Cumulative success rates across multiple cycles are higher than single-cycle rates. Age, diagnosis, embryo quality, and the number of embryos available for transfer all affect how many cycles may be needed.
Egg freezing (oocyte cryopreservation) preserves eggs for future use. It's most effective for women under 38. Consider it if you're not ready for pregnancy but want to preserve options, if you're facing cancer treatment that may affect fertility, or if you have conditions that accelerate ovarian decline.
A typical fertility workup includes: for women — AMH (anti-Müllerian hormone), FSH, antral follicle count via ultrasound, and evaluation of the uterus and fallopian tubes (HSG or saline sonogram); for men — semen analysis. Additional testing may be ordered based on history.
Fresh transfers occur within days of egg retrieval in the same IVF cycle. Frozen transfers use embryos cryopreserved from a prior cycle, allowing the uterus to recover and hormone levels to normalize. Frozen transfers (FET) often have equal or higher success rates and allow genetic testing results before transfer.
Review CDC-reported success rates at cdc.gov/art, filtered by age group and diagnosis. Ask about laboratory quality and embryologist credentials. Understand the full cost breakdown including medications, monitoring, and FET. Evaluate communication responsiveness and whether the clinic assigns a dedicated care coordinator.