IVF Cost – Know About it Before Someone Tries to Cheat You

IVF Cost – Know About it Before Someone Tries to Cheat You

IVF is a wonderful boon for the couples in India struggling to conceive a child by natural means. There is a sizable chunk out there still reluctant to try IVF fearing the costs involved, although hundreds of thousands of couples have experienced the joys of parenthood via IVF. In fact, many become wary of IVF after hearing about cases where couples spent lakhs without getting any results.

Information about IVF cost in India is sparse, which is a major reason why many childless couples get cheated. The information curated below paints a good picture of the costs involved with IVF and the various factors that influence it.

So how much does it cost?

IVF costs range from Rs. 65,000 to Rs. 85,000 to give you a ballpark figure, which includes expenses related to medicines. However, since IVF often needs several rounds to be effective, couples end up spending Rs. 5,00,000 or more for successful pregnancy.

The cost can be further broken up into,

  • Cost of Donor Sperm

When a couple is not able to conceive naturally because of low quality sperms, a donor sperm is procured and used. In India, donor sperm costs vary from Rs. 7,000 to Rs. 11,000.

  • Cost of Donor Egg

Assisted IVF treatment using a donor egg is slightly complicated and quite expensive. Depending on donor qualification, the cost of eggs ranges from Rs. 55,000 to Rs. 85,000.

The cost of regular IVF is added to this. So the whole cycle using a donor egg with IVF costs Rs. 2,50,000, where Rs. 50,000 goes towards procuring the donor eggs while the IVF cycle costs Rs. 2,00,000. All figures are approximate.

  • Cost of Donor Embryo

A donor embryo can be suggested by the fertility specialist in case one or both partners suffer from severe genetic health problems that can be passed on to their children. A donor embryo, as such, is harvested from fertile individuals who enjoy a safe medical history. Costs for donor embryos typically range from Rs. 40,000 to Rs. 60,000.

  • Cost of Frozen Embryo Transfer

Freezing embryos via IVF before transferring them to the woman’s uterus at a desired later date is a choice that many couples in India are exercising these days. Such a transfer costs around Rs. 25,000-35,000. Expenses related to surrogacy are over and above this figure.

  • Cost of Testicular Sperm Aspiration

If a man who has undergone vasectomy wishes to father a child, he can do so through a procedure known as sperm aspiration and extraction. Here, a needle is used to extract sperm straight from the testicle. The procedure usually costs in the region of Rs. 11,000 to Rs. 17,000.

  • Cost of Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI)

This technique is used to treat male fertility issues like low sperm count. The woman’s egg is fertilized by directly injecting an individual sperm into her body. The cost of this procedure ranges from Rs. 25,000 to Rs. 50,000 and doesn’t include the IVF cost. As such, the total expense with ICSI is approximately Rs. 2,20,000, where Rs. 2,00,000 is the share of the IVF treatment alone.

  • Cost of Mild IVF vs Aggressive IVF

Mild IVF and aggressive IVF differ from each other in terms of medicine and injection dosages. Gonal injections that are used in aggressive IVF are quite expensive. For the first IVF treatment cycle, usually mild IVF is preferred and it costs around Rs. 1,50,000. The aggressive IVF cost in India is around Rs. 1,75,000 to Rs. 2,00,000.

  • Cost of PGD/PGS

PGD is the abbreviation for Pre-implantation Genetic Diagnosis, which involves testing embryos for genetic medical issues to ensure only medically healthy embryos are placed into the woman’s uterus. Couples with genetic disorders use this technique to prevent passing on the same to their children. The technique costs roughly more than Rs. 6,000 per embryo.

  • Cost of Intra-Uterine Insemination (IUI)

Also known as artificial insemination, IUI involves placing the sperm straight into the woman’s uterus when she is ovulating. IUI is a very affordable procedure in India and can cost as low as Rs. 4,000. That said, adding the cost of ultrasound scans and certain other tests prior to initiating the IUI treatment can set you back by almost Rs. 10,000.

  • Cost of Essential Tests

Usually, a doctor would recommend a string of tests before starting either IUI or IVF. While some of these tests are diagnostic, certain others are corrective. Either way, they are crucial to the process and costly to boot.

Laparoscopy (Diagnostic & Corrective) – The procedure costs around Rs. 60,000 to Rs. 80,000 and is mandated for endometriosis cases.

HSG – The procedure is designed to examine a woman’s fertility potential and costs in the region of Rs. 5,000 to Rs. 8,000.

  • Cost of Freezing Eggs

An option that is increasingly popular with women these days, the procedure involves freezing eggs for use later in life. There are two aspects to the charges for freezing eggs. There is the cost of the extracting procedure to procure the eggs and there is the annual cost of maintaining those frozen eggs. Extracting costs can touch Rs. 35,000 while preserving them can cost Rs. 5,000 to Rs. 7,000 annually.

Other Factors Influencing IVF Cost

  • Age of Woman

Normally, a woman below the age of 35 has a higher chance of conceiving with her very first IVF round compared to a woman over 35, who usually needs five or even more rounds of IVF for successful conception. The cost of the IVF treatment shoots up with a higher number of cycles.

  • Location

IVF treatment costs in India are also highly location dependent. For instance, the IVF treatment cost in Mumbai is higher than compared to, say, Indore. At the same time, some of the best talent in the country as far as IVF treatment is concerned can be found in large cities like Mumbai.

The last point is why it’s recommended to not base an important decision like IVF solely on costs. The only factor you need to consider is the reputation of the fertility specialist.

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