If you are struggling to get pregnant, it’s likely you’ve already Googled fertility clinics and information about what might be taking you so long to conceive. One of the most, understandably, popular questions regarding fertility treatment is ‘how much does fertility treatment cost?’. Whilst you may think it’d be a simple answer, unfortunately it is not so straightforward. Our goal with this article is to provide you with further information and guidelines as to what to expect in terms of the cost of IVF and other fertility treatments, plus details on how you can fund your IVF cycle privately if you choose not to go with or are not eligible for fertility treatment through public healthcare.
Does the NHS pay for fertility treatment?
In the UK we are incredibly lucky to have access to the NHS; public healthcare can provide many important services to those in need. But when it comes to fertility treatment things aren’t always so cut-and-dry. Fertility treatment is not seen as an essential service and is seen as optional, so the funding for this through public healthcare isn’t always what it seems. Although the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) says that women under the age of 40 should be offered 3 cycles IVF treatment, it’s actually down to local authorities or trusts and their individual funding, with many women getting offered far fewer. It is worth bearing in mind that some regions will only offer to fund treatment for women under the age of 35 or in exceptional circumstances. This is what is often referred to as the ‘postcode lottery’. You can find out how many rounds of IVF you are entitled to through the NHS here on the government website.
To be eligible for IVF with public healthcare, women need to:
- Be age 40 for or under
- Have been trying to get pregnant for a minimum of two years
- Have not been able to get pregnant after 12 cycles of artificial insemination
Women who are over the age of 40 may also need to meet additional criteria such as not having children already.
Paying for private fertility treatment
Despite private fertility treatment being funded by the individual, many couples will opt to go private for their treatment because private clinics do not have long waiting lists. They also have far fewer eligibility criteria that need to be met before treatment can be commenced, making it easier for couples who want to get pregnant to seek the help that they need. The complexity of fertility treatment means that it is not always an inexpensive treatment. The cost of private fertility treatment is incredibly varied and it very much depends on the type of treatment you require and your personal circumstances. It is not possible to provide an accurate cost for fertility treatment without having spoken to a clinic or fertility doctor due to the amount of variables. Fertility testing is usually a requirement before a cost can be given. Without fertility testing there is no way to know what is preventing conception and what treatment is required in order to help resolve it.
There is much involved in a typical IVF journey for a patient. A typical patient may need an initial consultation followed by an ultrasound scan, blood tests, and semen analysis. They may also require screening for STIs before any treatment is carried out. For complex cases, additional services will likely be required.
Why is it so challenging to estimate a cost for IVF and other fertility treatments?
If you are worried about your fertility you have probably already done some research into fertility treatments and you may have noticed that IVF clinics tend to advertise IVF in cycles. Generally speaking, one cycle of IVF includes the very basic elements of an IVF cycle, for example, ultrasound scans, blood test monitoring, sedation, egg collection, laboratory work, embryo transfers, and pregnancy tests. Depending on the clinic they may include less or more services.
It is difficult for clinics to give an accurate price as, on top of these basic costs individuals will also need to buy fertility drugs (the amount of which varies between individuals and as such the cost changes), the type of tests you need prior to IVF will vary between individuals and couples based on the family history, medical history, and the problems they are having. Symptoms will not be the same as other couples and as such will require different investigations. There is also a HFEA fee that needs to be factored in. Some individuals may require use of donor eggs, or will want to use frozen eggs, or add-on treatments may be required, and so these are additional costs that will also need to be factored in.
As you can see, estimating a cost for fertility treatment is far from straightforward. Many clinics will list their basic IVF one cycle package between £3,500-£4,000 but this varies greatly as different clinics include different services in their packages and so the prices will reflect this.
Finance options for IVF
Thankfully, many IVF clinics work with providers to offer money-back plans such as this fertility clinic in London. These refund programs enable patients to have cycles of IVF they may not have otherwise been able to afford. Many offer 0% interest, and money back if you do not have a successful IVF cycle.
Taking the next steps
When it comes to funding fertility treatment, whether that is Intrauterine Insemination (IUI), egg freezing or IVF, there are many considerations to take into account. But the best way to get the most accurate idea of costing is to arrange to speak to a fertility doctor at a fertility clinic you are interested in. After an initial consultation, where they can assess your personal history and review fertility test results, they will then be able to create a realistic treatment plan and a breakdown of costs that will apply. If you are considering making use of a money-back plan, you will be able to discuss this with your fertility doctor as well, and they can guide you as to what options are available to you.