Can’t get pregnant? Fertility treatments don’t have to cost a fortune
Published at
Have you and your partner struggled to get pregnant? Do you have a friend or family member whose frustrated trying to navigate the complex world of infertility? Are you just a little curious about learning more about the subject?
Baby making isn’t always easy. Roughly 12 percent of Americans in their reproductive years are infertile, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Generally speaking, infertility is defined as not being able to get pregnant after a year or longer of unprotected sex.
Many people assume that going to a fertility doctor means undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF), a procedure that costs thousands of dollars, said Deirdre A. Conway, a doctor who spearheaded Idaho Fertility Center in Idaho Falls. However, that’s typically not the case.
About 75 percent of Idaho Fertility Center’s patients do not need IVF, said Conway.
Take a look at some of the less expensive options.
Ovulation induction (also referred to as timed intercourse)
It does not matter how healthy you are, if you or your partner don’t ovulate, a pregnancy is not possible. Ovulation induction helps combat this problem by inducing ovulation with fertility drugs. The drugs release hormones that help regulate ovulation and make the uterus more receptive to embryo implantation. One of the most popular ways to do this is with a drug called Clomid, which helps your ovaries produce and release an egg.
Many people assume that going to a fertility doctor means undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF), a procedure that costs thousands of dollars, but that’s typically not the case.
There are also other drugs, such as follicle-stimulating hormone injections to increase the chances of ovulation. Fertility medications typically increase more egg maturation, which increases the chances of conception. These drugs are best for women who don’t ovulate regularly or who have partners with low sperm quality. About 40 percent of women who are good candidates for fertility drugs get pregnant after a couple of cycles. Costs vary depending on the drug, according to Idaho Fertility Center, but you could easily spend $25 or less if you are just using Clomid.
Ovulation induction is one of doctor’s first choices when the cause of infertility is unclear, according to American Society of Reproductive Medicine, and one of the safest and best-studied met9hods for dealing with infertility. The procedure is $525, plus the cost of fertility drugs, at Idaho Fertility Center.
Intrauterine insemination (IUI) (also known as artificial insemination)
Medical professionals prepare the sperm (wash) and insert it directly into the uterus via catheter. Your doctor might recommend taking fertility drugs, along with having an IUI. This method tends to be best when a couple is dealing with mild male factor infertility or couples with unexplained infertility, according to the CDC. Fertility medication can cause more than one egg to mature per cycle, so it is important to monitor the cycle with ultrasonography, a procedure where medical providers can view the ovaries. This procedure reduces the risk of multiple births. An IUI is $875 with Idaho Fertility Center, plus about $1,200 in medication cost.
Reproductive surgery
This kind of surgery is performed to correct anatomical abnormalities, remove scarring and clear blockages. The surgery can be performed on men or women. It’s best for couples with diagnosed diseases or abnormalities, such as endometriosis, which is where the uterine tissue grows outside the uterus and men with vasectomies. The success rate varies on this surgery depending on the condition and severity, but is typically fairly low. The cost ranges on this type of surgery and the complexity that is involved. However, laparoscopic surgery for endometriosis costs about $1,700 to $5,000.
If you want more information on your fertility options, you can call the Idaho Fertility Center at (208) 529-2019 or visit www.idahofertility.com.