Many people do the initial IVF research only to find out how expensive it is and there is still no guarantee that it will be successful. Sad to say but money plays a huge factor in the types of fertility treatments that people attempt. If IVF seems to expensive initially, often people look at IUI or intrauterine insemination. IUI is a pretty simple procedure where a small tube is used to place washed sperm directly into the uterus. From there the idea is that the sperm will fertilize the egg and an embryo will be formed. IUI is also known as artificial insemination. IUI is often the first thing people try when they are experiencing infertility for a prolonged period, usually after trying to conceive naturally for one year. One of the main reasons why people start with IUI is because of the cost. On average an IUI costs roughly $900 each time. Some fertility centers charge more and some charge less. This might or might not include the medications that go along with the IUI if needed. Ask your doctor for specifics.

IUI is suitable for a limited number of individuals but will often not provide the best chance of becoming pregnant. It’s not unusual for someone to try IUI 3, 4, 5 or more times before realizing it might not be the optimal choice of fertility treatments. Discuss all of your options with your doctor before proceeding with any fertility treatment. Gather all the information you can so you can make an informed decision. If you add up 4 or 5 IUI’s, the cost can creep up to around $4,000 to $5,000 and this doesn’t guarantee that you will become pregnant. Yes, this is cheaper than IVF which can average roughly $12,000 per cycle but IVF gives you a much higher chance of becoming pregnant than IUI.

Luckily, there is a new version of IVF that is being offered that is called Micro-IVF. The Sher Institutes for Reproductive Medicine (SIRM), which is a coast-to-coast network of private fertility clinics, is now advertising for Micro-IVF procedure, which lowers the cost of treatment by more than 60% but triples the 10% chance of getting pregnant from a single IUI attempt.

The Micro-IVF cycle costs roughly $4,950 which is much lower than a regular cycle of IVF which can exceed $12,000 with medications. There are many fertility clinics that offer IUI’s for $3,000-$4,000 which has a roughly 10% chance of success compared to roughly 30% for a Micro-IVF cycle.

SIRM can keep the costs down because they target patients who are good candidates for IUI but want better odds than an IUI attempt. Many women might indeed get pregnant by IUI but it might take 4 or 5 times.

In the end, you have to think about the cost per baby and not the cost per fertility treatment. If possible, do what’s in your power to increase your chances while still being able to be financially responsible for the treatment. And last but not least, do the proper research before you jump into any fertility treatment. Set up consultations with a few clinics to get a feel for what they are like. Make sure to ask lots of questions so you can be equipped with all of the information you need to make the right choice that fits your situation.