Fertility treatment costs can spiral out of control especially if you’re going the IVF route. It shouldn’t have to cost the earth – so here’s the ultimate IVF clinic checklist to help you through.
Keeping costs in check
There’s so much hope and so few guarantees with infertility treatment. Financial pressures hurt long-term ~ doing IVF on credit cards, indebted to the in-laws, scrimping along. “The best way to minimize costs for couples is to get it right from the very first attempt,” advises Mindy Berkson, a Chicago infertility consultant. Realistically you’re facing upwards of three IVF cycles to achieve pregnancy, so spend your hard earned money wisely.
A University of California study finds US couples spend about $20,000 on a first IVF. Irish clinics quote €4,500-€6,000 as a ‘ball-park’ figure – the tip of the cost iceberg. I’ve met couples who spent more than €30,000 on fertility treatment. It’s often a long haul, starting with baseline investigations and tests.
The ultimate IVF clinic checklist
1) Are you a ‘patient’ – or a valued client?
2) Is there a plan in place? Unless you are over 35, when IVF is recommended first, is there a stepped approach to first improving your fertility? Getting you ready for a healthy, full-term pregnancy?
3) Does this clinic project-manage your case with regular reviews?
4) Are you both included in investigations from the start? Remember men’s fertility issues account for up to 40% of infertility problems, and miscarriage – according to the American Society of Reproductive Medicine.
5) Are you minding yourselves? Sex and relationship issues, nutrition and strategic dietary supplementation, weight shedding, stress management, emotional support are supported by coaching. ‘Evidence exists that stress impedes conception,” explains Ali Domar PhD at Boston Fertility Mind Body Institute,”Studies show fertility mindfulness boosts conception rates.” Fertility Coaching is recommended by doctors.
6) Do you get continuity of care from your consultant, embryologist and nurse/sonographer?
7) Are costs laid out, with easy payment options?
8) Is your treatment planned within a realistic time-frame?
9) Why is each test done?
Did you know that thousands of women doing IVF undergo expensive procedures to check out their womb? Research shows hysteroscopy before fertility treatment makes almost no difference to success rates. Some clinics insist on this invasive procedure. Dr Tarek El-Toukhy, from Guy’s and St Thomas’s Hospital, London, who led a recent study, said: “Based on these findings, hysteroscopy before IVF doesn’t significantly improve IVF results and cannot be considered essential.”
10) What happens after an IVF failure? Is a debrief session scheduled?
11) Does care abruptly end once you get a BFP? Women tell me how abandoned they feel once they’re pregnant.
That’s eleven questions!
- Getting pregnant shouldn’t break the bank
Get it right
Choosing your clinic on the basis of their dazzling figures is not always wise. “Clinics taking harder-to-treat cases may show lower success rates but may be more thorough and better equipped to help you,”adds Bergson. Insurance doesn’t generally cover infertility treatment. Read the fine print. It may cover medical tests and surgical procedures which reveal underlying problems. Treating conditions like endometriosis may be pivotal in resolving your infertility.
Find a clinic you’re totally happy with. From location, parking, ambiance, waiting room, to staff and consultant you need to feel it works for you. Check the cost of going abroad – it often works out tons cheaper. Clients tell me how marvelous their clinic or fertility therapy is … and they’re still not pregnant!
What else would you add to this list?
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