An In Vitro fertilization cycle can take around three weeks, and the IVF treatment cost is about ₹3,60,000 on an average. These rates can vary according to your city and the clinic that you choose. On the lower end, it can cost you anywhere between ₹1, 00,000 to ₹ 3,50,000. For instance, the average IVF cost in Hyderabad is ₹1,60,000 to ₹2,80,000, while the same can cost around ₹1,40,000 to ₹2,50,000 in Bengaluru and ₹1,10,000 to ₹2,50,000 in Delhi.
While your insurance might not always cover IVF, it may cover a part of your expenses, like monitoring or a part of your medications. This might drastically decrease the IVF treatment cost for you.
Mini-IVF vs. Full IVF
However, if you are skeptical of the IVF treatment costs, you can also explore the option of Mini-IVF, which uses lower doses of fertility drugs and involves less monitoring of the growing embryos before transfer.
The costs for Mini-IVF are half of the full IVF treatment cost. It is suitable for couples looking to try IUI treatment and is not for everyone. A mini-IVF is less likely to lead to a multiple pregnancy, as opposed to IUI. Unlike IUI, you can choose to transfer just one embryo.
One thing you must consider is that the success rates for mini-IVF are not proven. A mini-IVF is not a substitute for the full IVF treatment but is arguably better than IUI.
Also, Read: Indian Celebrities Who Chose IVF
Additional Costs for IVF Options
Since we have discussed the basic IVF costs, it is important for you to know that there can be other costs along the way too. For instance, you might need additional assisted reproductive technology or an ICSI treatment. You can also opt for a genetic testing of your embryos, or PGT, which would incur additional costs.
Apart from this, embryo freezing and storage, which is instrumental in the cycle would also cost you around ₹60,000 on average. If you wish to store your embryos, there would be a yearly storage fee. You can also choose to use frozen embryos from your previous cycles. In case, you opt for this, your overall costs will drastically drop. However, if you want an egg donor, the cost for this will significantly increase. On the other hand, using a sperm donor is comparatively less expensive.
A gestation carrier is by far the most expensive IVF option if you include the legal fees, agency fees, IVF costs, and the cost of the gestational carrier itself. When compared to this, Embryo donation is the cheapest of donor options. It can also turn out to be cheaper than a regular IVF cycle. However, this is true only if the embryo has already been created, As opposed to choosing an egg donor and sperm donor and having the embryo created specifically for your cycle, which would be extremely expensive.
If planned well, the IVF treatment cost cycle will not prove to be a hassle, especially because of the several modes of payment, and insurances that cover it. The number of cycles taken will also differ from case to case, which is why it is encouraged that you do your own research before making any commitments regarding IVF.
Also, Read: Why Couples should Opt for IVF