In vitro fertilization is one of the most common methods of encouraging conception for women or couples who have difficulty conceiving. The in vitro fertilization process, known as IVF, describes a process where the woman is injected with hormones that encourage the body to produce multiple eggs every month, instead of the usual one egg.  As the hormones increase egg production, tests are performed to determine whether those eggs are ready for retrieval for the IVF procedure.

Eggs are removed just before they leave the ovary follicles to ensure optimal development. Knowledgeable IVF fertility experts examine the eggs to make sure they're properly developed. During the IVF procedure, the patient's partner is asked to donate sperm. The sperm is mixed with the retrieved eggs in a laboratory environment. Upon fertilization, the eggs may remain in the laboratory or clinic environment for up to five days. When they reached the blastocyst stage, IVF expert then transfer the fertilized eggs into the woman's uterus through the use of a catheter.

 

A number of factors will affect costs, including your choice of doctor, the cost of the initial consultations, costs per cycle, and the type and amount of fertility or hormone treatments and drugs recommended by your fertility expert. 

In addition to the "basic" in vitro fertilization procedure, patients may also have options such as frozen embryo storage and treatments like as intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), which helps couples in situations where the male has a low sperm count. In the United States, a single cycle of ICSI treatments averages between $10,000 and $17,000.  However, travelers to India can receive the exact same treatment for approximately $1,200 per cycle. Traveling to Hungary, you may pay an average of just over $6,500.

Other factors associated with costs include where you're traveling abroad for your fertility treatments, what type of specialist you're seeing, any type of treatment insurance, as well as accommodations and expenses for travel documents such as passports and visas.

In vitro fertilization procedures offer individuals a number of options. Today, couples may opt for IVF with gender selection, pre-genetic diagnosis, egg donation IVF procedures and more. While this all sounds well and good, and has become increasingly successful in producing the results that many couples are looking for, the procedure also comes with quite a hefty price tag, especially in the United States.

In the US, the cost of an IVF procedure depends on your geographical location, what types of medications or hormones your doctor has recommended, and the number of cycles that have been attempt at for success for results. Most women and couples may need between one and four cycles in order to achieve success. The cost of one cycle in the United States averages just over $12,000.

In the Czech Republic, one cycle of IVF costs approximately $4,000. In Thailand, IVF facilities offer the same procedures as in the United States for approximately $4,500.

The cost of gender selection ranges around $600 a cycle, on top of the basic IVF procedure costs. Individuals choosing pre-genetic diagnosis or PGD, can typically add $4,000 on top of the basic in vitro fertilization procedure. In the United States, an in vitro fertilization procedure with gender selection costs around $20,000.  Individuals traveling to South America or the Middle East can receive the very same procedures and services for less than $10,000.

 

As you can see, it pays to shop around. When choosing a fertility clinic abroad, research clinics and asked for information regarding the success rates of their procedures. Do some research on your own and understand in vitro fertilization technology and procedures. Use your knowledge as a comparison to what is offered in clinics abroad. 

Regardless of where you go for international fertility treatments, physicians and fertility specialists should be registered and belong to domestic organizations or associations in the country of their origin, or have international licensing.

For more information about fertility treatment abroad, and most specifically in vitro fertilization procedures, visit PlacidWay.com, a leading international medical provider and resource for the best of fertility experts, facilities, clinics and procedures around the world.