How much does an IVF treatment cost?
In the highly stressful lifestyles that we have today, many couples are struggling to conceive. In vitro fertilization (IVF) is normally suggested to these couples. But, what does an IVF cycle entail? How much would it cost when you opt for an IVF cycle in India?
When a couple visits an infertility clinic, depending on their medical history, a treatment plan is designed. In an IVF cycle, injections / medication of variable doses are given to the female partner according to the treatment plan, to stimulate the ovaries to produce more eggs than that would grow naturally; this is followed by an ultrasound monitoring of the growing follicle/s. Once the follicle/s have grown to the required size, a trigger injection is given for the final maturation of the eggs. The eggs are retrieved between 34-36 hours after the trigger on the day of egg collection, under short general anesthesia. This procedure is painless and generally takes about half an hour. Patients can go home after the effect of anesthesia weans off, which takes about 3-4 hours. Simultaneously, the male partner’s sperm is washed in the lab. Sperm washing involves removal of any debris, residual cells, dead sperms, etc., from the semen sample and in most cases the best sperms with good motility are retrieved from the sample for further use. In case of IVF, the washed sperms are released in dish which has the egg/s, like what happens in the female body after unprotected intercourse wherein the sperms run towards the eggs in the dish, and the best sperm fertilizes the egg. However, in some cases where the sperms are not good, IVF may not give satisfactory outcomes. In such cases, the embryologist – a highly trained medical professional, manually selects the best sperm from the semen sample, and injects it in each egg by a procedure called intra cytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). The embryo developed by IVF / ICSI is observed further, followed by the transfer into the women’s uterus.
The cost of an IVF / ICSI treatment in India varies between clinics and between cities, and will not be the same when compared between Mumbai, Pune or Delhi. The cost can range anywhere between Rs. 75,000 – Rs. 2.5 lakhs. If any embryos created in the cycle are frozen for later use, the cost of freezing and thawing followed by an embryo transfer may or may not be included in the initial treatment package. This needs to be confirmed with the clinic, as it can be an additional cost to your cycle, anywhere between Rs. 80,000 – Rs. 1,50,000. The cost of the injections / medication, on the other hand, can additionally range between Rs. 30,000 – Rs. 1 Lakh, depending on the response of your ovaries. There are also a number of pre-treatment requisites such as blood tests and ultrasound monitoring which may be a hidden cost. There are a number of add-ons which your doctor might suggest to you such as laparoscopy, hysteroscopy, laser assisted hatching, pre-genetic screening, pre-genetic diagnosis, etc., which may enhance your pregnancy rate. However, these additional techniques will increase your costs for the cycle.
Not everyone gets a positive result in the first cycle itself; you may have to go through multiple cycles before getting a baby in your arms. The success rate for a single IVF cycle is anywhere between 45% – 55% on an average. There is also a 15% – 20% risk of having multiple pregnancy (twins or triplets) when undergoing any IVF treatment. The medications and injections can have a number of physiological and psychological side effects such as mood swings, anxiety, headaches, etc. in women, although no major side effect has been reported yet.
Undergoing an IVF cycle is like a roller coaster, and can be emotionally, financially as well as physically draining for a couple. Do not hesitate to talk to your doctor at any point when undergoing the treatment. Good luck!
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