Fertility treatments offer hope to many couples who may otherwise be unlikely to conceive. These treatments however, come at a fairly steep price. While the prices may vary by clinic, state, or country, the amount is still significant. Most insurance companies only cover a small portion of fertility treatments, if any at all, leaving the remaining sum to come out of pocket. Here is a general breakdown of fertility treatment costs:

Fertility Drugs
Often the first line of treatment is the use of fertility drugs such as clomiphene and gonadotropins. These drugs are used to regulate reproductive hormones and ovulation. If an insurance covers part of fertility treatment, it generally will be the cost of fertility drugs. Clomiphene costs $50 per month, while gonadotropin injections cost $2,000 to $5,000 per month.

Artificial Insemination
Artificial insemination is often used in conjunction with fertility drugs. This procedure may cost between $400 to $700.

In Vitro Fertilization ( IVF)
IVF treatments are much more involved than fertility drugs or artificial insemination, and the price will reflect that. You can expect the cost o this treatment to be between $7,000 and $17,000 per cycle, with many couples needing more than one cycle.

Gamete Intrafallopian Transfer (GIFT)
The Gamete Intrafallopian Transfer is also a more complex procedure, and generally not covered by insurance. The cost for this treatment costs between $8,000 to $17,000.

Zygote Intrafallopian Transfer (ZIFT)
Another high tech fertility treatment,  the cost of Zygote Intrafallopian Transfer is also considerable. If you are considering this treatment, plan on paying between $8,000 and $17,000

Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI)
Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection is often used in conjunction with other fertility treatments and may not be included in the cost of the procedure. The cost of the fertility treatment is between $10,000 and $17,00.

Donor Eggs and Embryos
The cost of fertility treatment using donor eggs or embryos is between $10,000 and $20,000.

Shared Risk Programs
Some clinics offer a shared risk option. In shared risk, a patient pays up front for multiple cycles of treatment an the clinic agrees to pay back all or a portion of the fee if the treatment is not successful. In most cases, successful means reaching a clinical pregnancy, not a treatment resulting in live birth. Not every clinic offers this option and only the patients in the lowest risk (for the clinic) category qualify.

When trying to calculate the cost of fertility treatments, it is important to realize that different clinics will include and exclude different things as part of their treatment. Find out prior to treatment what things are an additional cost.

There’s nothing more stressful in life than experiencing infertility. Even though stress is an expected and normal reaction to the emotionally tortuous situation of conception issues, after years of ongoing study, the question still remains: How much does stress lead to continued infertility?

Over the years, the understanding of how stress may or may not impact fertility has changed. In the 40s and 50s, the major contributing factor for at least half those who couldn’t conceive was attributed to stress. All of the psychological factors, such as a lack of desire to be parents, were thought to play a tremendous role in fertility all the way through the 1960s. Even today, doctors at fertility treatment centers continue to discuss the effects of stress on infertility and to what degree.

Stress can be a confusing issue. When most people think of stress, they usually think of the body’s reaction to circumstances or environmental factors that create or reinforce a negative reaction.  The body reacts to stress in a set of physical and biochemical reactions such as a rise in blood pressure, tensing of muscles, shallow breathing and even an upset stomach.  Even though stress isn’t completely understood, evidence in fertility treatment center studies points toward stress as being a contributing factor in some cases of infertility.

For instance, the hypothalamus, a gland that regulates stress responses, also controls and regulates sex hormones. Since the stress response in both men and women elevates, the levels of stress hormones are released. This can cause irregular ovulation in women as well as reduced sperm counts in men. While not as statistically impactful as it once was, stress is still thought to play a role in up to 30% of cases of infertility.  Other impacts of stress includes a lower semen volume, lowered LH and testosterone levels, reduced sex drive, erectile dysfunction and even lethargy

While studies do support a link between stress and infertility, understanding that it could be a contributing factor, rather than the sole, lone cause of infertility is more accurate. Couples can take comfort in knowing that if stress was a reliable and major factor in infertility, then stress could be relied upon as an effective form of birth control.  What most doctors will counsel is that a couple experiencing fertility problems will definitely have moments of stress and emotional upset. Keep in mind that while stress can impact treatment, it is equally possible to manage the stress successfully.

Some simple steps will help like remembering the stress response is not always bad. It can motivate you to further action. Proper nutrition gives the body what it needs to process stress effectively and exercising regularly can release stress. Another factor is sunshine which, in limited amounts, is also known to elevate the mood. Also, support groups help by surrounding you with people who understand your feelings which limits your feelings of isolation.

Stress and infertility are inextricably entwined. This means instead of trying to blame infertility on stress, or stress on infertility, the best response is to minimize unhealthy stress where possible and use healthy stress to motivate you to greater positive action. Taking positive steps like eating healthy, exercising and taking good psychological care of yourself may not cure infertility, but it certainly makes it easier to live with.