Fertility treatments: 7 options in a nutshell

One in every six people of reproductive age worldwide experiences infertility in their lifetime, according to the World Health Organization. Infertility is defined as the failure to achieve a pregnancy after 12 or more months of regular, unprotected sexual intercourse.

Going through fertility treatments can be an emotional rollercoaster – and an expensive one at that. Take a look at the below, brief guideline covering the common fertility treatment options and their estimated prices:

1. Ovulation induction medications can cost between R500 and R2,500 per cycle.
2. Intrauterine insemination, which involves placing sperm inside a woman’s uterus close to the fallopian tubes to increase the chances of conceiving, can range from R4,000 to R8,000 per cycle.
3. In vitro fertilisation (IVF) means the woman’s eggs are collected and fertilised by mixing the eggs ‘in vitro’ (in glass) in a laboratory with tens of thousands of washed sperm. The embryo is then implanted in the uterus. This is not a once-off medical procedure, but a series of procedures taking place over several weeks. A single IVF cycle can cost around R70,000, excluding medication. IVF medications can add R10,000 to R20,000 per cycle.
4. Intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI)  where one sperm is injected directly into an egg using a micromanipulation microscope, can cost an extra R5,000 to R10,000.
5. Donor eggs can increase costs by R20,000 to R40,000. 
6. Sperm donation costs range from R5,000 to R10,000. 
7. Surrogacy can cost at least R200,000, including legal fees and compensation for the surrogate.

For more fertility information, visit Southern African Society of Reproductive Medicine and Gynaecological Endoscopy and for financial advice to fund treatments, go to JustMoney.

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