Financial Planning For Fertility
The Expensive Business of
Becoming a Parent
A financial planner's honest, dollar-by-dollar guide to the cost of fertility treatment, from egg freezing to IVF, and what to budget for before you start.
I spent my 20s trying very hard not to get pregnant, and then all of a sudden, in my mid-30s, I thought I could just flip a switch and get pregnant now that I was financially stable and with a partner I wanted to raise a child with. It, unfortunately, was not that easy. I've been thinking about money for a living for nearly a decade, but thinking about fertility, and the often ugly heartbreak of its opposite, infertility, was something new entirely. What I want to share is how I thought about the direct financial impact of going through the devastating ride that is trying to have a kid when you're not a fertile little 25-year-old.
The Science of Fertility and Aging
I hesitate to call this basic science, because I did not learn it until I was 35. Women are born with quite literally millions of eggs, about a million, to be exact. That tiny baby girl is carrying all the eggs she will ever have. Once she goes through puberty and starts menstruating, her "ovarian reserve" starts shrinking. This is what people mean when they say your biological clock is ticking: you're literally racing against the clock before you run out of eggs.
Statistically, it's easier to get pregnant when you have more eggs, which is why it's better to do fertility planning earlier. There's no single best time, every body is different, but a really great time is if your employer helps cover the cost.
CostsWhat Egg Freezing Actually Costs
Egg freezing, clinically called oocyte cryopreservation, typically runs between $5,000 and $15,000 per cycle, not including medication. Some women need more than one cycle to bank enough eggs, which means those costs multiply. Storage adds a recurring cost on top: most clinics charge $500 to $1,000 annually, and it's easy to forget about until the invoice shows up. Think of it like a subscription you never cancel because the stakes are too high.
| Item | Typical Cost |
|---|---|
| Egg freezing (per cycle) | $5,000 – $15,000 |
| Medication (per cycle) | $3,000 – $6,000 |
| Egg storage (per year) | $500 – $1,000 |
| 5-year storage total | $2,500 – $5,000+ |
If your company covers egg freezing, even partially, that is a massive financial gift. Apple, Google, Meta, and a growing number of employers now offer this as a benefit. Companies like Spotify go further, pairing egg freezing and storage support with generous new-parent leave. If it's available to you, use it, even if kids feel like a distant maybe. Future you will thank present you for keeping the option open.
ScreeningGenetic Testing
Genetic testing typically starts with your regular gynecologist, a couple hundred dollars for the initial bloodwork. Basic carrier screening checks whether you or your partner carry genes for conditions like cystic fibrosis, sickle cell disease, or spinal muscular atrophy. If they find something, prepare to pay thousands out of pocket for PGT-A and PGT-M testing. PGT-A screens embryos for chromosomal abnormalities; PGT-M screens for the specific genetic condition you carry. Expect $3,000 to $6,000 or more for PGT testing per IVF cycle. As a carrier of a few genetic conditions myself, I can tell you: the testing is worth every dollar, and it is a lot of dollars.
The PathThe Fertility Journey, Step by Step
Every journey looks different, and not everyone moves through every step. But here's roughly how the path unfolds for many people, and how the costs escalate as you move down it.
IUI: Cost and Odds
For many people, IUI (intrauterine insemination) is the first step up from trying naturally. It's less invasive and significantly less expensive than IVF: a doctor monitors your cycle, triggers ovulation with medication, and places sperm directly in your uterus. Cost-wise, IUI runs about $500 to $4,000 per cycle depending on medication and monitoring. Most doctors recommend trying it three to four times before moving on to IVF, so you're potentially looking at $2,000 to $16,000 in IUI attempts before anyone says the letters I-V-F. The success rate per cycle hovers around 10 to 20 percent, so the math isn't exactly in your favor, but it's a fraction of the cost of IVF and worth trying if your situation allows for it.
Step ThreeIVF: Cost and What It Feels Like
Without insurance, you're looking at $15,000 to $25,000 per round, and there is no refund if your round is not successful. With insurance, the cost is typically a few hundred dollars for medication and a few thousand for the retrieval, the procedure where the eggs are removed. Add in doctor's appointments every other day and daily shots. The shots aren't so bad; it's how they make you feel that's hard.
Every round of IVF is different, and every woman experiences it differently. I've done four. You will most likely feel bloated, sensitive, and unhappy, while still mostly able to function and go about your days. Nobody prepares you for the loneliness of it. You're going through something enormous and invisible. Your coworkers don't know. Your dinner companions don't know. It just sucks.
CommunicatingHow to Tell Your Boss (or Family)
You're going to feel miserable for about three weeks, and with the amount of hormones you're pumping into your body, you will likely not act like yourself. Here's a template you can adapt for your boss, your family, or your friends:
"I'm going through a medical issue related to my fertility over the next 21 days. It requires me to have blood drawn every 48 hours in person at my doctor's office, so I may need to adjust my schedule slightly. There is a small procedure that I will likely need to take two days off to have and recover from. My best guess is that it happens [date], but I will confirm as soon as I know. My work shouldn't be interrupted during this time, but if there is any reason I need to take more medical leave, I will let you know with as much notice as possible."
What I Wish Someone Had Told Me
If I could go back and sit down with myself at 25, here's what I'd say: understand that the path from wanting a child to having a child can cost anywhere from zero dollars to six figures, and that most of us will land somewhere in the painful middle.
The financial planning around fertility is brutal because it asks you to be rational about something that is entirely irrational. You are making spreadsheets about the thing you want most in the world. You are comparison-shopping clinics while crying in your car. You are negotiating with insurance companies about your right to try to become a parent. Understanding the money part doesn't make the emotional part easier. It just makes sure the emotional part isn't compounded by financial panic.
Common QuestionsFertility Financial FAQ
Let's Talk Numbers, So You Don't Have To Do It Alone
When tens of thousands of dollars leave your account on what feels like a weekly basis, it helps to have a third-party, rational voice in the room reminding you that this is temporary. That's the kind of planning we do at Brooklyn Fi: the numbers, the budgeting, the investing, and the emotional side of money.
Schedule a Free Discovery CallThis article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial, medical, or legal advice. Costs referenced are general ranges and will vary by clinic, provider, location, and insurance plan. Speak with your fertility clinic, insurance provider, and a qualified financial advisor about your specific situation.