The Cost of IVF in California
In California, the average cost of a single in vitro fertilization (IVF) cycle is between $20,000 and $40,000, whereas the national average is closer to $14,000 to $20,000. The already high cost of IVF can rise even more depending on the specific needs of the patient, such as medication protocols, Preimplantation Genetic Testing (PGT), embryo freezing, and Frozen Embryo Transfers (FET).
However, for Californians willing to travel out of state, affordable options like CNY Fertility offer a lower-cost, high-quality alternative that can save thousands.
What Contributes to the High Cost of IVF in California?
Several factors influence the overall cost of IVF treatment in California, including clinic location, medications, and additional procedures. Typically, one cycle of IVF in California can cost upwards of $20,000 to $30,000, with many clinics charging more for add-on services.
As you shop around, make sure to look at an itemized list of what exactly is provided under a clinic’s given quote. Much of the variation in prices is simply one clinic charging more or less than another for the exact same service.
In addition to making apples-to-apples comparisons, you will want to find quotes that include the following services that are required for an IVF cycle.
Required IVF Services
- Monitoring appointments: Essential for tracking egg and uterine development before scheduling egg retrieval.
- Egg retrieval: Collecting mature eggs from the ovaries for fertilization.
- Anesthesia: Administered during egg retrieval to ensure patient comfort.
- Fertilization: Eggs are fertilized in a lab using either conventional IVF or ICSI (Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection).
- Embryo culture and maturation in a laboratory: Embryos are grown in the lab for 3-7 days before being ready for transfer.
- Embryo Transfer: The embryo is placed into the uterus, either via fresh transfer or frozen embryo transfer (FET). FETs are an additional cost, but may be required in many situations.
A note on medications: Though not technically required to do an IVF cycle, medications are an essential part of nearly all IVF cycles.
We’ve included their cost in the overall $20,000-$40,000 per cycle you can expect to pay in California. But keep in mind that most clinics will not include the cost of medications in their base price. More on this below.
While the above services are essential to the IVF process, additional costs for enhancement protocols, testing, and embryo freezing can push the overall price much higher.
Additional Costs Not Included in Base IVF Prices
Beyond the standard essential services included above, additional services may be necessary for many patients and can add $5,000 to $15,000 per cycle. These add-on services include:
- IVF Medications: Medications can be somewhat ambiguous when factoring them into your overall IVF cost. Used in over 99% of cycles, medications represent one of the biggest expenses you’ll encounter. Often excluded from the clinic’s advertised pricing, patients should anticipate spending between $2,000 and $7,000 per cycle on medications. Larger clinics, such as CNY, often arrange discounted bulk rates with pharmacies and pass those savings on to their patients.
- Cryopreservation and Storage: The cost of egg or embryo freezing, along with the first year of storage, typically adds around $600. After the first year, there is an additional annual storage fee.
- Frozen Embryo Transfers (FET): FET is a crucial step for patients with surplus embryos or when the uterine lining is not prepared for a fresh transfer. The cost for this procedure typically ranges between $995 (at CNY) and $4,000.
- Preimplantation Genetic Testing (PGT): PGT helps screen embryos is used to screen embryos for genetic disorders and chromosomal abnormalities prior to transfer. The average cost for this procedure is approximately $4,500, covering both the biopsy and lab testing. Since PGT often necessitates freezing the embryos, it will result in additional costs for a Frozen Embryo Transfer (FET).
- Donor Eggs: Using donor eggs can significantly raise the overall cost of IVF treatment, with expenses ranging from $30,000 to $60,000 or more
- Donor Sperm: Whether due to male infertility, single parenthood, or same-sex couples looking to start a family, using donor sperm in IVF offers a viable path to parenthood.
- Gestational surrogacy: Surrogacy adds substantial costs to fertility treatments. In California, surrogacy expenses can range from $80,000 to $130,000
- Multiple cycles: For many patients, success doesn’t happen after just one cycle of IVF. The average patient undergoes between 2.3 and 2.7 IVF cycles to achieve a successful pregnancy. In California, the total cost for multiple cycles can exceed $80,000. However, at CNY Fertility, even after undergoing multiple cycles, patients often save tens of thousands of dollars.
How Californians Can Save on IVF
For Californians facing the steep cost of local IVF treatments, traveling to CNY Fertility offers a significantly more affordable alternative.
CNY Fertility has eight full-service locations across the U.S. and is renowned for providing high-quality travel fertility care at a fraction of the price compared to California clinics.
With our comprehensive IVF packages starting at $5,769, including medications, patients can receive the same care for less than half the price of a California-based clinic.
CNY Fertility’s IVF Package Includes:
- Egg retrieval with anesthesia
- ICSI Fertilization
- Embryo culture and development in a lab
- Assisted Hatching (AH): helps embryos implant in the uterus.
- Fresh embryo transfer
- Cryopreservation of surplus embryos
- Medications (CNY’s most common stimulation protocol)
Other add-on services like FETs or PGT may need to be accounted for your specific needs.
Monitoring for travel patients typically incurs an additional fee of around $800-$1,500 for bloodwork and ultrasounds at a local facility, plus a $150 cycle management fee paid to CNY.
Even when accounting for travel expenses, such as airfare or driving costs, and accommodations for 2-7 nights, traveling to CNY Fertility can still be far more affordable than paying for IVF in California. Many patients are able to complete their IVF journey at CNY Fertility for under $10,000, including travel, compared to the $30,000+ they might spend at a California clinic.
Use our cost calculator to get a personalized estimate tailored to your specific needs. Then, schedule a consultation to begin your family-building journey.
{{ treatments[treatment_selected]['data']['footnote'] }} The above calculation is for simulation purposes only. It is reflective of self-pay pricing, includes highly variable estimates paid to CNY and third parties, and national averages obtained through internal research, FertilityIQ, ASRM, and Resolve. Billing through insurance will likely result in substantially different fees. CNY Fertility does not warrant or guarantee any price for services conducted or rendered by a third party and recommends everyone obtain written estimates from any medical facility involved in your treatment as well as verification of coverage from your insurance company prior to beginning treatment. While California IVF treatments can range from $20,000 to $40,000 per cycle, CNY Fertility offers IVF for under $10,000, including medications and travel expenses. This makes it the most affordable choice for many patients. CNY Fertility provides all of the core IVF services offered by California clinics, including egg retrieval, embryo development, and transfer, but at a fraction of the cost. At CNY those same low prices apply to add-on services like FET and PGT. At CNY even more complex IVF cycles are far more budget-friendly than at California clinics. Traveling to CNY doesn’t mean giving up local convenience. Routine monitoring for your IVF cycle, such as blood tests and ultrasounds, can be done locally in California. Travel to CNY is only necessary for egg retrieval and embryo transfer. This hybrid approach offers significant savings while allowing you to enjoy the comforts of home for most of your treatment. Many California fertility clinics offer financing options. Additionally, some independent lenders specialize in fertility treatment loans, and personal loans through credit unions are another popular option. IVF grants can also significantly reduce costs, with some even covering the full price of an IVF cycle. Several grants are available nationwide, including the CNY IVF Grant, which is open to all applicants and awarded monthly. In California, insurance coverage for IVF (In Vitro Fertilization) is not mandated by law. California does have a law that requires certain insurers to offer coverage for infertility diagnosis and treatment, but it does not specifically require them to cover IVF. For this reason, IVF itself is usually not covered, and will require additional out-of-pocket expenses. Some employers choose to include IVF coverage in their health plans, and some private insurance policies may offer options for IVF. You will have to check with your insurance carrier to confirm what treatments are covered. IVF in California can be a significant financial burden, with costs ranging from $20,000 to $40,000 per cycle. However, traveling to CNY Fertility offers an affordable alternative without compromising the quality of care. For Californians seeking high-quality fertility services at a lower price, CNY Fertility provides a comprehensive IVF package starting at $5,769, making it one of the most cost-effective options in the country. By traveling to CNY, patients can save thousands and access flexible financing options, bringing the dream of parenthood within reach without the overwhelming costs. For those interested, CNY Fertility also provides consultation services to help plan your fertility journey, whether you’re in California or anywhere across the country. For IVF Grant Announcements, Fertility News and More!Automatically Included
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National Average: {{total.national|toCurrency}}Key Benefits of Choosing CNY Fertility
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Financing and Grants
Using Insurance for IVF in California
IVF Cost in California: The Takeaway
