IVF Cost in 2025: How Much Is One Round of IVF? (Real Prices, Add‑Ons, and Country-by-Country Snapshot)

You want a straight answer before you start writing big cheques. Here it is: the price you see on a clinic brochure for “one IVF cycle” usually isn’t the final number. The base fee often excludes medicines, lab add‑ons like ICSI or PGT‑A, and the later frozen transfer if you don’t go fresh. That’s why two couples can both say “we did one round” and pay very different totals.

TL;DR: What one IVF round costs in 2025

• Typical base cycle fee (egg retrieval to embryo culture): US $10,000-$18,000; UK £4,000-£7,000; Australia A$9,000-A$15,000; New Zealand NZ$9,000-NZ$15,000; Canada C$10,000-C$17,000; Spain €4,000-€7,000; India ₹1.2-2.5 lakh.
• Medicines (stimulation): add US $3,000-$7,000; UK £1,000-£2,500; AU/NZ A$2,000-A$5,000 / NZ$2,000-NZ$5,000.
• Common add‑ons: ICSI $1,000-$3,000; PGT‑A $2,500-$6,000; Frozen Embryo Transfer $2,000-$5,000; embryo storage $300-$800 per year.
• All‑in typical out‑of‑pocket for “one round” with meds and one transfer: US $15,000-$30,000; UK £6,000-£10,000; AU A$5,000-A$12,000 after rebates; NZ NZ$12,000-NZ$22,000; CA C$12,000-C$25,000.
• Rule of thumb: Budget base cycle + meds + one transfer + your likely add‑ons − any insurance/public funding. For many, the realistic first‑cycle budget sits 30-60% above the base quote.

What “one round” of IVF really includes

In vitro fertilization (IVF) is a fertility treatment where eggs are retrieved, fertilized in a lab, and embryos are transferred to the uterus. A single “round” can mean different things: some clinics mean one egg retrieval and one embryo transfer, others mean just the retrieval and embryo creation, with transfers billed separately.

IVF cycle (stimulated cycle) is a treatment episode starting with ovarian stimulation and monitoring, followed by egg retrieval and embryo culture. Attributes: typical duration 10-14 days of injections; monitoring 3-6 ultrasounds and blood tests; anesthesia for retrieval 15-30 minutes.

When clinics advertise a base price, it often covers: consultations before retrieval, monitoring scans/bloods, egg collection in theater, lab fertilization and culture to day 3 or day 5 (blastocyst), and either a fresh transfer or embryo freezing (not always both). Medicines, genetic testing, ICSI, and later frozen transfers are common extras.

The real cost breakdown (line by line)

• Gonadotropin medications are injectable hormones (FSH/LH) used to grow multiple follicles. Typical dose 150-300 IU/day for 8-12 days. Cost ranges: US $3,000-$7,000; UK £1,000-£2,500; AU/NZ A$2,000-A$5,000 / NZ$2,000-NZ$5,000, depending on dose and brand.
• Monitoring and bloodwork: often included in the base fee, but some clinics itemize per visit. Expect 3-6 visits.
• Anesthesia and theatre fees: usually included; private hospitals may add a facility fee.
• Intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) is a micromanipulation technique where a single sperm is injected into an egg to assist fertilization, often used for male factor infertility. Cost: US $1,000-$3,000; UK £1,000-£1,500; AU A$1,500-A$2,000; NZ NZ$1,500-NZ$2,500.
• Preimplantation genetic testing for aneuploidy (PGT‑A) screens embryos for chromosomal number issues before transfer. Typical pricing has a base (US $1,500-$3,000) plus per‑embryo fee ($200-$400). Total: US $2,500-$6,000; UK £2,000-£3,500; AU A$3,000-A$5,000; NZ NZ$3,000-NZ$5,000.
• Embryo cryopreservation is the freezing of embryos for later use, usually by vitrification. First‑year storage fee: US $300-$800; UK £200-£350; AU/NZ A$300-A$600 / NZ$300-NZ$600 annually.
• Frozen embryo transfer (FET) is a separate cycle where a frozen embryo is thawed and transferred in a hormonally prepared uterus. Cost: US $2,000-$5,000; UK £1,200-£2,500; AU A$1,200-A$3,500 (often lower after Medicare rebate); NZ NZ$2,000-NZ$4,000.
• Donor sperm is used when sperm quality or availability is an issue. Per‑vial cost: US $500-$1,500; UK £600-£1,000; AU/NZ A$800-A$1,200 / NZ$800-NZ$1,200, plus clinic handling fees.
• Donor eggs are used when ovarian reserve or egg quality is low. Complete donor‑egg cycles often run US $20,000-$40,000 (including donor compensation and meds); UK £8,000-£15,000; Spain €6,000-€10,000; NZ/AU typically sourced via select programs with varied costs and wait times.

Put it together and you can see why the final bill often lands well above the headline base fee. Many clinics also offer package pricing (multi‑cycle bundles) and financing via third‑party lenders or employer benefits.

2025 price snapshots by country/region

The numbers below are typical ranges for self‑pay patients in 2025. Local rebates, public funding, and insurance can change your out‑of‑pocket.

How to budget: a simple formula

Here’s a quick way to forecast your total:

• Total per round ≈ Base cycle + Medicines + (ICSI if needed) + (PGT‑A if chosen) + One transfer (fresh or FET) + Storage − Insurance/public funding.

Example (United States): Base $14,000 + meds $5,000 + ICSI $2,000 + PGT‑A $4,000 + FET $3,000 + storage $500 − employer benefit $5,000 = $23,500 out‑of‑pocket.

Example (New Zealand): Base NZ$12,000 + meds NZ$3,500 + ICSI NZ$2,000 + no PGT‑A + fresh transfer included + storage NZ$400 − public funding NZ$0 (not eligible) = NZ$17,900.

Example (Australia): Base A$12,000 + meds A$3,500 + ICSI A$1,800 + FET A$2,000 − Medicare rebates A$7,000 ≈ A$12,300 out‑of‑pocket.

If you’re comparing clinics, use a spreadsheet and force each one to fill the same cells. That kills “surprise” line items later.

Success rates change the true cost per baby

Sticker price matters, but the cost per live birth is what you care about. If a clinic’s cumulative live‑birth rate over three transfers is higher, your expected spend to take home a baby may be lower even if the base fee is higher.

• Rough benchmark: For patients under 35, single‑cycle live‑birth rates per transfer can be ~30-45% (varies by clinic). Over multiple transfers from one retrieval, cumulative success goes up.
• Age matters: Success rates decline in the late 30s and 40s, especially with own eggs. Donor eggs can reset success rates closer to younger‑egg levels.
• Source data: National reports from ASRM/SART (US), HFEA (UK), and the CDC ART reports are credible places to compare clinics and age bands.

Expected budget framing: If the chance per transfer is 35%, you might reasonably plan for two to three transfers (fresh + one or two FETs). That means your “one round” often includes the cost of creating embryos and then using them across more than one transfer.

Coverage, rebates, and funding (by market)

• United States: Coverage varies by state and employer. Over 20 US states have some fertility insurance laws; self‑insured employers may offer generous benefits via programs like Progyny or Carrot. Check plan caps, add‑on eligibility (PGT‑A often excluded), and prior auth rules.
• United Kingdom: NHS funding depends on local ICB policies. NICE guidance suggests up to three cycles for eligible patients under 40, but actual access varies. HFEA lists licensed clinics and publishes outcomes.
• Australia: Medicare rebates and the Extended Safety Net reduce out‑of‑pocket costs. Net spend for a standard cycle can drop to A$4,000-A$8,000; low‑cost models exist but often with fewer included services.
• New Zealand: Public funding is available for eligible patients via Te Whatu Ora, typically covering limited cycles with criteria (age, BMI, infertility duration, and more). Wait times vary by region; private care has shorter waits but full fees.
• Canada: Ontario’s Fertility Program covers one IVF cycle (physician and lab fees) per lifetime for eligible patients; medicines and add‑ons often out‑of‑pocket. Other provinces offer tax credits or partial support.

Always confirm what “covered” means. Many policies cover diagnostics but not lab add‑ons, or retrieval but not medicines. Ask for a written benefits breakdown before starting.

Ways to save without tanking success

• Shop medication prices: Pharmacies vary wildly. Ask your clinic if they’ll send scripts to more than one pharmacy. Confirm if generics are acceptable.
• Don’t over‑add‑on: ICSI is valuable for male factor; not everyone needs it. PGT‑A can help reduce miscarriage and time to pregnancy in some age groups, but it’s not a magic bullet. Ask your doctor for a clear, age‑specific indication.
• Bundles with caution: Multi‑cycle packages and “refund” programs can lower uncertainty. Read the fine print on eligibility (AMH, AFC, BMI, age) and refund conditions.
• Time your FETs: If you get multiple blastocysts, consider a single‑embryo transfer policy to reduce multiples and NICU risk. One healthy baby beats twins with complications and extra costs.
• Traveling for IVF: Cross‑border care can save money but adds logistics. Make sure lab quality, embryo shipping policies, and legal aspects (donor anonymity, storage limits) match your needs.

What to ask every clinic before you pay

• What exactly does the base cycle fee include? List monitoring, retrieval, lab culture to day 5, fresh transfer, freezing, and storage.
• What’s not included? Itemize meds, ICSI, PGT‑A, anesthesia, hospital facility fees, FET, storage beyond the first year, sedation type upgrades.
• If I do a freeze‑all, is the first FET included in the package?
• How many monitoring visits are included before I start paying per visit?
• What are your age‑band success rates per transfer and per retrieval for my diagnosis?
• Do you have outcome‑based or refund programs? What are the eligibility criteria?
• Can I see a sample invoice for a typical patient like me?

Related concepts you’ll bump into

Fresh embryo transfer places a newly created embryo in the same cycle as retrieval. Pros: faster time to transfer. Cons: higher OHSS risk if stimulation was strong; some clinics favor freeze‑all for lab and lining optimization.

Anti‑Müllerian Hormone (AMH) is a hormone test that estimates ovarian reserve. Low AMH may increase medicine doses and cost, and sometimes points toward alternative strategies like donor eggs.

IUI (intrauterine insemination) is a lower‑cost treatment where washed sperm is placed directly in the uterus. Cost per attempt is far lower than IVF, but success per cycle is also lower.

Clinics will also discuss embryo grading, blastocyst vs day‑3 transfer, endometrial preparation, and luteal support drugs. Each choice nudges cost and success odds a bit.

Two fast scenarios (apples‑to‑apples)

Scenario A: 33‑year‑old couple, mild male factor, chooses ICSI, no PGT‑A, plans single‑embryo transfer, expects one FET if needed.

• US: Base $14k + meds $4.5k + ICSI $2k + fresh transfer included + storage $500 + one FET $3k = around $24k before any insurance.
• NZ: Base NZ$12k + meds NZ$3k + ICSI NZ$2k + fresh transfer included + storage NZ$400 + one FET NZ$3k = around NZ$20.4k.

Scenario B: 39‑year‑old, considering PGT‑A to reduce miscarriage risk, expects blastocysts to test and likely FET.

• US: Base $15k + meds $5.5k + ICSI $2k + PGT‑A $4.5k + freeze‑all + first FET $3.5k + storage $500 = ~$31k before coverage.
• UK: Base £6k + meds £1.8k + ICSI £1.2k + PGT‑A £2.8k + FET £1.8k + storage £250 = ~£13.9k.

These are not “best” or “worst” cases-just realistic shopping numbers to help you set expectations.

Evidence you can trust

For outcomes and safety: ASRM/SART and the CDC ART reports (United States), HFEA (United Kingdom), and Fertility NZ (New Zealand) publish rigorous data. In Australia, RANZCOG and Medicare information clarify rebates. Use these to benchmark success rates, multiple birth rates, and typical protocols. If a clinic’s claims look wildly above these baselines, ask how they define their denominators (per transfer vs per retrieval, age mix, diagnosis mix).

Key takeaways about price vs value

• The base fee is just the start; medicines and one FET often push the real “one round” total 30-60% higher than the headline price.
• Success rates and lab quality change your cost per baby more than a few hundred saved on meds.
• Transparency wins. The best clinics share line‑item quotes and outcomes by age and diagnosis.

One last nudge: write “IVF cost” once on your budget planner-then fill it with your specifics: meds dose, add‑ons you truly need, and any funding you can access. Clarity saves money and stress.