Cost of Reciprocal IVF

Reciprocal IVF is an IVF treatment that is typically used by same-sex female couples to build their families. The IVF treatment process is fairly similar to regular IVF, the only difference is that while one partner’s ovaries are prepared for egg retrieval through ovarian stimulation, the other partner’s uterus is prepared to carry the pregnancy to term. In this way, both partners get to participate in the development of their child. Reciprocal IVF has increased the family building options available to same-sex female couples. In order to get a clear picture of how this works, let us get right into the steps involved in reciprocal IVF treatments.

What Is Reciprocal IVF

Reciprocal IVF is an assisted reproduction treatment that sees both partners in the relationship participate in a very vital way in the development of their child. Due to its use primarily with same-sex female couples, it is also referred to as ‘co-maternity’. In this treatment, one partner donates their eggs for fertilization, sperm from a donor is used to fertilize the egg, and then the embryo is implanted in the other partner’s uterus to develop to term. The usual timeline for this particular treatment can range from weeks to months, but its success rate has made it quite popular.  

How Does Reciprocal IVF Work?

As earlier mentioned, the treatment process still follows the same protocols as regular IVF treatments. Below is a review of the process:

Egg Retrieval

To begin with, the eggs from one partner will need to be retrieved. In order for that to happen, they will undergo ovarian stimulation using hormonal injections and medications. This will develop several eggs to maturity and these will be retrieved as a group. When the eggs are being retrieved, the healthcare provider will administer a mild anesthetic to the patient to help manage any discomfort once the process begins.  A thin long needle is usually used to rupture the antral follicles that are housing the mature eggs, as well as retrieve them from the ovaries.

Fertilization

As with all assisted reproductive treatments, sperm will be required to facilitate fertilization. The typical practice is to obtain sperm from either a known donor, or a third party donor service. Sperm samples are usually optimized to increase their chances of success by removing unwanted materials and sperm that are less viable from the semen sample. Fertilization is done in a control lab environment where the newly formed embryo is left to develop further for a few more days. It is then transferred in a quick and painless procedure into the other partner's uterus. IVF treatment usually stores the remaining eggs that have been retrieved for future use, for donation, or for back up, in the event that things do not work out as hoped. 

Implantation

Before the embryo is implanted into the second partner’s uterus, it is prepared using medication and hormone injections with help to thicken the endometrium in order to facilitate implantation, and the carrying of the pregnancy to term. Implantation is less invasive than egg retrieval and also takes a shorter time. Usually a person will not need any medication to manage discomfort or pain. 

The Cost of Reciprocal IVF

IVF treatments cost upwards of $20,000 in the first round and $3,000 to $5,000 for subsequent rounds. The initial cost covers all the phases of the treatment from pre-procedure medication to the sperm donor and legal fees. Subsequent rounds will typically involve fewer stages of the process and thus will cost less. 

It is important to note that whereas medical insurance providers do pay for IVF treatments, they do so based on medical precedence, such as infertility. For many same-sex couples, this is not the case, therefore it is more likely that a couple who want to use reciprocal IVF to build their families will do so at their own cost. 

Summary

Reciprocal IVF is a very effective family building option for same-sex female couples and has promising results. The treatment is successful in about  30 percent of the cases after only one round. Multiple rounds increase this rate to more than 65 percent. As well, this treatment has been observed to be particularly successful with same-sex female couples as their use of IVF is based on the nature of their relationship and not infertility. 

Even with heteronormal couples, the cost of IVF is often outweighed by the desire to build families. At Virginia Fertility & IVF our compassionate team of experts is committed to providing the support individuals and couples need in order to successfully build their families.  Do not hesitate to contact us today.