Using medical assistance to achieve pregnancy is referred to by reproductive care facilities as Advanced Reproductive Technology (ART). The two main treatments for couples with fertility difficulties include artificial insemination (AI) and In Vitro Fertilization (IVF). Depending on the type of fertility, age, health and circumstance of the couple, the medical care provider may suggest one of the other.

With AI, a man gives a semen sample which is processed in a lab and then is inserted into the woman’s uterus using a special catheter. The success rate for AI is approximately 10-20% per cycle for normal sperm samples and with regulated ovulation and may require several attempts before pregnancy results. Artificial insemination can cost about $400 per attempt as a base price, increasing if monitoring and medication for the female if needed.

In Vitro Fertilization is a more intense and evasive process. A woman is given hormone therapy to stimulate the development of several eggs at once. The first part of the IVF procedure is scheduled, and the eggs are retrieved prior to natural ovulation. The eggs are then fertilized with sperm. The new zygote grows in the lab in a special incubator for 5-6 days until it has developed into a blastocyst embryo. Then the second part of the IVF procedure takes place as one, or sometimes two, of the best quality embryos are transferred back into the uterus. Two weeks after the transfer, a blood test will confirm pregnancy. IVF costs can vary depending on testing or medications needed, but typically start at about $12,000 per attempt. The success rate also varies, but established and reputable clinics have a 50% -75% pregnancy rate for women under the age of 35.