In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) Cost Options

Infertility with PCOS Polycystic Ovaries
Advanced Fertility Center of Chicago
IVF Specialists Clinic
Gurnee & Crystal Lake, Illinois

Full money back guarantee cost option for in vitro fertilization
- IVF with money back if it doesn't work -

We also offer a shared risk IVF pricing plan option

There are few treatments in medicine that have such a clearly identifiable measure of outcome as in vitro fertilization. This allows the possibility of outcome-based fee schedules. We offer a pricing option with a 100% refund of the fee for the IVF cycle (medications not included) if you do not deliver a baby.

Only a program with high success rates can offer such a guarantee. We are not the only program with high pregnancy rates. However, some other programs with high IVF pregnancy rates also have high fees. We offer an unusual combination of high pregnancy rates and reasonable fees. This makes our IVF program one of the most cost-effective in the country. In fact, our in vitro fertilization services are so cost-effective that we are one of the few clinics in the country willing to "put its money where its mouth is" by offering a 100% refund of the IVF cycle fees if the treatment does not result in a live birth (for those that qualify).

All infertile couples considering in vitro fertilization should compare pregnancy rates and costs before choosing an IVF specialist clinic. Some programs charging $15,000 - $20,000 per cycle (with no guarantee) reported delivery rates of less than 20% per cycle for women under 40 (for cycles done in 2005). In June 2007, clinic-specific IVF program success rates for cycles done in 2005 were released - and made available to the public on the CDC website. This information allows consumers of infertility services to compare (and validate) pregnancy success rates at various IVF clinics.

Our IVF success rates and links to the CDC website with live birth statistics for all reputable IVF clinics

The program includes as many as three ovarian stimulation cycles leading to an egg retrieval and any associated frozen embryo transfer cycles. The program must be completed within a maximum of 18 months. Each ovarian stimulation and fresh embryo transfer cycle can possibly result in leftover embryos for freezing for later use. There could be one, and sometimes more than one frozen embryo transfer cycles. The program is considered successful if it results in the birth of a live infant. The couple is due a 100% refund if they do not become pregnant and deliver a baby.

In Vitro Fertilization with Full Refund

Included services:

• Egg retrieval
  
• Fertilization
  
• ICSI if needed
  
• Assisted hatching if indicated
  
• Embryo transfer
  
• Embryo cryopreservation (freezing) and storage of frozen embryos for up to 12 months

Excluded services:

• Prescreening tests
  
• Medications
  
• Pregnancy testing and pregnancy monitoring
  
• Consultations with the physician
  
• Embryo storage beyond the first 12 months
  
• Frozen embryo storage after you deliver a baby. We will begin charging a monthly storage fee beginning when you deliver the baby - or you can transfer those embryos to ReproTech for long term storage at lower fees.
  
• Any frozen embryo transfer cycles done with remaining embryos after the birth of a baby. These would be billed on a fee for service basis.

Medication costs:

Medications are not included, and no refund is given for medication costs. Medication costs can be as low as $1200 for a cycle, but average about $3000 and can be higher than this (rarely as high as $4000). The cost depends on the particular medication chosen as well as the dose and duration of stimulation needed to get an optimal response from your ovaries. Insurance might cover the cost of the medications.

Restrictions for the guarantee:

The guarantee is applicable to cash-in-advance payment situations only. This option can not be used if your health insurance covers IVF.

Program Eligibility (using own eggs) *

To qualify for our 100% guarantee pricing option, a couple needs to meet all the requirements of our regular fee for service IVF program. In addition, if the female partner is using her own eggs, she must be 38 years of age or younger at the time of enrollment and have sufficient ovarian reserve (see below). For women at the higher end of the allowed age range - all IVF cycles using fresh embryos must be completed before she is 3 months past her 39th birthday.

Tests needed to qualify:

1. Normal ovarian reserve testing: Tests are done in one of our offices on day 2, 3 or 4 of the menstrual cycle:
   • FSH, LH and estradiol blood tests (cost is $195) must be normal
     
   • Ultrasound (cost is $200) must show at least 14 antral follicles on an ovary (or ovaries) accessible for egg retrieval
2. Evaluation of uterus to investigate whether it appears normal enough to initiate and sustain a pregnancy: The tests are usually done at one visit to the office on about day 13-14 of the menstrual cycle:
   • Ultrasound evaluation of the uterus and it's lining - the uterine lining (endometrium) must be at least 8.0 mm thick (cost is $200).
     
   • Office hysteroscopy to thoroughly evaluate the cavity of the uterus (cost is $425)

Other qualifying issues:

• The female partner must be a non-smoker in order to be eligible for the guarantee. We will accept a smoker if she quits entirely by 30 days prior to starting ovarian stimulating medications. This will be documented with urine and/or blood tests.
  
• Women that are significantly overweight (Body Mass Index over 30.0) are not eligible
  
• Women that have ever had an abnormal day 3 FSH test are not eligible
  
• Women with a hydrosalpinx are not eligible. However, they can have the hydrosalpinx surgically removed and then could qualify.
  
• Couples that have failed 3 (or more) previous IVF attempts with fresh embryos (including cancelled stimulation attempts) are not eligible.
  
• If IVF has been attempted previously, copies of all ovarian stimulation and all embryology records must be submitted to us for review.
  
• Couples with 2 or more previous miscarriages are not eligible.
• The male partner must have a minimum of 100,000 motile sperm in his ejaculate
• The couple must be willing to have ICSI, transfer 2 embryos, and cryopreserve (freeze) any leftover potentially viable embryos (frozen embryos will always be used before another fresh attempt is considered).

* We reserve the right to approve or deny entry into our guarantee programs on a case by case basis.

Cycle cancellation during stimulation

The response of your ovaries to the stimulation must be sufficient enough to result in a minimum of 3 mature follicles (15-20 mm diameter on HCG day) or the cycle will be cancelled. The estradiol level should also be at least 600 pg/ml. If there are at least 2 follicles of 15-20 mm and at least 2 more between 13-15 mm, we would consider proceeding with egg retrieval.

Very rarely, cycles can be cancelled for over-responding ovaries as well. Our criteria for cancellation of IVF cycles are identical for guaranteed and non-guaranteed cycles.

The ovarian response to stimulation is fairly predictable in advance by counting the number of antral follicles that are visible on ultrasound in an unstimulated state. Therefore, we need to see a minimum of 14 antral follicles in all women that are undergoing IVF with the guarantee.

Read more about our cycle cancellation policies

If the cycle is cancelled during stimulation and before the aspiration, the rebate is for all but $500 (cycle management fee) plus $65/blood assay and $200/ultrasound.

Program Termination:

Almost all patients who do not achieve a viable pregnancy as a result of the initial IVF attempts will be recommended to proceed with continued attempts. The main reasons not to do so would include inadequate ovarian response, inadequate egg quantity and quality, or very poor embryo quality.

We reserve the right to terminate the patient's participation after each completed cycle (this is very rare). Likewise, the couple has the right to terminate its participation after each completed cycle (after all fresh and frozen embryos have been transferred).

• If our center terminates the couple's 100% refund plan early (before the completion of all 3 fresh IVF attempts), the full 100% refund will be returned to the couple.
  
• Likewise, the couple is also free to quit the program before they complete all of their allotted fresh cycles. The full 100% refund will be returned to the couple as long as the female partner is not pregnant and all frozen embryos have been transferred to her uterus.

Other pricing options:

Standard IVF cost - single cycle price: $9500

We also offer a cost plan with shared risk between the clinic and the couple. The IVF cost option with risk-sharing covers up to 3 or 4 fresh in vitro fertilization attempts and associated frozen embryo transfer cycles. 80% of the fee is given back to the couple if there is not a live birth. There are some restrictions - all couples are not eligible.

Egg donation costs

Egg Donation Shared Risk Plan pricing option

100% guarantee with donor eggs pricing option

If you are not from our area, read about coming from out of town for IVF

Advanced Fertility Center of Chicago | Gurnee, IL (847) 662-1818 | Crystal Lake, IL (815) 356-1818

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