As in 12 and a half percent, the percentage of persons diagnosed with infertility. Mel asked for those of us in that percentage to speak about the financial costs of infertility. I’m glad of this assignment because most of my posts (Check out IVF#1, #2, In/fertility thoughts for an archive) deal with the soul sucking, heart breaking, mind fucking experience infertility is for me and Mikey.

When we started in August 2004 (OMG!), I had insurance that covered all diagnostics and three IUI’s only. I had a flexible spending account that I used for the co-payments and to buy the man in the can. IUI #1 and #2 donor cost $315 a vial. Doctor visits cost $15. Clomid cost $5. IUI #3 donor cost $486 each vial and this was a double insemination. The flex spending account ran out mid cycle and I had to pay $1700 for injectible meds and $600 in doctor visits and ultrasound monitoring. Luckily I had gotten my tax return and was able to cover it. And that was it. No more insurance.

A new job and a new insurance company which covered everything except for donor eggs and donor sperm and had a cap of $10,000.  Alma Mater clinic charged about 6K for an IVF but charges the monitoring, the labs through my ob/gyn line. Donor #3 cost $450 a vial and the clinic required 2 vials. After that it was about $210 for the meds, $25 every visit and $100 “sperm thaw” fee. There was enough insurance to squeeze IVF#2 but we paid $480 for the meds, another 500 for an express shipment of a second vial and $1322 for the IVF with ICSI and AH. The final cost was $125 for the blood tests that would finally give me the diagnosis of diminished ovarian reserve.

And then there are the expenses for the gazillion OPKs, HPTs, prenatal vitamins, fertility herbal teas, instead cups, basal thermometers, fertility books, the fees for infertility conferences and drop in support groups, the cabs we had to take after my doctor visits, retrievals and transfers and the amount of chocolate consumed to feel better.

Finally, you can also factor in the $52 dollars a month I’ve been paying for the anti-depressants and a psychiatrist since March 2007 to shut off the voices in my head telling to I am a worthless barren woman and I’m better off drunk or cutting myself and alone.

This is our story. Please support fertility coverage for all.