Cost of Reciprocal IVF

For many centuries, humanity has had to contend with nature in order to build their families. Thanks to advanced science and technology, we  have more accurate diagnoses and treatments for challenges facing individuals and couples who are trying to have children. Through IVF, more people have the opportunity to get treatment for infertility and other reproductive challenges. As a result, family building has been made more feasible, for all types of families. 

In vitro fertilization treatments such as reciprocal IVF have proven beneficial for same sex female couples. This particular type of IVF allows both partners to have a direct role in building their family. In this article, we shall discuss what reciprocal IVF is, the steps involved in the treatment, success rates as well as other considerations to keep in mind should you choose to build your family using reciprocal IVF. 

What Is Reciprocal IVF

Reciprocal IVF is also called ‘co-maternity’. This is because both partners of a same sex female couple take part in the IVF process. The way this works is that one partner will give their eggs for fertilization, and the other will have the embryo implanted into their womb, and carry the pregnancy to term. 

Reciprocal IVF consequently has become quite popular among trans-men and lesbian couples because of its high success rate. The duration from the first treatments to final implantation could take several weeks or several months depending on how many cycles of IVF a couple would undergo. Nevertheless, it has shown even greater promise than other forms of assisted reproductive therapies. 

How Does Reciprocal IVF Work?

Reciprocal IVF is similar to regular IVF, consisting of three main phases. Retrieving the eggs, fertilizing them, and implanting the embryo into the uterus. Below is a more detailed breakdown of the process:

Egg Retrieval

The process begins with preparing the ovaries of the partner who will be donating their eggs. In order to retrieve eggs from the ovaries, a process called ovarian stimulation is undertaken. In this procedure, medications as well as hormonal injections are prescribed over a period of time. What they do is to cause multiple follicles to develop and mature the eggs within. 

The significance of ovarian stimulation in IVF is that, whereas in natural ovulation only one egg develops to maturity, ovarian stimulation causes the ovaries to develop more than one egg to maturity at once. When the eggs in the follicles are almost mature, one last hormonal injection is administered that causes them to mature fully. This allows the eggs to be retrieved at once, as a group. 

Fertilization

After the eggs are retrieved, some can be frozen for future family building, while others can be fertilized using donated sperm. A couple can choose to use the services of a sperm bank, or alternatively, they can use sperm from a known donor. The sperm that will be used will be screened ahead of time to ensure viability and vitality. 

After fertilization, the embryos are placed in a controlled environment, where they can develop for a few more days. Having some eggs frozen and some fertilized allows a couple to have more options when it comes to building their family. Frozen eggs can be used for future IVF  treatments, while the fertilized ones can be used as back up in case there are complications during an IVF cycle.  

Implantation

While one partner is undergoing treatments to develop and retrieve their eggs, the other partner undergoes treatments to prepare their womb to carry the pregnancy. This is also done using medications and hormone injections. After these treatments, the embryo or embryos are implanted into the uterus. A catheter and speculum are used to implant them. The process is quick and usually does not require any pain medication or sedation.

The Cost of Reciprocal IVF

The cost of reciprocal IVF is similar to the cost of regular IVF treatments. IVF treatments usually cost about $20,000 and more. This amount covers the cost of an IVF cycle which is pre-procedure medications, hormone injections, egg retrieval and embryo transfer. The cost also covers donor sperm fees as well as legal fees. If one round of IVF is not successful, a couple may need to undergo additional rounds of  IVF. Since some steps will not be repeated such as the legalities and egg retrieval or fertilization, the cost would range between $3,000-$5,000 per additional round.  

To Sum It Up

Though costly, reciprocal IVF is very effective in helping same sex female couples build their families. Reciprocal IVF has provided the opportunity for each of the partners to play a significant role in the building of their family. Reciprocal IVF has been found to have a 30 percent success rate after one round of IVF treatment, and more than 65 percent success by the sixth round of treatment. At Los Angeles Reproductive Center, we strive to support our patients in their family building journeys, through our compassion-led expert care, tailored to each individual circumstance. 

Reciprocal IVF FAQs

What Is the Success Rate of Reciprocal IVF?

Reciprocal IVF is as successful as regular IVF. In many cases it has been found to be even more successful because the partners using reciprocal IVF do so due to the nature of their relationship, and not due to challenges with infertility. 

Does Insurance Pay for Reciprocal IVF?

Typically, couples can expect to pay out of pocket for most of the costs, if not all of them. This is because medical insurance policies typically require a medical precedent to cover the costs of any treatment. 

Is Reciprocal IVF Worth It?

The decision to use reciprocal IVF as well as any other assisted reproductive treatment is a personal decision. As such, the value obtained from the treatment, i.e. having children, may often take precedence over the cost of making the children. Ultimately, with informed guidance from a professional healthcare provider, this decision can be made with confidence.