How much will your fertility treatment cost?

These include:

* the highly individualised nature of proper fertility care;
* the many possible causes of infertility; and
* the many possible treatments available and the types of medication required.

All of these factors influence the cost and prices of fertility treatments, and are discussed in more detail below.

Proper fertility treatment is highly individualised

Fertility challenges are often the result of a medical condition, but there are many possible causes for such a condition. This means there is no one-size-fits-all treatment package or silver bullet tablets that will ‘cure’ infertility.

Every patient’s case is unique. At Cape Fertility, the recommendations we make for your testing and treatment plan are based on your individual circumstances as a couple. Your treatment plan is a unique combination of treatments and medications custom-made for you and your partner by your fertility specialist to give you the very best chance of a successful pregnancy.

This, of course, also means the costs can vary considerably from one couple to the next.

There are many possible causes of infertility

There is also no single cause of infertility. In fact, there is a range of causes of female infertility, as well as a number of causes of male infertility, in addition to the substantial possibility that there may be multiple causes from either or both partners – or no cause that can be found.

Approximately one-third of infertility challenges is attributed to the female partner, one-third attributed to the male partner, and one-third is caused by a combination of problems in both partners, or is unexplained.

In addition, infertility in the female partner can be caused by multiple possible conditions, such as advanced age, endometriosis, ovulation problems, chemotherapy, and Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS), among others. Infertility in the male partner is most commonly linked to sperm disorders, but can also be the result of injury, hormonal problems, lifestyle factors and the treatment of diseases such as cancer.

It is crucial to know the exact cause of your infertility challenges as a couple, so that only the best possible treatment and medications can be selected.

Wide range of fertility treatments

Thankfully, the range of advanced treatments available today to address these many causes of infertility is encouraging.

It also means that one couple will need a different combination of treatments or medications than another couple. This means the cost of fertility treatment will differ from one couple to the next, depending on the type and number of treatments done, and the amount of medication required.

So, one can put a price on a specific procedure, but it does not provide a full answer. For example, at Cape Fertility, treatment such as artificial insemination costs approximately R5000 – R10000 per cycle and IVF approximately R70000 – R80000 per cycle. For more information, please visit our Treatment Costs page…
However, knowing these prices are of little value if you don’t know exactly what treatment – or combination of treatments – you need. In addition, the cost will depend on the type and amount of medication required and whether additional procedures are necessary.

Medical aids and finance options

Undergoing infertility treatment can be a significant financial strain on couples, particularly since medical aid schemes in South Africa in general do not cover assisted reproduction technologies or treatments like IVF, although some may cover procedures such as surgery required.

Fortunately, there are ways to overcome the financial challenges of fertility treatments, such as the PMBs covered under all medical schemes, the fertility benefits launched and upgraded by Discovery Medical Scheme, and medical finance specifically designed for fertility treatment.

Funding under PMBs: Infertility is one of the 270 Prescribed Minimum Benefits (PMBs) – and all medical schemes must pay for PMBs. The treatments covered includes certain medical and surgical procedures, such as hysterosalpingography (HSG) imaging of uterus and Fallopian tubes, specific blood tests for hormone levels, thyroid function testing, tests for HIV as well as other infections, treatment of local infection, laparoscopy and hysteroscopy, surgery of the uterus and Fallopian tubes, ovulation defects and deficiencies, tests for male infertility and counselling.

Medical scheme cover: Discovery Medical Scheme offers cover for fertility treatments beyond PMBs for some of its clients, and still subject to rigorous terms and conditions. The benefit is quite comprehensive, including consultations with clinicians; ultrasounds; egg retrieval; embryo freezing and transfers; admission costs; lab fees; and medication. It provides cover for two cycles of Assisted Reproductive Therapy (ART) including In-Vitro Fertilisation (IVF), Intra-Uterine Insemination (IUI), Embryo Transfer (FET) and Intra-Cytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI). Recent enhancements include embryo storage, egg-donated cycles and cryopreservation.

Medical finance: Fortunately, there is also medical finance designed specifically for fertility patients who do not have any or sufficient medical cover for the treatments they require is. The ability to pay off finance in more affordable monthly instalments, considerably reduce the financial burden on many of our patients.

One local medical finance provider, Medifin, which offers loans of up to R100,000 for IVF, sperm and egg donations, normal delivery and Caesarean sections, and more. Your fertility specialist will be able to provide you with more information about this option.

Can fertility treatment be affordable?

To ensure fair fees and a seamless medical aid claims process from a fertility clinic, always choose a Southern African Society of Reproductive Medicine and Gynaecological Endoscopy (SASREG) Centre of Excellence, which provides assurance that strict medical and safety guidelines are adhered to, and that fertility treatment costs are in accordance with the market rate.

At Cape Fertility, we also ensure your fertility treatments are affordable. We do this by valuing each individual patient, delivering individualised and personalised care, and always striving for higher success rates.

Because we value each patient, we use the expertise and experience of our entire team, along with our advanced equipment and facilities, to establish exactly what your unique infertility challenges are and which specific combination of treatments and medications are required for you.

In this way, we make sure you only pay for treatments and medications that will give you the very best chance of a healthy pregnancy.

We will also assist you with advice regarding medical aid cover and finance.

Importantly, at Cape Fertility, we also always strive for higher success rates, so our patients have a superior chance of success for every treatment cycle they invest in.

How much will your fertility treatment cost?

There is only one way to know for certain what the exact cause of your fertility challenges as a couple are – and what treatment is the best given your unique circumstances: an initial consultation with a fertility specialist.

Setting up your initial consultation is as simple as contacting us here…

At Cape Fertility, we value each individual patient and we look forward to providing you with affordable quality fertility treatment, individualised and personalised care, and higher success rates at our purpose-built premises in the beautiful city of Cape Town.