| What Can I Expect the Cost to Be?
|
| | Typical costs: | - The cost of fertility testing varies, based on the test. The least invasive testing can range from $50 to $200 or more for a sperm count and motility test; or for blood tests for the female to check the levels of hormones that promote the maturation and release of eggs.
- Somewhat invasive fertility testing can cost $200 to $1,000 or more for tests such as the endometrial biopsy, in which a sample of the uterine lining is taken to see if it is reacting properly to hormonalstimulation; or the HSG, a special X-ray in which dye is inserted into the uterus and fallopian tubes, which are examined for defects.
- The most invasive fertility testing can cost up to $7,000 - $10,000 or more for tests that require anesthesia, such as a hysteroscopy orlaparoscopy, in which the doctor uses a scope to physically examine the female reproductive organs.
- Doctors usually begin with the least invasive tests. If a cause is not found, the doctor may recommend more invasive tests. It is important to look at both partners because40 percent of cases involve male factor infertility; 40 percent involve female factor infertility; 10 percent involve problems with both partners and, in the rest of the cases, the cause is undetermined.
- Fertility testing generally is covered by health insurance plans -- even those that do not cover infertility treatments -- because fertility problems can be linked to or caused by other health problems, such as polycysticovary syndrome (PCOS) or endometriosis.
- For patients covered by insurance, out-of-pocket costs generally range from less than $100 to $1,000 or more, depending on the tests, how many tests are needed and the insurance plan. Out-of-pocket expenses usually include copays per visit, or a percentage of the diagnostic testing cost.
| | What should be included: | - Beforec onducting specific tests, the doctor usually will do a thorough physical examination of both partners and will interview each partner about medical history and sexual history and habits.
| | Additional costs: | - If fertility testing is performed at a hospital, a facility fee can add several hundred dollars to the total cost.
| | Discounts: | - Some clinics offer slightly lower cash rates to patients who pay out-of-pocket.
|
|
| |
|
