In this day and age, women are waiting longer to get pregnant and give birth until they reach the time when they feel that they are more financially stable and can provide the needs of having a family and raising one. With the increase in prices and the daily cost of living, it becomes a primary concern that couples who would like to provide for the needs of their future children are met with lesser problems.
This is one of the reasons why there are women who opt to wait longer before trying to conceive. But there can be problems that can come with trying to get pregnant at a later time especially when it comes to fertility. Fertility rates decrease as humans grow older because of various factors related to the body. The first reason, as we have said, is the age factor. A woman’s fertility rate starts to decrease when she reaches her thirties and this will go down to 50% during her forties, according to LearnVest.com. Other factors that can decrease a woman’s fertility level greatly are being overweight and smoking.
So if you would like to get pregnant in the future or are trying to get pregnant with no luck, you may be having some queries regarding your fertility rate. One of the possible questions that you have in mind is with regards to the procedures and the cost to get a fertility test. In this article, we will discuss the basic thing you need to consider financially if you would like to take a fertility test.
How Much Does Fertility Testing Cost?
If you are a woman and would like to know your fertility level for future pregnancy or have been attempting to conceive to no avail, you might be considering undergoing a fertility test. Fertility or infertility tests are made to check the possible reasons why a woman cannot get pregnant. According to WebMD.com, these tests include physical exams, blood tests, semen analysis, and other procedures if found necessary. But first, it is important that you have a valid reason why you would like to undergo a fertility test especially since these tests can take a lot of time and money.
If your doctor gives you the go signal to undergo fertility tests, you should be prepared for the series procedures and the fertility testing cost of each. Your doctor will most likely let you take non-invasive tests before heading to invasive fertility tests. Blood tests are conducted to check the levels of hormones for women and can range from $50-$200 per test.
Healthcheckusa.com lists four types of fertility blood tests to examine infertility, gonadal disorders, and pituitary disorders. These tests have the following fertility testing cost:
- Follicular Stimulating Hormone (FSH) Blood Test: $45.
- Luteinizing Hormone (LH) Fertility Blood Test: $45
- FSH and LH Blood Testing Profile: $70
- Thyroid Peroxidase Antibodies TPO: $48
There are chances that the cause or reason why you are having difficulty in pregnancy may not be answered or found out by simple blood tests. Your doctor may think that you have an average amount of hormones being produced as can be seen in the blood tests. During these cases, your doctor may advise you to undergo invasive fertility tests. The cost to get a fertility test that is invasive in nature and may require various procedures can range from $200 up to $5000. Invasive fertility tests require small incisions and procedures to see the internal system of a woman’s body, often the uterus and fallopian tubes.
One such procedure to test a woman’s fertility and capacity to get pregnant is by checking her reproductive system. The Hysterosalpingogram or HSG is one x-ray procedure that checks the fallopian tubes and the uterus of a woman. Advancedfertility.com lists the cost of HSG as ranging from $800-$3000. This process involves injecting a dye into the uterus and the cervix to see if the fallopian tubes are open or blocked. An HSG procedure can also help your doctor determine other uterine-related abnormalities, polyps, scar tissue, and fibroids. Another fertility test from advancedfertility.com is the pelvic ultrasound for uterus and ovaries evaluation which costs $250.
A more invasive procedure such as laparoscopy, which is a surgical procedure, involves the use of a thin telescope instrument through a small incision in the abdomen. This lets doctors see fully if there are problems in the uterus, ovaries and the fallopian tubes of a woman. Women who are thought to have endometriosis are advised by their doctors to undergo a laparoscopy procedure to validate this. The cost of a laparoscopy procedure can cost anywhere from $1700 to $5000. This depends whether the procedure is meant for diagnosis or treating conditions like endometriosis, blocked fallopian tubes, or ovarian cysts.
How Much Does Fertility Testing For Male Cost?
Fertility problems are not limited to women since there are also fertility considerations with men. If you are trying to conceive, it is essential that you and your partner both take tests since pregnancy problems are 40% male fertility and 40% female fertility. There are also instances when the sperm of the male is not compatible with the woman’s egg.
The first fertility test done for men is the semen analysis. This type of test measures sperm concentration, motility, and structure. The cost to get a fertility test through semen analysis is about $25 to $35 but can reach up to $100 depending on the clinic.
The Kofinas Fertility Group also conducts sperm test to determine male fertility. Their cost for a semen analysis is $150. Another sperm test that they conduct is the Sperm DNA Fragmentation test which costs $200. This identifies if there is the possibility of a DNA damage that can make it hard for a sperm to fertilize an egg. This type of test is recommended if there is still difficulty in conceiving even if the semen analysis is normal.
With the costs of these fertility tests, a couple should carefully consider factors like financial and mental preparedness especially since these procedures can take some time. If you are going to take a fertility test, you should check if these can be covered by your health insurance to minimize out-of-pocket expenses.