TLDR
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Understanding fertility treatment costs, from IUI to IVF, can help you financially plan for the journey
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Provincial coverage, tax credits and employer benefits can offer prospective parents valuable financial assistance
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Egg-freezing and proactive financial planning can give you a financial head start when parenthood is still a few years away
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Adoption offers another path to parenthood, with various options to consider
The path to parenthood looks different for everyone. For one in six couples in Canada, this journey involves fertility treatments1. Worldwide, over eight million children have been born through In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) since the first assisted pregnancy in 19782.
While these medical advances offer hope, they also come with financial considerations. This guide can help you navigate the financial aspects of fertility treatments, from initial consultations to creating a financial plan that supports your family-building goals.
Understanding treatment options and their costs
As more Canadians seek reproductive medical support, it’s important to understand and plan for the costs of fertility treatments, as well as the alternate options available. Knowing what your choices are can help you find the path to parenthood that works best for you.
Initial fertility testing and consultations
The fertility journey typically begins with diagnostic testing and specialist consultations. Initial fertility testing can range from $500 to $1,500, depending on the required tests. These tests might include hormone level assessments, ultrasounds and a sperm analysis. Specialist consultation fees generally range from $200 to $400 per visit, though some provinces cover these under public health insurance.
Treatment tiers and associated expenses
With guidance from your doctors and specialists, you will discover that fertility treatments typically follow a tiered approach, starting with less invasive options. Here’s a brief definition of typical treatments and their costs:
Fertility medications
These are prescription medications that help regulate reproductive hormones and enhance fertility for both partners. Hormone treatments and ovulation drugs range between $500 and $7,000 per cycle, depending on individual needs.
Intrauterine Insemination (IUI)
IUI assists with conception by precisely timing and placing reproductive cells directly into the uterus during the optimum fertility window. This procedure typically costs $700 to $2,000 per cycle, not including medication costs. Many couples undergo multiple IUI cycles before considering other options that may be more invasive.
In Vitro Fertilization (IVF)
IVF is the most comprehensive fertility treatment available, where fertilization takes place in a clinical laboratory and doctors transfer embryos to the uterus to achieve pregnancy. A single IVF cycle costs between $10,000 and $20,000, including medications, and many patients require multiple cycles. Additional procedures such as Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI) can add $1,500 to $3,000. Genetic testing of embryos, if desired, can be expected to cost an additional $4,000 to $6,000.
Adoption as an alternative
Adoption can offer another path to parenthood. The costs and the processes vary considerably:
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Public adoption through children’s aid societies connects children in the Canadian foster care system with permanent families. The adoption process generally cost under $3,000 to complete.
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Private domestic adoption is facilitated by licensed adoption agencies that match birth parents with adoptive families. In this type of adoption, birth parents voluntarily relinquish their parental rights and the child is permanently placed with their adoptive parents. These adoptions typically cost between $15,000 and $25,000.
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International adoption allows Canadian citizens and permanent residents to adopt children from other countries who need families. The process typically costs between $20,000 and $50,000, including travel expenses and legal fees.
Navigating coverage and financial support
Are you a prospective parent? Understanding the types of financial support available through your general health insurance and any employer programs can help you figure out the path and the timing that’s right for you.
Provincial coverage
Coverage varies significantly by province. In Ontario, for example, the Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP) provides public funding to select fertility clinics. Quebec provides support for IVF, surrogacy pregnancy and preimplantation genetic testing for qualifying residents. And residents of British Columbia will see the launch of a publicly funded IVF program in the second quarter of 2025.
Other provinces offer tax credits or limited coverage. As you explore your coverage options, be sure to take note of any eligibility requirements – many plans stipulate criteria such as age, maximum coverage amounts and type of support. Ask your provincial health authority for current coverage details so you have the latest information.
Tax credits
The Medical Expense Tax Credit (METC) can help offset treatment costs. Most fertility treatments, including IVF, medications and related travel expenses qualify as eligible medical expenses. To benefit from these tax credits, keep detailed records of all expenses, including:
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Treatment receipts
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Medication costs
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Travel expenses (if traveling over 40km for treatment)
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Related medical supplies
Employer benefits
Your employer may offer full or partial coverage for fertility treatments or medications, so it’s worth reviewing your benefits package. Even if coverage isn’t listed, ask your HR team about family-building benefits – more and more employers are seeking to support employees on their journey towards parenthood.
Financial assistance programs
Many fertility clinics offer flexible payment plans and packages that bundle multiple treatment cycles together at a reduced cost. Organizations like Fertility Matters Canada maintain up-to-date lists of grants and financial assistance programs to help make treatments more affordable. Pharmaceutical companies also offer compassionate care programs to reduce medication costs for eligible patients.
Planning ahead: Proactive fertility options
Whether you’re thinking about having kids now or down the road, it’s smart to start planning your finances early. Getting a head start gives your money more time to grow, helping you build a stronger financial foundation for your family.
Egg freezing
For those planning for a future family, egg freezing is worth considering. This fertility preservation option allows women to store their eggs during their most fertile years, providing flexibility and peace of mind for those who aren’t ready to start a family just yet. The process involves harvesting and cryogenically preserving healthy eggs that can be used later when the time is right. The cost of the initial procedure ranges from $7,000 to $10,000. Storing the eggs typically runs between $300 and $500. When you’re ready to use the eggs, costs are similar to standard IVF cycles.
If you’re considering egg freezing, note that you’ll get the best results when freezing before age 35. Here’s why: both egg quality and quantity naturally decline as women age, with a significant drop in the mid-30s. Women in their 20s and early 30s typically have healthier eggs and more of them, which leads to better success rates when those eggs are later thawed for fertility treatments. After 35, both egg quality and quantity decrease more rapidly, which can make it harder to achieve a successful pregnancy. This is why fertility specialists often recommend freezing eggs during your prime reproductive years.
Tip: From a financial perspective, freezing eggs at the medically recommended age can also be more cost-effective for your long-term family planning budget. Insurance coverage and financing options are often more favourable during this timeframe.
Creating a financial plan
As with any meaningful goal, it’s important to build a plan that helps you achieve it. If having a family is important to you, a financial plan can help ensure you’re prepared for fertility-related expenses. Here are some steps to consider when creating yours:
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Establish a health savings account (HSA)
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Set aside savings to cover multiple treatment cycles
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Research insurance coverage and workplace benefits early
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Understand available tax credits
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Investigate financing options to understand what you might qualify for
The journey through fertility treatments can be both emotionally and financially demanding. Just remember you’re not alone on this journey. More and more Canadians are exploring fertility treatments to realize their dreams of having their own family. Resources and support are available to help you navigate this important life stage. For more financial advice and resources to guide you, visit RBC’s financial planning hub today.
Footnotes:
1 Fertility Matters Canada. (2023). Addressing barriers to fertility care in Canada. Retrieved from https://www.ourcommons.ca/Content/Committee/441/FINA/Brief/BR12564422/br-external/FertilityMattersCanada-e.pdf
2 PubMed Central. (2023). Global impact of IVF treatments on fertility rates. Available at https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10504530/
