Is IVF really expensive?
Test tube baby is a kind of assisted reproductive technology, which is suitable for the birth difficulties caused by some infertility reasons. However, some people believe that IVF is too expensive to bear. In fact, although the cost of IVF is relatively high, it is not unaffordable. This article will discuss in detail the true situation of IVF costs from the aspects of medical process, medical services, relative costs and medical assistance.
Medical process
The medical process of IVF usually includes ovulation guidance, egg collection, sperm extraction, in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer. These steps require not only the professional skills of doctors, but also the use of advanced medical equipment and drugs. Therefore, the whole medical process will involve certain costs. The hospital usually provides a detailed cost list to help patients understand the cost composition of each step.
First, ovulation guides promote the maturation of eggs by taking drugs or injecting drugs, and the costs mainly include drugs and doctor follow-up. Secondly, egg collection is to obtain eggs from women's bodies through surgical operations, which requires operating rooms, anesthesiologists and other professionals, so the cost is high. Sperm extraction is mainly to obtain sperm from men's bodies. Generally, masturbation or other techniques are used, and the cost is relatively low. In vitro fertilization is to combine the collected eggs and sperm in the laboratory to cultivate embryos. This process involves laboratory equipment and technology, and the cost is also high. Finally, embryo transfer is to implant the cultured embryo into the female uterus, and the cost of this step is relatively low.
To sum up, each step in the IVF medical process will have a certain cost, which is related to the required equipment, technology and human resources.
medical service
The medical services for IVF include diagnosis and treatment by professional doctors, follow-up and guidance by doctors, etc. The participation of professional doctors is one of the key factors for the success of IVF, so the doctor's fees will become a part of the total costs.
Doctors' fees mainly include diagnosis fees, operation fees and follow-up fees. The diagnosis cost is to confirm the cause of infertility of the patient. The doctor may need to carry out various examinations, tests and inquiries. Operation expenses refer to the expenses incurred by operations such as egg collection and embryo transfer. Doctors play an important role in the operation. Follow up costs are mainly the costs of postpartum follow-up and guidance in the IVF cycle.
It should be noted that the charging standards of different regions, hospitals and doctors may be different. Some well-known IVF hospitals usually provide better medical services, but the cost will also increase accordingly.
Relative cost
Compared with natural pregnancy, the cost of IVF is really high. However, to assess whether it is "expensive", different factors need to be considered.
First of all, IVF is the only way for some infertile couples to realize their reproductive dreams. For them, the cost is acceptable relative to the happiness and family integrity brought by a healthy child.
Secondly, the cost of IVF also needs to be compared with other medical projects. Most IVF hospitals will provide corresponding financial programs and medical assistance to reduce patients' economic pressure. In addition, compared with long-term treatment of infertility or other fertility technologies, IVF may be more cost-effective.
medical assistance
In order to help those patients with financial difficulties realize their dreams of childbirth, some IVF hospitals provide medical assistance. These assistance plans include fee relief, installment payment and third-party funding.
Fee reduction is a common way of medical assistance. The hospital will adjust the size of the fee according to different circumstances to help patients bear part of the cost. Installment payment is to divide the total cost into multiple payments to reduce the economic pressure of patients. In addition, some institutions and charitable organizations will also provide third-party funding to provide financial support for couples with financial difficulties.
summary
The cost of IVF may be a heavy burden for infertile couples, but it is not impossible. Each step in the medical process, the quality and cost of medical services, the assessment of relative costs and the provision of medical assistance are all factors that affect the cost of IVF. Therefore, patients should fully understand relevant information when choosing IVF treatment and make rational decisions according to their own conditions.
