Our Data & Methodology

Where our data comes from

FertilityCostGuide estimates are derived from publicly available, peer-reviewed, and authoritative sources. Our cost estimates are independent and not influenced by any commercial relationship. This site may earn referral fees from financing partners and other third parties when you click certain links. These relationships never influence our cost data or calculator methodology. We only link to financing and service providers we believe are relevant and useful to our readers.

• SART (Society for Assisted Reproductive Technology) — Annual Clinic Summary Report, used for success rate data and cycle outcome benchmarks by age and procedure type. Note: SART does not publish national cost data; cost ranges are derived from published clinic pricing and industry surveys referenced below. sartcorsonline.com
• ASRM (American Society for Reproductive Medicine) — Published practice guidelines, cost surveys, and policy statements on fertility treatment. asrm.org
• CDC ART Surveillance Report — The Centers for Disease Control's annual report tracking ART success rates and cycle outcomes nationally (most recent data: 2022, published December 2024). Used for success rate benchmarks and cycle volume data, not cost figures. cdc.gov/art
• Published clinic pricing surveys — Cost ranges are derived from publicly available pricing pages and published fee schedules from fertility clinic networks including CNY Fertility, CCRM, Shady Grove Fertility, and independent clinics across all three cost tiers. Ranges represent the middle market, excluding outlier pricing at either extreme.
• FertilityIQ patient cost reports — Aggregated self-reported cost data from fertility patients, providing real-world cost benchmarks by procedure type and geography.
• Peer-reviewed studies on egg freezing outcomes — Published research on per-egg live birth rates by age, including studies from Yale School of Medicine and ASRM-affiliated publications.
• Publicly available clinic pricing — We reviewed published pricing from major fertility clinic networks and independent clinics across high, mid, and standard cost markets.
• Surrogacy agency fee schedules — Publicly available fee structures from major surrogacy agencies across the United States.
• RESOLVE state mandate database — State-by-state insurance coverage requirements. resolve.org
• IUI cost data — ASRM published guidelines on IUI protocols and costs; clinic survey data from SART-member fertility practices.
• Egg donation cost data — ASRM donor compensation guidelines (Ethics Committee reports on financial compensation of oocyte donors); SART cycle outcome data for donor-egg IVF cycles.

Last updated: March 2026

How we calculate ranges

For every cost component, we provide three estimates: Low, Mid, and High. These are not arbitrary — they correspond to specific statistical thresholds in our source data:

• Low — Approximately the 25th percentile of published cost data. A minority of patients pay this amount or less, typically in lower-cost markets or with favorable insurance.
• Mid — The national median. This is the most typical cost experience across all markets and clinic types.
• High — Approximately the 75th percentile. A substantial proportion of patients pay this or more, typically in high-cost markets (CA, NY, MA) or with complex protocols.

We exclude extreme outliers in both directions. The highest-priced boutique clinics and the lowest-priced budget offerings are not representative of the typical patient experience and would distort the estimate.

For state-based estimates, we group states into three tiers based on regional cost data:

• High-cost states: California, New York, Massachusetts, Connecticut, New Jersey, Maryland
• Mid-cost states: Texas, Florida, Illinois, Pennsylvania, Washington, Colorado, Georgia, North Carolina, Virginia
• Standard cost states: All remaining states

What our estimates include and exclude

Egg freezing success rate methodology

Our egg freezing success probability estimates are based on published per-egg success rate data from the following peer-reviewed sources:

1. Practice Committee of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine. "Evidence-based outcomes after oocyte cryopreservation for donor oocyte in vitro fertilization and planned oocyte cryopreservation: a guideline." Fertility and Sterility. 2021;116(1):36–47. PMID: 34148587. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34148587
2. Doyle JO, et al. "Successful elective and medically indicated oocyte vitrification and warming for autologous in vitro fertilization, with predicted birth probabilities for fertility preservation according to number of cryopreserved oocytes and age at retrieval." Fertility and Sterility. 2016;105(2):459–466. PMID: 26604065. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26604065
3. US Fertility Network retrospective cohort study, 1,185 patients, presented at the 81st ASRM Scientific Congress, October 2025. Live birth rates per thaw cycle: ages 35–37: 49%; 38–40: 32.5%; 41–42: 20%; 42+: 13%.

We use the following per-egg live birth rates (probability that a single frozen egg will result in a live birth when eventually used):

• Under 35: ~6.5% per egg
• 35–37: ~5.5% per egg
• 38–40: ~4.0% per egg
• 41–42: ~2.5% per egg
• 43+: ~1.5% per egg

Note: our per-egg rates are intentionally conservative relative to some published studies. The ASRM 2021 guideline models suggest slightly higher per-egg rates for women under 38. We use conservative estimates to avoid overpromising outcomes. Live birth rates per complete thaw cycle are typically higher than per-egg rates suggest, as most patients thaw multiple eggs in a single cycle.

To calculate the number of eggs needed for a 70% or 85% chance of at least one live birth, we use the formula: n = log(1 − target) / log(1 − p), where p is the per-egg success rate and target is the desired probability (0.70 or 0.85).

These are statistical population averages, not individual predictions. Your reproductive endocrinologist can provide personalized assessment based on your specific ovarian reserve, AMH levels, and other factors.

Important limitations

• Costs vary significantly by clinic. The same procedure can differ by 50% or more between clinics in the same city. Always request an itemized quote from your specific clinic. Note that our ranges exclude high-volume budget clinics such as CNY Fertility ($7,000–$12,000/cycle), which may be significantly below market rates but operate differently from full-service fertility programs.
• We cannot account for your specific protocol. Your reproductive endocrinologist will design a protocol based on your individual biology. Medication doses, monitoring frequency, and add-ons will differ from the general estimates here.
• Insurance coverage details vary by plan. Even within mandate states, self-insured employer plans (ERISA plans) are exempt from state mandates. Your specific benefits depend on your employer and plan year.
• Surrogacy costs are especially variable. Geographic variation, surrogate compensation negotiations, legal complexity, and the specific agency or independent arrangement create wide ranges. Our estimates represent the middle of the market.
• Donor egg costs exclude donor selection fees. Some agencies charge additional fees for egg donor database access, donor screening, or specific donor selection processes not captured in our ranges.
• Our data has a cutoff. All data reflects costs as of March 2026. Fertility treatment costs generally increase 3–5% annually. Future costs may be higher.

Full disclaimer

IUI cost methodology

IUI (intrauterine insemination) costs are estimated using ASRM published guidelines and clinic survey data from SART-member practices. Base procedure costs are tiered by state using the same three-tier model as IVF (high-cost, mid-cost, and standard-cost states). Variable costs include medications ($500–$3,000/cycle), monitoring visits ($200–$600/cycle), sperm washing ($200–$600/cycle), and donor sperm ($200–$1,000/cycle) when applicable.

Surrogacy cost methodology

Surrogacy cost estimates are based on publicly available fee schedules from major US surrogacy agencies, legal firm disclosures, and published industry surveys. Costs are broken into five components: agency fees ($20,000–$35,000), surrogate compensation ($40,000–$80,000 depending on experience and state), medical costs ($15,000–$30,000 including the IVF cycle for embryo creation if needed), legal fees ($8,000–$15,000 for both parties), and surrogate insurance ($8,000–$20,000). Geographic variation is significant — surrogate compensation in California and New York is typically 20–30% higher than the national average. Independent surrogacy arrangements (without an agency) reduce costs by $20,000–$35,000 but require the intended parents to manage the matching and coordination process directly.

Egg donation cost methodology

Egg donation recipient costs are estimated using published market rate data from major egg donation agencies. SART cycle data for donor-egg IVF outcomes informs medical cost estimates. Donor compensation ranges reflect current market rates: $3,000–$8,000 for known donors covering medical, travel, and legal expenses only; $8,000–$30,000 for agency donors based on experience and demand. Agency fees of $5,000–$9,000 cover matching, screening, and coordination. Medical/IVF cycle costs and legal fees use published fee schedules from SART-member clinics.

Donor compensation varies significantly based on donor experience, location, and demand. ASRM removed its compensation cap recommendation in 2016; current market rates range from $8,000 for first-time donors to $30,000+ for experienced donors with highly sought-after profiles. Total fresh cycle costs of $35,000–$65,000 reflect compensation, agency fees, IVF cycle, medications, and legal fees combined.