Fertility Treatment: IVF Costs

Once the decision has been made to proceed to In-Vitro-Fertilization (IVF), you will be responsible for a number of costs, which can be divided into a number of categories. All financial information will be available at the commencement of your cycle.

You must register for the safety net prior to commencing a cycle.

THE IVF CYCLE

1. Charges from Our Office
   
   You will receive 3 separate bills in relation to each IVF cycle:
   
   
   1. A planning an management fee: this fee is charged at your first consultation and relates to the planning and scheduling of your cycle;
      
      
   2. An oocyte retrieval (egg pick up) fee: this fee is charged for your egg pick up; and
      
      
   3. An embryo transfer fee: this fee is charged at the time for your egg pick up.
      
      
2. Charges from QFG
   
   This charge is raised by QFG when you book in for your cycle. Due to the complexity of your therapy it is not practical to itemize each cost event under the total price. Therefore, IVF units (and the associated Medicare rebate) charge a global fee. This fee covers the following costs:
   
   
   1. Registration of your details;
      
      
   2. Management of your details as required by the reproductive technologies assessment committee (RTAC);
      
      
   3. Attendance of a highly specialised scientist at your egg pick up;
      
      
   4. The preparation of the oocytes for fertilization;
      
      
   5. The preparation of sperm for fertilization, including sperm washing / centrifugation;
      
      
   6. Fertilization in the IVF laboratory by a scientist;
      
      
   7. Accommodation of your embryo(s) in an individual incubator slot in a strictly controlled microenvironment;
      
      
   8. Daily assessment and care of your embryo(s) by an embryologist including changes in culture media;
      
      
   9. The provision of disposable sperm, egg, fertilization and culture dishes or containers;
      
      
   10. The preparation and provision of egg, sperm, fertilization and embryo culture media;
       
       
   11. The provision of disposable micromanipulators and transfer catheters;
       
       
   12. The assessment and preparation of the embryo(s) for transfer;
       
       
   13. If there are remaining embryos, the freezing of these embryos for further use in a specialized cell freezing apparatus;
       
       
   14. Counselling, education and support by dedicated nursing staff, including 7 day support;
       
       
   15. All specialist consultations over the course of your cycle;
       
       
   16. All ultrasound scans, blood tests or other investigations undertaken over the course of your cycle;
       
       
   17. The fundamental drugs in your stimulation regimen (Gonal F or Puregon);
       
       
   18. 12 month registration with Friends of QFG;
       
       
   19. 12 months registration with Access Australia.
       
       QFG employs over 120 staff dedicated to the safe, efficient and cost effective provision of fertility services, in addition, to an active research and education program. The QFG laboratory is accredited by RTAC on a triennial basis.
       
       
3. Other Predictable Costs
   
   A number of other costs will be incurred in your treatment cycle:
   1. A day theatre fee (QFG day theatres) for your egg pick up and embryo transfer;
      
      
   2. An anaesthetic fee for your egg pick up;
      
      
   3. Additional medication costs, such as Synarel, Orgalutran, Cetrorelix, Pregnyl or Crinone; depending on your chosen stimulation regimen;
      
      
   4. Embryo storage fees.
      
      
4. Supplementary Fees
   
   A number of other costs may be incurred during your treatment cycle, depending on the level of intervention required:
   
   
   1. Medications: you may require additional medications which will incur separate fees;
      
      
   2. Surgical sperm retrieval;
      
      
   3. Intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI);
      
      
   4. Specialised embryo manipulation, such as assisted hatching

Further Information www.qfg.com.au