At a clinic in Athens, their treatment – including medication, fertilisation, storage and the eventual embryo transfer—came to about USD 12,000 (Rs 11,42,584), excluding travel. Their treatment required two trips to Greece. During the first, Emilie underwent ovarian stimulation and egg retrieval, while the couple used the gaps between appointments to explore the country, including a weekend on the island of Milos.
Their experience captures a broader shift in the way some Americans are approaching fertility care: the treatment itself becomes the anchor of an international trip.
A study of insured Americans, released in July and commissioned by the Women’s Reproductive Health Foundation, found that the average cost of one IVF cycle exceeds USD 29,000 (Rs 27,61,245). When expenses such as genetic testing, embryo storage, pregnancy care and delivery are included, the total cost of an IVF-conceived birth can surpass USD 54,000 (Rs 51,41,628). And mind you, patients typically require two to three IVF cycles to have a child. So, the overall financial burden can be even higher.
