How Much Does IVF Cost in Canada
Home / Canada / How Much Does IVF Cost in Canada?

How Much Does IVF Cost in Canada?

The increase in infertility globally results in an increased demand for in vitro fertilization (IVF) and other assisted reproductive techniques (ART). Added to this, IVF and surrogacy, in a way, are the only chances that exist for same-sex couples to experience the joy of having their own genetically related offspring. 

The major drawback of IVF, however, is the cost of doing it. IVF is very expensive, especially in countries like the UK and the USA. The restrictions and rigidity of the laws enacted for IVF, surrogacy, and egg and or sperm donation in some countries also make it difficult for couples battling infertility or same-sex couple to achieve their dream of growing their family. Canada is considered the ideal location for such people; the IVF cost in Canada is quite affordable, especially when compared to other countries that offer similar sophisticated technology. Their laws are also flexible and inclusive for all couples that require help in overcoming infertility, despite their sexual orientation or their background.

What is IVF?

What is IVF
Picture courtesy: Gestational Surrogacy India

In summary, IVF is a treatment that tries to achieve fertilization and conception for a couple experiencing infertility. It is achieved by collecting eggs from a female, then ensuring that the egg is fertilized by a collected sperm from a male. The embryo that forms is implanted back into the uterus of the woman. 

To further explain the process, before the IVF process, the couple is screened to look out for any inadequacies or infections that may hinder the success of the process. After screening, the woman is administered fertility medication to enable her to ovulate multiple eggs. The eggs are eventually collected and fertilized with the donated sperm from the male. After fertilization, the embryo is then implanted back into the uterus of the female. Embryos can either be frozen for future pregnancy attempts or, they can be transferred to the patient’s uterus in case of failure.

How Much Does IVF Cost in Canada?

How Much Does IVF Cost in Canada?
Picture courtesy: Wealth Awesome

In Canada, a round of IVF which includes all the processes and stages that were listed above can cost from 10k-20k dollars. The reason for the estimate and wide gap between the figures is due to the large number of variables that may exist in the entire process. For example, the price is not constant in the different clinics. The price will also vary depending on the number of services and the amount of medication that is required in the entire IVF process, the medication required makes up almost half the cost of the IVF. There are medications to stimulate the ovarian follicles, antibiotics that may be administered in the case of infection, and vitamins (folic acid, vitamin D, etc.) that are needed in the different stages of the process. The remaining charge is usually for the cost of screening tests, embryo transfers, genetic testing (when requested), embryo storage, and egg retrieval. 

IVF will usually get more expensive if more than one round is required to achieve pregnancy, and on average, it takes about 2-3 rounds of IVF to achieve pregnancy. Also, medical issues discovered during the screening like endometriosis further complicates the process, leading to thousands more dollars spent. This emotional stress which is added on top of the already existing financial stress heaps pressure on the couple, leading to them desiring to get the best out of the IVF process. The biggest hindrance to the IVF process which contributes to most of the failure is the age of the couple, because the older the man and woman, the more the quality of the egg and sperm reduces. 

The process further increases in cost with the involvement of an egg or a sperm donor, a sperm donation would usually cost 400-700 dollars depending on the location of the clinic. Finding an egg donor is harder because egg purchase is illegal in Canada. Parents have to find an altruistic donor, typically a close friend or family member. In the absence of this, the egg would have to be acquired outside of Canada which further increases the cost of the IVF process.

Provincial Peculiarities in Cost of IVF in Canada

Payment for fertility drugs is usually done by the couple in all parts of Canada. It is not included in the benefits package by most insurance companies. That being said, some provinces offer help to couples seeking IVF. Ontario covers one IVF cycle for patients that are younger than 43. They are also the only province to cover unlimited intrauterine insemination of sperm, an alternative to IVF which is usually less successful. This coverage is for people who have both medical and non-medical infertility. It is also open for same-sex couples and even people without partners. However, couples still have to cover the cost of tests, drugs, and the storage of sperm and ovarian reserves. 

In Manitoba, individuals can apply for a tax credit of about 40% of the cost of fertility treatments, including prescription drugs. The individuals seeking these grants must be a resident of Manitoba. Also, the physician must have a Manitoba license. Quebec has recently set up a tax credit model which covers IVF expenses for a maximum of 20,000 dollars per year. Women under 37 can claim this credit once a year, while women over 37 can claim two procedures. This tax break can also be used for other expenses like travel costs, medication, and consultation. 

In New Brunswick, there exists a one-time grant that allows people to claim half of IVF or IUI costs, individuals can receive up to 5,000 dollars one-time grant for their IVF costs. Apart from these areas, anybody else attempting IVF usually covers the expense of IVF on their own, provincial and territorial governments cover no parts of the treatment. Some territories like Northwest Territories, Yukon, and Nunavut may cover the initial fertility testing costs and nothing else. Some provinces like Prince Edwards Island, Newfoundland, and Labrador do not have IVF clinics.

The information provided in this blog is for educational purposes only and should not be considered as medical advice. It is not intended to replace professional medical consultation, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult with a qualified healthcare provider before making any decisions regarding your health. Read more

Similar Posts

Leave a Reply