|
|
Being infertile can be very expensive! Tests and treatment cost considerable money, and since there is no definite endpoint, budgeting for medical expenses can be very difficult.
The availability of modern assisted reproductive techniques, such as IVF, have made treatment even more expensive - since so much expertise and technology is needed for these procedures. This means that there really is no upper limit to how much you can spend in your pursuit of a baby!
_2.jpg)
You need to control your finances - and it is unfortunately only too common to find patients who are so desperate to have a baby, that they have begged and borrowed, and even sold their lands, possessions and belongings, so that they could continue trying to have a baby.
Of course, for infertile couples, a baby is priceless, but you cannot afford to waste money. You may need to shop around to get a realistic estimate of how much treatment costs. Charges vary widely - and don't automatically assume that the more expensive a clinic, the better it is.
You need to consider the cost-effectiveness of each treatment option. While it is true that an IVF cycle is four times as expensive as an IUI cycle, the chance of a pregnancy is also four times as great! A common mistake patients who are not very well off often make is that they repeat the treatment of IUI repeatedly, because they feel that they cannot afford IVF. However, in the long run, they often end up spending even more! You need to have a plan of action, and to stick to it, rather than to keep on trying the same treatment over and over again, just because it is less expensive!
When considering expenses, you need to consider not only the money you will be spending, but the time and energy you need to invest as well! All of us have finite resources – and you need to invest them carefully!
Ironically, infertile patients who are rich are subject to the risk of overtreatment. Just because they can afford it, doctors advise them to go in for an IVF cycle, while simpler treatments such as IUI could also have helped them to get pregnant.
© Dr. Aniruddha Malpani and Dr. Anjali Malpani www.drmalpani.com
Credits: How to Have a Baby: Overcoming Infertility
