Advisors: Save Separately for IVF; Expect Multiple Rounds

Financial advisors are urging clients to keep separate savings for fertility care and to plan for multiple treatment cycles. One in‑vitro fertilization (IVF) cycle typically costs about $24,000, and many patients need more than one cycle to achieve a pregnancy.

Use of fertility procedures has risen as women delay childbearing and the national birth rate has fallen. Preliminary figures show fewer than 54 births per 1,000 women of childbearing age in 2024, with an early indication that the rate fell again in 2025.

Success rates decline with age. Data from VARTA, the Australian fertility regulator, indicate a live birth after a first IVF cycle of about 48% for women aged 30–31, 40% for women 34–35 and 13% for women aged 40. For women 40 or older, the chance of a baby after a third cycle is roughly 25%. With per‑cycle costs near $24,000 and average couple expenses around $30,000, total outlays commonly reach $50,000 when multiple cycles are required. Surrogacy plans can reach about $250,000.

Leigh Shimamoto, senior wealth advisor at Mercer Advisors, recommends clients earmark funds specifically for fertility care and assume they may need at least two rounds. She notes some households delay other goals, such as a house down payment, to fund treatment. Shimamoto recalled, “You never know how many treatments you’ll have to go through.”

Jenna Rogers, managing director at Mission Wealth in Santa Barbara, recommends gathering detailed cost and insurance information from providers, including loan options and interest rates. Mapping out those figures provides a baseline for funding decisions, she adds.

Advisors say patients can lower out‑of‑pocket costs by requesting blood work at in‑network labs, being transparent with clinics about financial limits and accounting for travel and time off work. Clinic fees typically represent only part of the total expense.

Insurance coverage for IVF remains limited. About one in four U.S. employers with 200 or more workers offer health plans that include IVF coverage. Congressional proposals to expand coverage have failed twice. Given those gaps, planners sometimes discuss pausing 401(k) contributions or tapping retirement accounts; if clients choose those options, advisers recommend a written plan to replenish savings and manage repayments.

Advisors note the emotional strain of fertility spending and encourage clear communication between partners. Shimamoto, who has personal experience with fertility treatment, recommends advisers listen with empathy and present a range of financial options.

Practical preparation for fertility care, according to advisers, includes dedicated savings for treatment, a documented budget that covers ancillary costs, verified insurance and clinic financing details, and a plan to protect long‑term goals if clients draw on other accounts.