Families Face High Costs To Become Parents After Infertility

New York City, NY, July 10, 2014 (Newswire.com) - A new report reveals that hopeful parents-to-be coming out of infertility today may face significant financial barriers as they consider family-building options such as donor egg, donor embryo, surrogacy, or adoption. The free report, What Do Family Building Options Really Cost?, compares the latest cost data for 10 different routes, which can total more than $120,000 if pursuing gestational surrogacy in the United States.

“Because so many prospective parents turn to adoption or donor conception having already spent thousands on IVF and other infertility treatments, one of their most common first questions is, ‘Can we afford this…how much will this really cost?” said the report’s editor, Eve Gilman. “While prospective parents consider many factors in addition to cost when choosing their family building route, getting quick answers to this question can help them rule out options and narrow their initial choices.”

"While prospective parents consider many factors in addition to cost when choosing their family building route, getting quick answers to this question can help them rule out options and narrow their initial choices."

Eve Gilman, Editor

Unfortunately, the high costs of most adoption routes and third-party reproductive technologies may put them beyond the reach of some families.

• International and domestic newborn adoption costs have risen over the last decade, currently averaging $35,000-$45,000 and $20,000-$45,000, respectively. The range is greater for domestic adoption because some families may lower their costs by networking to find a prospective birth mother, while others spend more on advertising, have higher legal expenses, or pay higher agency fees.
•  Embryo donation is less expensive than egg donation (averaging $7,500-$20,000 vs. $20,000-$35,000) because families are using an embryo that already exists; embryo donation involves the transfer of an unused frozen embryo that was created during another couple’s IVF procedure.
•  Gestational surrogacy is the most expensive route, ranging from $50,000 to more than $120,000. Intended parents with costs on the upper end of that range are likely using a paid surrogate in the U.S. in combination with a donor egg or donor embryo.

One in eight couples struggles with infertility. As assisted reproductive technologies (ART) have advanced, more of these families have begun to research options like donor egg or surrogacy alongside adoption—but, until recently, have had to rely on multiple sources for information. “What Do Family Building Options Really Cost?,” provides detailed cost breakdowns for donor egg and donor embryo options, gestational surrogacy, domestic newborn and foster care adoption, and international adoption from China, Haiti, Ethiopia, and Ukraine. The special report was published by Building Your Family: The Infertility & Adoption Guide, a new informative website and annual print publication where hopeful parents can learn about all the post-infertility options in one place.

Building Your Family and its companion annual print publication were launched by health and parenting publisher New Hope Media, in collaboration with RESOLVE: the National Infertility Association, the American Academy of Assisted Reproductive Technology Attorneys, and the American Academy of Adoption Attorneys. Both the content-rich website and the print guide include personal stories by mothers and fathers through assisted reproduction or adoption and a national directory of ART and adoption professionals.

Fast Facts About Post-Infertility Family Building Costs

• Donor egg average cost: $20,000-$35,000
• Donor embryo average cost: $7,500-$20,000
• Gestational surrogacy average cost: $50,000-$100,000+
• Domestic newborn adoption average cost: $20,000-$45,000
• International adoption average cost: $35,000-$45,000
• U.S. foster adoption average cost: $0-$3,000
• Families adopting from U.S. foster care often qualify for an ongoing monthly subsidy

SOURCE:  What Do Family Building Options Really Cost?, a special report published by Building Your Family: The Infertility & Adoption Guide.

Contact: Eve Gilman, Editor

Building Your Family: The Infertility & Adoption Guide

Email: editor@buildingyourfamily.com

Ph: 646-366-0840