Here's How Much Money You'll Need If You're Considering IVF

This article was updated on March 28, 2023.

In 2015, beauty magnate Vicki Belo and husband Hayden Kho, Jr., revealed to the world their daughter, Scarlet Snow, was conceived through in vitro fertilization(IVF) and carried to term via surrogacy. Celebrity mom and entrepreneur Divine Lee is a mother of two because of IVF.

Doctors typically refer couples to a fertility specialist if they’ve not been able to conceive after trying for a year. It can be a long journey, and one that comes at a steep price. IVF has been among the assisted reproductive technologies available here in the Philippines.

According to IVF Philippines, IVF was initially used to help women with blocked, damaged, or absent fallopian tubes to conceive. Today, women with endometriosis, male infertility, and unexplained infertility have turned to IVF upon their doctor's recommendation when they cannot conceive naturally.

How much does IVF cost in the Philippines

IVF comes at a higher price compared to getting pregnant and giving birth via vaginal delivery or C-section surgery. But IVF cost has gone down since it was first introduced in the country in 1995. How much money do you need to shell out to have this treatment done?

There are a lot of clinics now that offer IVF in the Philippines. Here are a few of them, along with an estimate of the cost of the procedure

Center for Advanced Reproductive Medicine and Infertility (CARMI)

Address: St. Luke’s Medical Center, BGC, Taguig City
Telephone: +63 2 8789-7700 ext. 2111
Email: inquiries@stlukescarmi.com
Website: www.stlukescarmi.com

CARMI is the only hospital-based fertility center in Metro Manila and claims to have the lowest rates in the Philippines, comparable to the rates in Thailand, Vietnam, and Taiwan. IVF treatment alone would cost approximately Php 250,000 to Php 300,000. If other services are added to the treatment, the cost will increase as well. 

Kato Repro Biotech Center (KRBC)

Address: 8/F Tower 1, The Enterprise Center, 6766 Ayala Avenue, Makati City
Telephone: +63 2 8822-1209
Email: recep@krbc.ph
Website: www.katoreprobiotechcenter.com

Kato has been established in the Philippines since 2012. It offers IVF options such as the Natural Cycle (drug-free) IVF and Minimal Stimulation IVF.

Before the couple can undergo treatment, they are required to perform initial workup, which includes laboratory tests (infectious disease screening, hormones check, and complete blood count or CBC), endometrium and follicle check, and a first consultation that costs around Php 12,500.

The Natural Cycle (Drug-Free) IVF Fresh Cleavage Embryo transfer will be first offered to qualified couples who come in for their first IVF cycle. This is a cost-efficient IVF plan since couples are only asked to pay the full amount once pregnancy is attained.

A single Drug-Free IVF Cycle costs around Php 200,000. However, if pregnancy does not happen, couples only need to pay around Php 60,000 to Php 70,000. The total cost covers egg retrieval, IVF with or without intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), embryo culture, and embryo transfer.

If the Drug-Free IVF would fail to produce a successful pregnancy, the couple will then be offered Minimal Stimulation IVF. This is also ideal for advanced age couples, patients with a history of poor response to stimulation, and those with tubal factor infertility. Embryos that are cultured from a stimulated cycle are frozen and moved to an unstimulated cycle.

This roughly costs around Php 300,000, which includes egg retrieval, IVF with or without ICSI, embryo culture, assisted hatching (if necessary), transfer of the embryo, and embryo cryopreservation for one year from the retrieval date.

Victory A.R.T. Laboratory Phil. Inc.

Address: Unit D-1 Medical Plaza Makati, Amorsolo cor. Dela Rosa St., Legaspi Village, Makati City
Telephone: +63 2 884-2290 to 92-94
Website: www.victoryivfphilippines.com

An IVF cycle done through Victory ART costs approximately Php 400,000 to Php 500,000. This includes initial consultation, lab tests, fertility medications, the actual procedure, and doctors’ professional fees.

Couples need to prepare for IVF cost ranges from Php 250,000 to Php 500,000. This is subject to change depending on the plan and treatment of the patient, as not all patients are alike. Below are the other clinics that offer IVF treatment in the country.

Philippine Center for Assisted Reproduction, Inc.

Address: 11/F Raffles Corporate Center, F. Ortigas, Jr. Rd., Ortigas Center, Pasig City
Telephone: +63 2 8470-5092. Email: ivfcarecenter@gmail.com
Website: www.ivfcarecenter.com

Repro Optima Center for the Reproductive Health, Inc.

Address: Ground Floor JRDC Building, Osmeña Blvd., Capitol Site, Cebu City
Telephone: +63 32 256-2433, +63 32 254-6965
Email: info@repro-optima.com
Website: www.repro-optima.com

In-Vitro Fertilization Davao, Inc.

Address: Ground Floor, Brokenshire Women’s Center Bldg., Brokenshire Hospital, Madapo Hills, Davao City
Telephone: +63 82 305-1163
Email: info@ivfdavao.com
Website: www.ivfdavao.com

IVF is not the only option for couples who cannot conceive naturally. Doctors typically recommend intrauterine insemination (IUI) first before IVF. The first thing couples need to do is visit a fertility center for consultation.

Try consulting with a reproductive immunologist to check if you have reproductive immune disorder. Know more about it here. 

What couples need to know about IVF

In-vitro fertilization (IVF) is a form of assisted reproductive technology that involves combining an egg and sperm outside the body in a laboratory dish, and then transferring the resulting embryo back into the uterus. Here are some things that couples should know about IVF:

1. IVF is an option for couples who are having difficulty conceiving naturally due to various factors, such as blocked fallopian tubes, male infertility, endometriosis, or unexplained infertility.
2. IVF is a complex and expensive procedure that requires a series of medical interventions, including hormone injections, egg retrieval, fertilization in the laboratory, and embryo transfer.
3. IVF success rates vary depending on various factors, such as age, infertility diagnosis, and treatment history. According to the American Society for Reproductive Medicine, the average success rate for women under 35 years old is around 40%, while the success rate for women over 40 years old is much lower.
4. IVF can be emotionally and physically challenging for couples. It may involve multiple rounds of treatment, and there is no guarantee of success.
5. IVF raises ethical and moral issues, such as what to do with unused embryos, the use of donor gametes, and the possibility of multiple pregnancies.
6. IVF can be costly, and insurance coverage may vary. Couples should be prepared to bear the cost of the procedure and related expenses.
7. Before deciding to undergo IVF, couples should consider other less invasive and less expensive options, such as intrauterine insemination or fertility drugs.

Overall, IVF can be an effective way for couples to overcome infertility and achieve their dream of having a child, but it is important to carefully weigh the risks, benefits, and ethical considerations before embarking on this journey. It is also important to work closely with a qualified fertility specialist who can guide couples through the process and provide support along the way.