The Cost of Infertility: The Financial Trauma Related to Pregnancy Loss

Infertility doesn’t just affect your body: it impacts every facet of your life: emotional, mental, relational, and financial. My story is one of heartbreak and resilience, but it is also a story of how the cost of infertility compounds the trauma for families already navigating some of the hardest experiences of their lives.

Over the course of my journey, I endured nine pregnancy losses. Each loss carried its own emotional weight and physical toll, but the financial burden added a layer of stress and helplessness I wasn’t prepared for. By the time I gave birth to my miracle son, my healthcare costs were close to $100,000: a sum that included fertility treatments, surgeries, and countless visits to specialists. And I am not alone in this experience.

The Financial Cost of Infertility

Infertility treatments are prohibitively expensive for most families. According to the CDC, 12% of women of reproductive age in the U.S. struggle with infertility, yet the majority of insurance plans don’t cover the associated costs.

For example:

• The average cost of a single cycle of IVF is $12,000–$15,000, not including medications.
• Medications alone can add another $5,000–$7,000 per cycle.
• Surgeries, like the ones I had to undergo for cervical incompetence, can range from $10,000–$25,000 depending on complexity.

Even with insurance, families often face high out-of-pocket costs, and many must make impossible decisions about whether to continue treatments or seek alternative paths to parenthood.

Financial Trauma and Its Impact on Mental Health

The financial strain of infertility is not just about numbers; it’s a trauma in itself. For families already grappling with the grief of loss, financial insecurity magnifies feelings of helplessness and despair.

Here’s how financial trauma affected me:

1. Feelings of Failure: Each loss felt like a double failure—not only did my body fail me, but I also couldn’t protect my family from financial hardship.
2. Strain on Relationships: The cost of treatments caused tension in my marriage as we navigated difficult financial decisions.
3. Mental Health Challenges: The stress of mounting bills and debt contributed to anxiety, depression, and feelings of isolation.

According to a study published in Fertility and Sterility (2018), 50% of women undergoing fertility treatments experience clinically significant levels of depression, and financial stress is a major contributing factor.

The Need for Systemic Change

The financial barriers to infertility care perpetuate inequities in maternal health, particularly for BIPOC families and those in lower-income brackets. For example:

• Black women are nearly twice as likely to experience infertility as white women, yet they are significantly less likely to access or afford fertility treatments (Journal of Women’s Health, 2020).
• Only 19 states in the U.S. mandate some level of insurance coverage for infertility treatments, leaving millions without financial support.

These gaps highlight the urgent need for systemic reform, including:

• Expanded Insurance Coverage: Mandating comprehensive coverage for infertility treatments and maternal care.
• Affordable Care Programs: Creating subsidies or grants for families navigating infertility.
• Trauma-Informed Financial Counseling: Offering financial guidance as part of infertility care to help families manage costs and reduce stress.

Hope Through Advocacy and Support

Despite the financial and emotional toll of my journey, I found healing and purpose through advocacy. I founded A Light After Nine, a nonprofit dedicated to supporting families navigating infertility, pregnancy loss, and maternal trauma.

Our mission is to provide resources, advocacy, and emotional support for families who feel unseen and unheard in their journeys. We also aim to address the systemic inequities that make infertility care inaccessible for so many.

A Call to Action

Infertility is not just a medical issue, it’s an economic, emotional, and systemic one. No family should have to choose between starting a family and financial ruin.

We must work together to advocate for:

• Policies that make infertility treatments affordable and accessible.
• Support systems that address the emotional and financial trauma of infertility.
• Culturally competent care that meets the unique needs of every family.

My journey taught me that resilience is born from the hardest moments. I want other families to know they are not alone and that their stories, and their pain, are valid. Together, we can shine a light on these issues and create a future where hope is not hindered by cost.

References

1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). (2020). Infertility FAQs. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov
2. Domar, A. D., & Rooney, K. (2018). The psychological impact of infertility: A comparison between financial and emotional stress. Fertility and Sterility, 110(4), 687-692. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fertnstert.2018.07.112
3. McLemore, M. R., Altman, M., & Cooper, N. (2020). Health disparities in infertility treatment access and outcomes. Journal of Women’s Health, 29(3), 263-269. https://doi.org/10.1089/jwh.2019.8023
4. RESOLVE: The National Infertility Association. (2021). Infertility Coverage by State. Retrieved from https://resolve.org
5. The American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM). (2021). Cost and coverage of infertility care. Retrieved from https://www.asrm.org