Fertility treatment: real options, clear steps

Trying to grow your family brings a lot of questions. Where do you start? What will work for your body, budget, and timeline? This page gives plain, usable info on common fertility treatments so you can make smarter choices faster.

First, pick the goal: try naturally a bit longer, get tested, or consult a clinic right away. A simple fertility workup usually checks ovarian reserve, semen analysis, and basic hormone tests. Those results steer the plan—sometimes a single medication or an IUI is enough, sometimes IVF or donor options are next.

Common treatments and what to expect

IUI (intrauterine insemination) places prepared sperm into the uterus around ovulation. It’s less invasive and cheaper than IVF. Typical candidates include couples with mild male factor issues, unexplained infertility, or those using donor sperm.

IVF (in vitro fertilization) involves ovarian stimulation, egg retrieval, lab fertilization, and embryo transfer. IVF has higher success per cycle but costs more and needs more time and monitoring. Consider IVF when tubes are blocked, ovarian reserve is low, or previous treatments failed.

Donor sperm, donor eggs, and gestational carriers expand options for single people and same-sex couples. For example, lesbian couples often choose IUI with donor sperm or reciprocal IVF where one partner provides the egg and the other carries the pregnancy. Our article “Fertility Choices for Lesbian Couples in 2025” covers those paths in detail.

Costs, success rates, and real decisions

Costs vary widely. IUI can be a few hundred to a couple thousand dollars per cycle. IVF commonly ranges from several thousand to tens of thousands, depending on meds and lab work. Success depends on age, diagnosis, and clinic skill—fertility clinics should share their live birth rates by age and diagnosis.

How many cycles before changing course? Many clinics suggest 3–4 IUI attempts before moving to IVF if there’s no pregnancy. For IVF, age-based counseling is key—options like embryo freezing and egg donation matter differently at 30 versus 42.

Practical tips: get baseline tests early, ask clinics about success rates and refund or bundle programs, and compare medication costs. Lifestyle matters too—stop smoking, manage weight, and treat untreated thyroid or diabetes, since those affect outcomes.

Emotional support matters as much as medical steps. Fertility treatment can be stressful—find a counselor, join a support group, or talk openly with your partner about expectations and finances before starting treatment.

If you want deeper reads, check our posts on lesbian fertility choices and other related guides on donor options and safety. Ready to move forward? Start with basic tests and a clinic consultation so your plan matches your health and goals.