How Much Does One Round of IVF Cost in 2025?

One round of IVF doesn’t come with a single price tag. It’s not like buying a phone or booking a flight where you see one number and move on. The cost of one IVF cycle can swing from under ₹1.5 lakh to over ₹4 lakh in India - and that’s just the baseline. What you pay depends on where you go, what’s included, and what complications pop up along the way.

What’s Actually Included in a Basic IVF Cycle?

A standard IVF cycle isn’t just about retrieving eggs and fertilizing them in a lab. It’s a chain of steps, each with its own cost. Here’s what you typically pay for:

• Initial consultations and tests - Blood work, ultrasound scans, semen analysis, and infectious disease screening. These can add ₹15,000-₹30,000.
• Medications - This is often the biggest surprise. Injectable fertility drugs like Gonal-F or Menopur can cost ₹60,000-₹1,20,000 per cycle. Some clinics include them; most don’t.
• Egg retrieval - A minor surgical procedure under sedation. Usually ₹40,000-₹70,000.
• Embryo culture and fertilization - The lab work. ₹30,000-₹50,000.
• Embryo transfer - Placing the embryo into the uterus. ₹20,000-₹40,000.
• Optional add-ons - Things like ICSI (injecting sperm directly into the egg), embryo freezing, genetic testing (PGT), or assisted hatching. Each adds ₹20,000-₹80,000.

So if you’re looking at a basic cycle without meds or extras, you’re still looking at ₹1.5-₹2 lakh. With meds? That jumps to ₹2.2-₹3 lakh. Add ICSI and freezing? You’re easily at ₹3.5 lakh.

Why Do Prices Vary So Much?

Two clinics in the same city can charge completely different amounts. Why?

First, location matters. In Bangalore, Delhi, or Mumbai, top-tier clinics with advanced labs and international accreditation charge more. A clinic in a tier-2 city like Indore or Coimbatore might offer the same procedure for ₹1.8 lakh, but you’re trading convenience and tech for savings.

Second, clinic reputation. Clinics with higher success rates - especially those publishing their data through ICMR or ESHRE - charge more. Why? Because they’ve proven they deliver. A clinic boasting a 45% live birth rate per cycle will cost more than one with 25%, even if the procedure looks identical on paper.

Third, what’s bundled. Some clinics offer all-inclusive packages. Others bill you for every drop of medication, every scan, every extra test. Always ask: “Is this the total out-of-pocket cost?” Don’t assume.

What’s Not Included - The Hidden Costs

Most people think the IVF cycle ends with the transfer. But it doesn’t. Here’s what often gets left out:

• Multiple cycles - Only about 30-40% of women under 35 get pregnant on the first try. If you need a second or third cycle, you’re paying the same costs again. Many couples budget for two cycles upfront.
• Medication side effects - Ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) can require hospitalization. That’s not covered in the IVF package.
• Follow-up scans - A pregnancy scan at 6 weeks? Another at 8 weeks? Those aren’t free. Each ultrasound costs ₹2,000-₹5,000.
• Emotional support - Counseling sessions aren’t mandatory, but they help. Many clinics charge ₹1,500-₹3,000 per session.

One couple I spoke to in Bangalore spent ₹3.2 lakh on two IVF cycles - and then paid another ₹45,000 for emergency hospital care after OHSS. They didn’t know to budget for that.

How Does India Compare to Other Countries?

IVF in the U.S. averages $12,000-$15,000 per cycle (₹10-12 lakh), not including meds. In the UK, NHS funding is limited, and private cycles cost £5,000-£8,000 (₹5-8 lakh). In Thailand or Mexico, you might find cycles for ₹1.8-₹2.5 lakh - but travel, visas, and follow-up care add complexity.

India remains one of the most affordable places globally for IVF - especially for medical tourists. But affordability doesn’t mean low quality. Many Indian clinics are ISO-certified, use German or American lab equipment, and have doctors trained abroad.

When Does Insurance Cover IVF?

Most private health insurance plans in India still don’t cover IVF. A few exceptions exist - like some policies from Star Health or HDFC Ergo - but only if you have a specific fertility rider, and even then, it’s often capped at ₹1-1.5 lakh per cycle.

Government schemes? Only a handful of states offer partial subsidies. Tamil Nadu and Kerala have pilot programs for low-income couples, but they’re limited. In Bangalore, no public hospital offers subsidized IVF at scale.

So unless you’ve specifically bought fertility coverage, expect to pay out of pocket.

How to Save Money Without Sacrificing Quality

You don’t have to pay the highest price to get good care. Here’s how to cut costs smartly:

• Ask for a full package quote - Don’t just ask for “IVF cost.” Ask: “What’s the total for one complete cycle including meds, retrieval, transfer, and one free freeze?”
• Compare success rates - A clinic charging ₹2.8 lakh with a 40% success rate might be cheaper in the long run than one charging ₹2 lakh with a 20% success rate.
• Use generic drugs - Some clinics offer cheaper, equivalent versions of fertility drugs. Ask if they’re approved by the DCGI.
• Consider shared or donor cycles - If you’re using donor eggs, the cost jumps. But if you’re part of a shared cycle (where two women share meds and eggs), you can cut costs by 30-40%.
• Time it right - Some clinics offer discounts in slow months (July-September). Call around.

What If the First Round Doesn’t Work?

It’s not failure. It’s data. Many clinics offer discounted repeat cycles - sometimes 15-25% off. Some even have refund programs: pay ₹3.5 lakh upfront, and if you don’t have a baby after three cycles, you get half back. These are rare, but they exist.

Don’t rush into a second cycle right away. Take 2-3 months off. Your body needs recovery. Use that time to review what happened. Did the embryo quality drop? Was the transfer timing off? Ask for a detailed report. Most clinics will give you one for free.

Final Reality Check

One IVF cycle isn’t a guarantee. It’s an investment with no promise of return. But it’s also the most reliable path to biological parenthood for many couples. The cost is high, yes - but so is the emotional toll. Don’t let price be the only deciding factor. Look at the clinic’s transparency, the doctor’s communication style, and whether they treat you like a person, not a number.

In Bangalore, I’ve seen couples spend ₹3 lakh and walk out with twins. Others spent ₹4.5 lakh and never got past the transfer. It’s not always about money. It’s about fit.

Frequently Asked Questions