Our Data & Methodology

Where our data comes from

FertilityBudget estimates are derived from publicly available, peer-reviewed, and authoritative sources. We do not accept payment from clinics, agencies, or pharmaceutical companies, and our estimates are not influenced by any commercial relationship.

• SART (Society for Assisted Reproductive Technology) — Annual Clinic Summary Report, which includes cycle data, costs, and outcomes from hundreds of US fertility clinics. sartcorsonline.com
• ASRM (American Society for Reproductive Medicine) — Published practice guidelines, cost surveys, and policy statements on fertility treatment. asrm.org
• CDC ART Surveillance Report — The Centers for Disease Control's annual report on Assisted Reproductive Technology, tracking success rates and cycle outcomes nationally. cdc.gov/art
• Peer-reviewed studies on egg freezing outcomes — Published research on per-egg live birth rates by age, including studies from Yale School of Medicine and ASRM-affiliated publications.
• Publicly available clinic pricing — We reviewed published pricing from major fertility clinic networks and independent clinics across high, mid, and standard cost markets.
• Surrogacy agency fee schedules — Publicly available fee structures from major surrogacy agencies across the United States.
• RESOLVE state mandate database — State-by-state insurance coverage requirements. resolve.org

Last updated: January 2025

How we calculate ranges

For every cost component, we provide three estimates: Low, Mid, and High. These are not arbitrary — they correspond to specific statistical thresholds in our source data:

• Low — Approximately the 25th percentile of published cost data. A minority of patients pay this amount or less, typically in lower-cost markets or with favorable insurance.
• Mid — The national median. This is the most typical cost experience across all markets and clinic types.
• High — Approximately the 75th percentile. A substantial proportion of patients pay this or more, typically in high-cost markets (CA, NY, MA) or with complex protocols.

We exclude extreme outliers in both directions. The highest-priced boutique clinics and the lowest-priced budget offerings are not representative of the typical patient experience and would distort the estimate.

For state-based estimates, we group states into three tiers based on regional cost data:

• High-cost states: California, New York, Massachusetts, Connecticut, New Jersey, Maryland
• Mid-cost states: Texas, Florida, Illinois, Pennsylvania, Washington, Colorado, Georgia, North Carolina, Virginia
• Standard cost states: All remaining states

What our estimates include and exclude

Egg freezing success rate methodology

Our egg freezing success probability estimates are based on published per-egg success rate data from peer-reviewed studies, including research published in journals associated with ASRM and reproductive medicine centers including Yale.

We use the following per-egg live birth rates (probability that a single frozen egg will result in a live birth when eventually used):

• Under 35: ~6.5% per egg
• 35–37: ~5.5% per egg
• 38–40: ~4.0% per egg
• 41–42: ~2.5% per egg
• 43+: ~1.5% per egg

To calculate the number of eggs needed for a 70% or 85% chance of at least one live birth, we use the formula: n = log(1 − target) / log(1 − p), where p is the per-egg success rate and target is the desired probability (0.70 or 0.85).

These are statistical population averages, not individual predictions. Your reproductive endocrinologist can provide personalized assessment based on your specific ovarian reserve, AMH levels, and other factors.

Important limitations

• Costs vary significantly by clinic. The same procedure can differ by 50% or more between clinics in the same city. Always request an itemized quote from your specific clinic.
• We cannot account for your specific protocol. Your reproductive endocrinologist will design a protocol based on your individual biology. Medication doses, monitoring frequency, and add-ons will differ from the general estimates here.
• Insurance coverage details vary by plan. Even within mandate states, self-insured employer plans (ERISA plans) are exempt from state mandates. Your specific benefits depend on your employer and plan year.
• Surrogacy costs are especially variable. Geographic variation, surrogate compensation negotiations, legal complexity, and the specific agency or independent arrangement create wide ranges. Our estimates represent the middle of the market.
• Donor egg costs exclude donor selection fees. Some agencies charge additional fees for egg donor database access, donor screening, or specific donor selection processes not captured in our ranges.
• Our data has a cutoff. All data reflects costs as of January 2025. Fertility treatment costs generally increase 3–5% annually. Future costs may be higher.

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