Fertility & Reproductive

In vitro fertilization (IVF) involves stimulating the ovaries, retrieving eggs, fertilizing them in a laboratory, and transferring the resulting embryo to the uterus. Cost varies based on standard IVF versus ICSI (intracytoplasmic sperm injection), the medication protocol used for ovarian stimulation, whether fresh or frozen embryo transfer is performed, and the number of cycles needed. China's reproductive medicine centers have among the highest IVF caseloads globally, delivering success rates comparable to top Western clinics at 50-70% lower cost.

Intrauterine insemination (IUI) is a fertility treatment that places washed, concentrated sperm directly into the uterus around the time of ovulation. Cost depends on whether a natural cycle or medicated cycle (with clomiphene or gonadotropins) is used, and whether laboratory sperm washing and preparation are included. As a less invasive first-line fertility treatment, IUI in China is available at leading reproductive hospitals for a fraction of typical US clinic fees.

Egg freezing (oocyte cryopreservation) involves ovarian stimulation with hormonal medications, egg retrieval under sedation, and vitrification of mature oocytes for future use. Cost is driven by stimulation medications (which can vary 2-3x depending on brand and dosage), the number of eggs retrieved, and annual storage fees for cryopreservation. China's fertility centers offer the complete egg freezing cycle — stimulation through retrieval — at costs significantly lower than clinics in the US, where medication alone can exceed $5,000.

PGT-A (preimplantation genetic testing for aneuploidy), also known as third-generation IVF, combines a standard IVF cycle with genetic screening of embryos before transfer to select chromosomally normal embryos. Cost includes the full IVF cycle plus PGT-A testing fees charged per embryo — the more embryos tested, the higher the total. Chinese reproductive centers with advanced molecular genetics labs perform PGT-A at roughly half the cost of US fertility clinics while maintaining equivalent diagnostic accuracy.