The financial cost of getting pregnant as part of a lesbian couple

Unfortunately, the financial implications of getting pregnant can be significant and varied when same-sex couple factors come into play and when artificial insemination is a necessary step to success. Many factors will impact the total cost, from purchasing sperm to legal fees.

Don’t let this get you down, but do make sure you’re prepared. Take a look at the itemized list below, and make a checklist of how these fees may apply to your particular situation:

• Medical Workup

Regardless of who will carry the baby, both partners need a fertility center medical workup. This includes blood work, gynecological record review, and a psychological evaluation. The reason both women need this workup is to identify each woman’s fertility profile and to identify any possible infertility complications. This workup may influence the couple’s decision about who will carry the pregnancy.

For some women, health insurance will cover these costs, but not for all. It is important for each woman to call her provider and ask specific questions about fertility treatment for same-sex couples and to ask what will and will not be covered financially. If a couple has different insurance through employers, each should investigate thoroughly and call providers for direct information about same-sex fertility treatment.

• Sperm Donation

Open or anonymous donor sperm typically costs between $400 to $700 per vial. There are additional fees for sequent attempts, if the first IUI doesn’t result in a pregnancy. There are also fees for sperm storage, should parents want to store the same donor’s sperm for later use with future pregnancy attempts, and this can cost between $200 to $2,500.

• Artificial Insemination

IUI averages about $200 to $300 per cycle, and multiple cycles may be necessary to achieve a pregnancy. There are also related costs for artificial insemination, including the medical workup, monitoring, and fertility drugs.

• Legal Needs

In states in which same-sex marriage is legal, the spouse of a woman who gives birth, whether man or woman, is considered the parent of the child. However, in states in which same-sex marriage is not legal, the mother who doesn’t carry the child needs to seek a second-parent adoption to become a legal parent. These adoption processes can cost $5,000 or more.

There may be even more costs to consider, for example, if IVF becomes a necessary route or if reciprocal IVF is the couple’s preference to conceive a pregnancy.

Glow Community can connect you with others also on this journey and can provide various experiences about how others made this decision.