What To Know About Fertility Treatment (IUI and IVF) For a Single Woman & How To Know If It's Right For You

At Future Family, our goal is to help every person achieve their family goals regardless of their circumstances or relationship status. Thanks to modern reproductive technology, single women have safe and effective ways to start their journey to motherhood when they are ready, or preserve their fertility options for the future.

Fertility Treatment Options For Single Women

There are 2 main fertility treatment options for single women who want to conceive a baby:

Intrauterine Insemination (IUI): Also referred to as artificial insemination, IUI is a relatively simple procedure. Sperm is cleaned, concentrated, loaded into a catheter and placed directly in the uterus around the time the ovary releases one or more eggs to be fertilized.

IUI is the less invasive and less expensive fertility option. However, there can be a higher risk of multiples (twins, triplets or more) and the success rate tends to be lower than IVF.  

In Vitro Fertilization (IVF): IVF is a more advanced treatment that involves stimulating egg production, retrieving eggs, fertilizing them with sperm in a lab, and finally transferring a resulting embryo into the intended mother or a surrogate.

A single woman who doesn’t want to become pregnant right away, but wants to increase her chances for a successful pregnancy later in life might consider egg freezing– a treatment in which eggs are retrieved, frozen and stored for later use.

It’s important to talk to your doctor about which option is best for you– based on your age, test results and family goals. If you need help finding a fertility doctor and clinic near you, check out our helpful search tool, CareMatch, and this guide to selecting the right care center for you.

Sperm Donor Options

The other major consideration for a single woman thinking about fertility treatment is the sperm donor. You’ll want to ask yourself a couple key questions: Do you want sperm to come from someone you know, or do you prefer to use a sperm bank?

A known sperm donor (also called a directed donor) may offer some women a sense of comfort and familiarity– you know firsthand the background, personality and lifestyle of your donor.  But a known donor can also be more complicated legally and emotionally, especially in terms of the donor’s role in your child’s life. On the other hand, if you choose an anonymous donor from a sperm bank, you will only get the general information and profile provided by the facility. You won’t know specifics about the donor’s identity– but the legal issues are clear cut.

Paying For Fertility Treatment

As you think through your treatment and donor options, you’ll want to consider the financial implications as well. Prices will vary depending on your particular treatment plan, but here are some approximate costs:

• One Cycle of IUI: $500 - $4,000 depending on medications, monitoring & blood work needed.
• One Cycle of IVF: $15,000 - $20,000+
• Sperm Donor: A vial of sperm ranges from $400 - $2,000

Unfortunately, for the majority of Americans, fertility treatment is not covered by insurance. But there are simple, low-risk ways to manage the cost of fertility treatment. Future Family offers flexible financing plans with interest rates as low as 0% APR to those who qualify. Our Fertility Finance Specialists can walk you through your options and help you bundle all your fertility expenses into one easy monthly payment.

Future Family members are paired with a dedicated Fertility Coach – each a Registered Nurse who can support you medically and emotionally through each phase of your treatment.

If you are ready to start your fertility journey, contact us today to learn more or prequalify for a Future Family loan today!