How are couples overcoming the high cost of IVF in Canada?

The cost of IVF in Canada runs up to a whopping $20,000 per cycle and it is a real hurdle for infertile couples wanting to have a baby. With infertility on the rise and the economy slowing down, the cost of IVF in Canada is becoming harder to bear but there are a few ways around it.

35-year-old Lindsay Mundorf and her husband were told that IVF is their only option, after they tried and failed to conceive for eight years.

A single cycle of IVF in Alberta could set them back by $13,000, without the medications and embryo freezing which could cost upwards of another $7,000.

The couple residing in Lacombe were dejected as the prices were beyond of their financial means. “We can’t afford it. So, I don’t know what to do,” Mundorf told the CBC. “It’s really disheartening. It’s been a very big struggle.”

Can you get IVF grants in Canada?

Yes, but it is not an attractive option anymore. Hejdi Carlsen Feick, president of Generations of Hope, a Calgary-based charitable organization that provides grants to couples seeking IVF treatment said that fewer people seek IVF funding now because even after the grant, the cost of IVF remains too high to be afforded by an average couple.

“People can’t afford it. If I give you $3,000 towards your IVF treatment, you still have many thousands of dollars left to find on your own.”

Also, one might need multiple cycles of IVF so you cannot lose all your savings in one go.

“Just the oocyte retrieval can be over 10 grand,” says Rosalyn Simons. “Even if a good number of eggs are retrieved, not all may be viable.

“A friend of mine had 17 eggs but only 5 of them were viable. They got four embryos and transferred two in the first time, one in the second and neither worked. Luckily, their final try with the last embryo gave them a positive result.

“I think it cost them over 22,000 and had that final try not worked, it was probably over for them. I know there are people who spend 50-60k and got nothing. It’s scary.”

What about provincial funding for IVF in Canada?

The government funds one cycle of IVF in the state of Ontario, if you are under the age of 43 and have a valid OHIP card.

However, you will still have to cover 35% – 50% of the IVF cost on your own as not everything is included in the funding.

What is included in IVF funding Ontario?

• Doctor and nurse fee
• Routine blood tests
• Required ultrasounds
• One attempt at surgical sperm retrieval
• Cycle monitoring
• Egg retrieval (once)
• Embryo culture, freezing and thawing
• First embryo transfer

What is not included?

• Medications for ovarian stimulation
• Any other medication required during the cycle
• Storage or shipping of embryos, eggs or sperm
• Psychologist counselling
• Any advanced tests, if required
• Donor egg or sperm
• Genetic testing of embryos

Is there any waiting time for funded IVF cycles?

Yes, due to high demand, it is typical for anyone seeking provincial funding for IVF in Canada to wait for over a year. Normally the wait times are 15 – 20 months and your cycle may be pushed back if someone else is considered more needy.

If you’re in your early-30s, you could use that time to improve your own health, eat better, exercise and prepare your body for IVF treatment.

However, if you’re in your late 30s or 40s, waiting so long may not be such a good idea as your fertility levels may decline quickly. So, you must look for alternatives.

IVF funding in British Columbia

While doctors in other states have been pushing for it, British Columbia announced their IVF funding program to be launched in April 2025.

From April 1, 2025, the state of BC will offer IVF funding for one cycle in your lifetime. They will release the details of eligibility criteria and services covered in the program next year.

Which other states offer IVF funding in Canada?

• Quebec – You can get full coverage for one cycle of IVF
• Manitoba, Nova Scotia – 40% of the IVF cost can be claimed as tax credit (max $8,000).
• Prince Edward Island – Reimbursement between $5,000 and $10,000 (depending on your family income)
• Newfoundland and Labrador, New Brunswick – Reimbursement of upto $5,000 on IVF
• Alberta, Saskatchewan, and the territories – No funding for IVF

One in every six couples in Canada faces infertility, and with IVF costs running over $20,000 for a single cycle, how are people doing IVF without provincial funding?

How to get affordable IVF as a Canadian?

Instead of lowering their chances of success by delaying the treatment, many of our clients from Canada take a short flight to Mexico.

Our best-value package for IVF in Mexico is $7,900. It includes stimulation medications, egg retrieval, nurses and doctor’s fee, hormone tests and ultrasounds during the treatment, assisted hatching, embryo transfer, and freezing of remaining embryos etc.

The cost of IVF with genetic testing $11,500.

Donor egg IVF starts form $12,000.

Ofcourse, you have to factor in travel and lodging costs. We offer hotels for as low as $1,700 for 10 nights stay, airport-hotel transfers, and all transfers to your IVF clinic.

What’s more?

Get any two services as a courtsey offering: nutritional guidance during IVF, acupuncture to improve IVF success, or psychologist consultation for FREE.

Our IVF clinic has tremendous domestic and international support. It was the first in Mexico to be certified by the Canadian Healthcare Council and we have English-speaking staff and doctors.

For details of our package for IVF in Mexico, get in touch using the red contact button below. Request an online consultation and IVF treatment plan – FREE for first 10 applicants.