IVF Medication Guide

Fertility medication is used to regulate or stimulate ovulation for women undergoing fertility treatment. Fertility drugs generally work like the natural hormones — follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) — to trigger ovulation. They’re also used in women who ovulate to try to stimulate better egg quality or more egg production. Every patient undergoing IVF will require fertility medication, however the types of medication and amounts of medication will vary based on the patient’s age and fertility issues.

On the IVF Options platform the average fertility medication order is estimated at $4,425. This will vary based on the patient’s age and fertility issues, based on what the fertility specialists prescribes for their IVF cycle.

Using national data from ReUnite Rx, we reviewed average order sizes for patients across all age groups. Using Fertility Drug Calculator we estimated the lowest cost for the average order sizes at pharmacies across the United States. Please note, your prescription cost will vary based on the medications and amounts prescribed by your fertility specialist, as well as which pharmacy you order your medication from.

IVF Options has partnered with Reunite Assist and MDR Pharmacy to provide discounted medication rates to self-pay patients.

Average IVF Medication Cost By Age

Age Range

Average Cost of Medication

Under 35 $3,400
35-37 $4,190
38 And Over $5,685
Average $4,425

Most Common Types of IVF Medications

  • Clomiphene Citrate: Clomiphene citrate is taken by mouth and stimulates ovulation by causing the pituitary gland to release more FSH and LH, which stimulate the growth of an ovarian follicle containing an egg.
  • Gonadotropins: Instead of stimulating the pituitary gland to release more hormones, these injected treatments stimulate the ovary directly to produce multiple eggs. Gonadotropin medications include human menopausal gonadotropin or hMG (Menopur) and FSH (Gonal-F, Follistim AQ, Bravelle). Another gonadotropin, human chorionic gonadotropin (Ovidrel, Pregnyl), is used to mature the eggs and trigger their release at the time of ovulation. Concerns exist that there’s a higher risk of conceiving multiples and having a premature delivery with gonadotropin use.
  • Metformin: Metformin is used when insulin resistance is a known or suspected cause of infertility, usually in women with a diagnosis of PCOS. Metformin helps improve insulin resistance, which can improve the likelihood of ovulation.
  • Letrozole: Letrozole (Femara) belongs to a class of drugs known as aromatase inhibitors and works in a similar fashion to clomiphene. Letrozole may induce ovulation. However, the effect this medication has on early pregnancy isn’t yet known, so it isn’t used for ovulation induction as frequently as others.
  • Bromocriptine: Bromocriptine (Cycloset), a dopamine agonist, may be used when ovulation problems are caused by excess production of prolactin (hyperprolactinemia) by the pituitary gland.

How Do I Order My Prescription?

  1. Book a consultation with a fertility clinic on IVF Options.
  2. Attend your consultation and undergo fertility tests.
  3. Once your tests results are in and the fertility specialist reviews them, you will receive a treatment quotation and prescription. This is sometimes discussed with the fertility specialist or nurse, and other times is discussed with a financial counsellor.
  4. When instructed by  your fertility specialist, you will fill your prescription from a fertility pharmacy.

How to Save on IVF Medication

IVF Options offers exclusive fertility medication discounts. Register online or text (917) 905-9460 to request a pharmacy savings card.

When you get your prescription from your doctor, it will provide a breakdown of the medication necessary for your IVF cycle. The cost of the prescription will vary based on which pharmacy you order your medication from.

Typically the nurses at the clinic will send the prescription to the pharmacy that they normally use.  In some cases they have negotiated special deals with pharmacies to try and reduce costs. However you are also able to price shop your prescription or ask the nurse to send the prescription to your preferred pharmacy.

You can save hundreds to thousands of dollars by comparing costs from different pharmacies.