A single frozen embryo transfer (FET) typically costs between $3,000 and $6,000 for the base procedure. But the total you’ll actually pay depends on several additional costs that clinics don’t always include in that headline number: medications, monitoring appointments, embryo storage, and optional genetic testing can push the real price significantly higher.
What the Base Price Covers
The $3,000 to $6,000 range covers the core clinical work: thawing your embryo, preparing it for transfer, ultrasound-guided placement, and a follow-up viability check. The University of Utah’s fertility center, for example, bundles all of this into a $3,500 flat fee. That package includes monitoring ultrasounds, the thaw itself, embryo preparation, the transfer procedure, and a post-transfer viability ultrasound. Many clinics structure their pricing similarly, though the exact inclusions vary.
What’s often not included: the medications you’ll take to prepare your uterine lining, the blood work and extra monitoring visits leading up to transfer day, annual embryo storage fees, and any genetic testing done before the transfer.
Medications and Monitoring Costs
Before a frozen embryo transfer, you’ll spend several weeks on hormones to thicken your uterine lining and prepare your body for implantation. These medications, primarily estrogen and progesterone, typically run $500 to $2,000 depending on your protocol and pharmacy. Progesterone injections tend to be on the higher end, while patches or oral medications cost less.
During this preparation phase, your clinic will monitor your lining thickness and hormone levels through ultrasounds and blood draws. Each ultrasound runs $200 to $300, and each blood draw costs $75 to $150. Most patients need two to three monitoring appointments, but if your lining is slow to develop, you could need weekly visits. Total monitoring costs range from $300 to $800 per cycle, with some clinics charging separately for extra appointments at $250 to $500 each.
Genetic Testing Adds $3,000 to $6,000
Preimplantation genetic testing (PGT-A) screens embryos for chromosomal abnormalities before transfer, which can improve the chance of a successful pregnancy. It’s not required, but many clinics recommend it, especially for patients over 35 or those with a history of miscarriage. The cost breaks down into two parts: the biopsy procedure itself runs $1,500 to $2,000, and the laboratory analysis costs $150 to $350 per embryo tested.
If you have a larger batch of embryos, some labs offer batch pricing. Testing eight embryos, for instance, might cost $2,500 to $4,000 rather than per-embryo rates. If you need expedited results, expect an additional $500 to $1,000. All told, PGT-A adds $3,000 to $6,000 on top of your transfer costs.
Embryo Storage Fees
If your embryos have been frozen for a while, you’ve likely already encountered annual storage fees. These vary widely. One example: the University of Rochester charges $600 for the first year, $1,200 for the second, and escalates to $5,000 for the fifth year and beyond. Many clinics transfer long-term storage to specialized cryopreservation facilities after the first year, each with their own pricing.
Storage costs aren’t a one-time expense. If you have remaining embryos after your transfer, you’ll continue paying annually until you use them, donate them, or have them discarded. This is worth factoring into your long-term budget, especially if you’re planning multiple transfers spaced months or years apart.
How FET Compares to Fresh Transfer
A frozen embryo transfer costs somewhat more than transferring a fresh embryo during the same retrieval cycle. A large randomized trial funded by the UK’s National Institute for Health Research found that the freeze-all approach cost roughly £171 (about $215) more per patient than fresh transfer when accounting for all treatment costs. The difference is modest because FET avoids some of the costs associated with fresh transfer timing, but adds thawing, storage, and a separate preparation cycle.
The bigger cost picture matters more than this per-cycle difference. If you already have frozen embryos from a previous retrieval, a FET at $3,000 to $6,000 is dramatically cheaper than starting a new full IVF cycle, which typically runs $15,000 to $25,000 including retrieval, medications, and lab work.
Insurance Coverage Varies by State
Whether your insurance covers any of this depends heavily on where you live and who employs you. According to RESOLVE, the National Infertility Association, a growing number of states mandate some level of fertility coverage, but the details differ substantially.
- Delaware and New Jersey require coverage for multiple egg retrievals with unlimited embryo transfers, following medical guidelines for single embryo transfer.
- Colorado mandates coverage for three completed egg retrievals with unlimited embryo transfers for large group plans.
- Maryland requires coverage for up to three IVF cycles per live birth, with a $100,000 lifetime maximum.
- Arkansas mandates IVF coverage including cryopreservation, but caps it at a $15,000 lifetime maximum.
- Connecticut limits coverage to two IVF cycles with no more than two embryo implantations per cycle.
- California is expanding coverage starting July 2025, requiring large group plans to cover IVF with unlimited embryo transfers.
Even in mandate states, coverage often applies only to certain plan types (large group, fully insured) and excludes self-funded employer plans, which are governed by federal law. Call your insurance company and ask specifically about frozen embryo transfer coverage, including medications and monitoring, before assuming you’re covered.
Multi-Cycle Programs and Refund Options
If you’re facing the possibility of needing more than one transfer, bundled pricing programs can reduce your per-cycle cost. Some clinics partner with companies like Fertility Access to offer packages that include multiple retrievals and unlimited frozen embryo transfers at a discount of up to 40% compared to paying per cycle.
Shared-risk or refund programs take this further. A typical structure: you pay a higher upfront fee that covers three retrieval cycles and unlimited FETs. If treatment doesn’t result in a baby, you receive a full or partial refund. One clinic offers a 100% refund option with three retrievals and unlimited transfers, and a less expensive 50% refund option with two retrievals and unlimited transfers. These programs aren’t available to everyone. Clinics screen applicants based on age, ovarian reserve, and other factors that predict success.
Total Cost for a Single FET Cycle
Putting it all together, here’s a realistic range for what a single frozen embryo transfer cycle costs out of pocket:
- Base procedure: $3,000 to $6,000
- Medications: $500 to $2,000
- Monitoring (bloodwork and ultrasounds): $300 to $800
- Annual embryo storage: $600 to $1,200
- Genetic testing (optional): $3,000 to $6,000
Without genetic testing, most patients spend $4,000 to $9,000 total for a single FET cycle. With PGT-A, that range climbs to $7,000 to $15,000. These numbers assume no insurance coverage. If you need multiple transfer attempts, each subsequent cycle adds another $4,000 to $9,000 in procedure and medication costs, though you won’t repeat genetic testing on embryos already screened.