While fertility preservation can allow you to have a family when it’s best for you, it can sometimes be confusing to understand the costs involved. On a recent webinar, Newlife IVF fertility specialist Dr Nicole Hope joined finance commentator and host of the renowned podcast ‘She’s on the Money’, Victoria Devine, to discuss the costs of egg freezing and other fertility treatments.
Understanding egg freezing and the costs
Victoria Devine aims to make finance easier in every area of life, including fertility care. To do this, she strongly advocates that you take the time to do your research. Whether it be a new sweater, a first home or your future fertility – it pays to educate yourself first.
Victoria sat down with Dr Hope and asked her all about egg freezing. With a straightforward clarity that comes from her decades of fertility experience, Dr Hope outlined the egg freezing and IVF processes, and the differences between the two. She also explained how fertility care is timed to match the natural rhythms of your body. For this reason, a lot of fertility treatments are timed around your menstrual cycle.
‘The body has it all worked out and everything we do is actually trying to mimic or replicate what happens in the body,’ said Dr Hope.
Having covered the fundamentals, Victoria and Dr Hope then dived into the costs of egg freezing and IVF, as well as who is eligible for Medicare deductions to their fertility treatment. Dr Hope also discussed some of the patient financing options available to help people manage the costs of fertility care more comfortably.
Cutting out hidden fees at Newlife IVF
When it comes to any major expenses, Victoria recommends that it can be helpful to budget for both the known costs and any additional expenses that may come your way. In the case of egg freezing – depending on the healthcare provider you choose – you may have costs tacked on outside of the initial quote.
This is why at Newlife IVF, transparency with patients is a priority. It is rare for a patient to receive an unexpected or additional cost – and if there is a medical need for one, this will always be discussed beforehand.
‘People shouldn’t be getting too many extra costs outside what they are quoted,’ said Dr Hope.
Dr Hope also explained that all Newlife IVF patients receive an appointment with a member of the finance team before any treatment is started. This appointment helps people understand the costs of treatments and services, and the financing options available, which can help them make informed decisions about whether the treatment/service is right for them.
Infertility is more common than you may think
To complement Dr Hope’s fertility guidance, Victoria shared her own pregnancy experience, as well as the fertility journeys of some of her friends. It quickly became clear how varied fertility journeys can be and that there is no one-size-fits-all for family planning. This led Victoria to ask if there are any factors that can affect someone’s fertility.
Dr Hope explained that the quality of a woman’s eggs is one of the main contributors to their chances of having a baby. She added that although egg quality is affected by many factors, age is often the most crucial.
‘For women, the single biggest thing that predicts when we can get pregnant is our age,’ said Dr Hope.
Drawing on her proactive approach to fertility treatment, Dr Hope also talked through what people can do to improve their egg quality at any age.
A brief background about the webinar presenters
Victoria Devine is a multi-award-winning financial advisor, business owner, podcaster and author. She hosts the popular podcasts She’s on the Money and The Property Playbook, and is the CEO of Zella, a financial services company. Through all her ventures, Victoria aims to transform the way millennials think about money to make their financial dreams achievable.
Dr Nicole Hope is a highly experienced fertility specialist and the Medical Director of Newlife IVF. She also holds an advanced Certificate in Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility (CREI). This is the highest level of qualification you can have in fertility care and less than 100 Australian fertility specialists have it! Above all, Dr Hope is passionate about helping her patients start or grow their families, and she prioritises the importance of providing the right information and support at each step of fertility care.
Learn more about the financial side of egg freezing
Watch the webinar for a full breakdown of egg freezing, the costs and the financing options available.
The information on this page is general in nature. All medical and surgical procedures have potential benefits and risks. Consult your healthcare professional for medical advice specific to you.
