The Price of Parenthood: A Breakdown of IVF Costs Across Canada

Infertility is a growing issue across Canada that often costs families thousands of dollars in treatments. 

A study shows that 1 in 6 people worldwide have experienced infertility, with higher rates found among those 35 to 44 years old.

“In-vitro fertilization (IVF) refers to a procedure in which an egg (or oocyte) is fertilized outside of the body and then transferred into the woman’s uterus. Today, IVF is the most commonly used treatment to improve your chances of pregnancy,” according to IVF Canada.

For anyone unable or struggling to conceive, IVF can be an effective pregnancy plan. But provincial healthcare does not cover the treatment. The unwieldy cost can be a deterrent for some families. 

The average price of IVF treatment in Canada is $10,000-$15,000 per cycle, putting it out of reach for many Canadians.

Some private insurance plans cover medication or infertility assessment costs, but rarely cover the procedure itself.

Unfortunately, simply following the treatment plan and undergoing the transfer process is not successful every time. The embryo may not implant or the woman may miscarry. 

Without a guarantee that the treatment will work, it’s a hard decision for hopeful future parents to make. They must weigh the hope for a family against handing over a significant part of the family’s income.

The Canadian Fertility and Andrology Society outlines success rates for IVF treatment in Canada:

The live birth rate per embryo transfer:

• for women under 35 years of age – 33.7%
• for women 35-39 years of age – 28.7%
• for women 40 years and older – 21.9%

In an effort to assist potential parents to make an informed decision, The Health Insider offers up a province-by-province breakdown of costs and any potential provincial coverage available for residents.

We have also provided a basic outline of out-of-pocket costs based on a selected clinic within the province. We encourage you to continue your own research by comparing different clinics, pricing, and reviews before making a decision.

British Columbia 

Provincial health insurance may provide coverage of up to $19,000 for a single round of IVF at participating fertility clinics in the province.

The provincial government reports that “funding amounts are determined based on the combined pre-tax income (line 15000) of the applicant(s) Notice of Assessment(s) or Notice of Re-assessment from the current tax year.”

Eligibility requirements:

• 41 years of age or younger at the time of application for the applicant undergoing the embryo transfer
• If you are over 41 years of age and using eggs retrieved prior to age 41 or from a known egg donor who is under the age of 41, please consult with your fertility specialist to discuss your options
• If you turned 42 between April 1, 2025 and July 2, 2025, you are eligible to apply in the 2025-2026 program year, Please consult with your fertility specialist and fertility clinic to discuss your options.
• Enrolled in the Medical Services Plan (MSP) at the time of application and for the duration of the funding approval
• For information regarding MSP eligibility and enrolment, please refer to: MSP eligibility and enrolment
• Recommended by your fertility specialist to pursue IVF treatment
• Meet income qualification requirements.
• Sex, gender, sexual orientation, and family status are not factors in determining eligibility.

Applicant(s) combined pre-tax income	Eligible Funding Amount
0 – $100,000	$19,000
$100,001 – $150,000	$14,250
$150,001 – $200,000	$9,500
$200,001 – $250,000	$4,750
$250,001+	Not Eligible

PCRM in Victoria lists out-of-pocket costs for IVF treatment as $12,250 per cycle. Additional costs include:

• Lab Fee: $650
• Annual storage fee: $750
• Medications: varies (Approx. $3600 – $8600)

Some of the medications used are:

• Gonal F 450 (DIN 02270390)

• Puregon 600 (DIN 02243948)
• Menopur (DIN 02283093)
• Orgalutran (DIN 02245641)
• Cetrotide (DIN 02247766)
• Lupron (DIN 00727695)
• Prometrium (DIN 02166704)

Alberta

Provincial health insurance does not cover IVF. Assessment for infertility is covered, according to Alberta Health Services. 

PCRM in Edmonton prices IVF treatments at $12,250 for for one cycle of IVF. Additional costs can include:

Lab Fee: $650

Annual storage fee: $750

Medications: varies (Approx. $3600 – $8600)

Some of the medications used are:

• Gonal F 450 (DIN 02270390)

Prometrium (DIN 02166704)

Puregon 600 (DIN 02243948)

Menopur (DIN 02283093)

Orgalutran (DIN 02245641)

Cetrotide (DIN 02247766)

Lupron (DIN 00727695)

Medications are not covered by provincial health insurance, but may be covered by private insurance plans. Check with your provider to find out if they’re covered.

Saskatchewan

While provincial health insurance does not cover IVF, residents can claim costs on their taxes. “The Fertility Treatment Tax Credit is a 50 per cent refundable tax credit for one lifetime fertility treatment expense claim per tax filer, including related prescription drug costs, for eligible treatments and costs incurred in [province].”

You can claim up to $20,000 on your taxes, which would result in a refund up to a maximum of $10,000 per eligible claimant. This is a one-time-only basis, so you can only claim expenses for a single consecutive 12-month period.

Eligibility requirements:

• Eligible expenses are based on the federal treatment of fertility expenses as determined under subsections 118.2(2) and (2.2) of the federal Income Tax Act.
• Fees must be paid to a Saskatchewan licensed medical practitioner or fertility treatment clinic in the province of Saskatchewan.
• One lifetime claim per tax filer beginning in the 2025 taxation year.
• Fertility expenses in any 12-month period ending in the tax filing year can be claimed (as long as the expenses were not previously claimed in another taxation year).
• Excludes any reimbursements such as private health care coverage.
• Excludes the reversal of a vasectomy or tubal ligation.
• Excludes travel expenses.
• Excludes the purchase of eggs or sperm outside of Saskatchewan.

Check out this website for more information about claiming your expenses.

Aurora Reproductive Care (ARC) in Saskatoon prices IVF as $10,085 plus medication, which costs between $3,000 to $8,000.

Keep all your receipts to ensure you can claim all your expenses on your taxes.

Manitoba

Provincial health insurance partially covers IVF. Manitoba offers a Fertility Treatment Tax Credit.

The Province of Manitoba states: “The tax credit is equal to 40% of the cost of eligible expenses.”

While there is no limit on the number of treatments you can undergo while claiming the tax credit, “you can only claim $20,000 in annual eligible costs for a maximum yearly Fertility Treatment Tax Credit of $8,000. Starting for the 2024 tax year, these limits are increased to $40,000 in eligible annual cost for a maximum year credit of $16,000.”

Eligibility requirements:

• fertility treatment services (other than a procedure to reverse an elective sterilization procedure) provided to the individual or to the individual’s spouse or common-law partner in Manitoba by a physician or by a clinic that provides those services in Manitoba, or
• medication prescribed by a physician in Manitoba in relation to fertility treatment services described above whether those services are provided inside or outside Manitoba.

Starting in the 2024 tax year, the following expenses are also covered:

• payments to a fertility clinic or donor bank to obtain sperm or ova to enable the conception of a child by the individual, their spouse or common-law partner or a surrogate on behalf of the individual, or
• payments by the individual or the individual’s spouse or common-law partner in respect of a surrogacy expense that is deemed by subsection 118.2(2.21) of the federal Income Tax Act to be a medical expense of the individual;

The Medical Expense Tax Credit may cover medications, according to the Government of Canada. 

Heartland Fertility in Winnipeg lists the cost of one round of IVF with ICSI as $11,808.00. Price varies depending on the services required. Visit their website for a more detailed price breakdown.

Ontario

Provincial health insurance covers IVF for one treatment cycle per patient for participating fertility clinics. Click here for a list of participating clinics.

Eligibility for provincially covered IVF treatments requires patients to live in Ontario, hold a valid Ontario health card, and be under the age of 43, according to the government website. Ontario will cover one additional cycle if you are carrying a child for someone else (i.e. surrogacy). 

Ontario lists the following services as not covered by provincial health insurance: 

• any fertility drugs needed
  • about $5,000 per IVF cycle
  • about $1,000 per artificial insemination (or Intrauterine insemination) cycle
• genetic testing
• storing sperm, eggs and/or embryos

Generation Fertility in Vaughn and Newmarket prices one cycle of IVF as $12,700.

Quebec

Provincial health insurance covers IVF for one treatment cycle per patient, according to the government website.

Eligibility requirements for provincially covered IVF treatments:

• must be insured by the public health insurance plan,
• must have infertility problems or are unable to conceive on their own (single women and female–female couples),
• have not undergone voluntary sterilization (such as tubal ligation),
• partner has not undergone voluntary sterilization (such as vasectomy or tubal ligation),
• are age 18 or over when treatment begins,
  • The maximum age for women to receive MAR treatment is:
    • 41 years less a day to begin treatment. See the temporary reimbursement program to find out the exceptions to this criterion;
    • 42 years less a day for embryo transfer
• have not received identical insured services since program inception (except in the case of insemination after a live birth).

Covered IVF services listed:

• Up to two ovarian stimulations as per medical indications
• One egg retrieval
• standard IVF services (sperm retrieval and washing or surgical aspiration and micro injection of sperm [ICIS], as well as assisted hatching)
• One straw of donor sperm from distributors approved by Health Canada
• A single surgical sperm cell collection
• The embryonic biopsy and the preimplantation genetic testing under certain eligibility conditions
• Freezing and storage of supernumerary embryos for one year
• The transfer of each embryo (fresh or frozen) from the IVF cycle

Medications are also covered under the public prescription drug insurance plan.

Montreal Fertility lists costs for one round of IVF treatments as $8,500. 

Newfoundland and Labrador

Provincial health insurance partially covers IVF. Newfoundland and Labrador offers an IVF Subsidy Program. 

Newfoundland and Labrador Canada reports that eligible patients can receive a subsidy of up to $5,000 per cycle with a lifetime maximum of 3 covered treatment cycles.

Eligible patients must:

• Hold a valid MCP card;
• Be referred for IVF services by the Newfoundland and Labrador Fertility Services (NLFS) clinic to an IVF clinic, of the individuals choice, within Canada;
• Be followed by NLFS for the duration of a pregnancy achieved through IVF; and,
• Not have previously received a provincial subsidy for more than three cycles of IVF services.

Since there are no fertility clinics offering IVF in the province, patients can only receive IVF treatments for the first 5 weeks at a fertility clinic in Newfoundland and Labrador before they will need to travel to another province for the transfer in the final week. 

But good news, Dr. Deanna Murphy and Dr. Sean Murphy are planning to open a private IVF clinic in late 2026.

According to Planned Parenthood, IVF treatment in the province costs between $12,250 and $17,750. On top of this, travel and accommodations for the final week of treatment create an additional cost. Donor eggs/sperm may also cost more, if needed, in the province where you complete the transfer. Keep in mind, this was last updated in 2020, so prices may be outdated.

New Brunswick

Provincial health insurance partially covers IVF for one treatment cycle per household.

The Fertility Treatment Reimbursement Program offers a one-time per household grant of 100% of one cycle of in-vitro fertilization (IVF) up to $20,000.

Eligibility requirements:

• be a full-time resident of New Brunswick with a valid NB Medicare card at time of treatment
• require fertility services as confirmed by the fertility clinic
• be over 18 years old and under 43 years old at the time treatment began
• have completed the full treatment cycle within the 12 months prior to the application
• provide a confirmation/explanation from a physician for needing treatment at a licensed Canadian fertility clinic outside of New Brunswick or Nova Scotia
• claim through their insurer first, if they have private insurance; only uninsured, eligible costs will be reimbursed

Conceptia in Moncton states costs for one round of IVF treatment as $9,300.

Nova Scotia

Provincial health insurance partially covers IVF. Nova Scotia offers a Fertility and Surrogacy Rebate.

The government of Nova Scotia states, “The Fertility and Surrogacy Tax Credit is a refundable tax credit equal to 40% of medical expenses for eligible fertility treatments or eligible surrogacy-related costs.”

Created in 2022, 2023 is the first year Nova Scotians can claim the rebate on their taxes. “To qualify for the credit, you need to file your 2022 income tax return (including Form NS428) and have eligible fertility and surrogacy expenses.”

There is no limit on the amount of times patients can claim the rebate in their lifetime, “but the maximum annual claim is $20,000 in eligible costs for a maximum annual tax credit of $8,000.”

Eligibility requrements:

• have eligible fertility and surrogacy expenses
• file your income tax return (including Form NS428) and receive your Canada Revenue Agency Notice of Assessment for the tax year you apply for
• All fertility and surrogacy expenses need to be:
  • eligible medical expenses you can claim on your tax return
  • paid in the tax year you apply for

AART in Halifax lists the cost of one round of IVF as $9,450. Additional services such as using donor sperm will add to the cost.

Prince Edward Island

Provincial health insurance partially covers IVF. PEI offers the Fertility Treatment Program. 

The program is based on household income and will cover between $5,000 to $10,000 annually for a maximum of three 12 month terms. 

Annual Family Income	Maximum Funding
under $50,000	$10,000
$50,001 and $100,000	$7,500
over $100,001	$5,000

To be eligible, patients must:

• are a permanent PEI resident as defined by the Health and Dental Services Cost Assistance Act
• have a valid PEI Health Card; and
• have filed your most recent income tax return.

Not all expenses are eligible for the program. PEI states, “Expenses that are not covered include storage of eggs/sperm, travel and accommodations, initial consultation fee at clinic.”

There are currently no fertility clinics in the province offering IVF, so patients will need to travel out of province to receive treatment. 

Nunavut, Yukon, and Northwest Territories

Nunavut and the Northwest Territories do not have any fertility clinics and therefore do not offer IVF treatments. Although Yukon does have a fertility clinic, it does not offer IVF services.

The territories currently do not offer any financial assistance for IVF treatments. Patients will pay full price for IVF treatments unless they are covered under private insurance. 

Residents of the territories in Canada will need to travel out-of-territory for IVF for the duration of treatments.

Some Last Thoughts About Payment for IVF

Olympia Benefits, a Canadian insurance and benefits company suggests that patients submit medical expenses under the Medical Expense Tax Credit through income tax. 

Additionally, they recommend applying for private grants, checking with private insurance providers to see how much, if any, of the costs are covered, discussing a possible payment plan with the clinic, crowdfunding, and using a health spending account.

Finally… Remember that the stress associated with not conceiving can in of itself further reduce your chances for success.  

Do what you can to mitigate the stress during the period when you’re seeking treatment. Yoga, mediation, and ecotherapy are a few things to consider. And stay hopeful. In the words of former UK Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher: “You may have to fight a battle more than once to win it.”

The information provided on TheHealthInsider.ca is for educational purposes only and does not substitute for professional medical advice. TheHealthInsider.ca advises consulting a medical professional or healthcare provider when seeking medical advice, diagnoses, or treatment.