How to Save on IVF Medication Before You Start
Written by Sydney Brickey, founder of WeFertility
Last updated: October 12, 2026
Start looking for cheaper IVF medication before your cycle, not when the pharmacy calls. Medication is one of the costs people don't see coming, and there are more ways to save than most people realize.
Here's what happened to us, why the meds cost so much, and where to look.
What happened to us
When we moved to IVF, Gina got a call from our specialty pharmacy with the price of her egg retrieval medication. It was more than we expected.
She called me right away. "Can we afford this? Can we do this?"
We didn't have a choice. Her cycle was set, and the medication had to be there on time. So I said yes. We paid, scheduled the delivery, and it showed up at our door a few days later.
We could say yes because we'd been saving. But we never stopped to ask if there was a cheaper way to get the same medication. Most people don't know to ask.
Why is IVF medication so expensive?
Most people know IVF is expensive. Fewer realize how much the medication adds on top of it.
Many IVF medications are brand-name drugs with no generic version. Plenty of insurance plans cover little or none of them. And you need them on your clinic's schedule, so there's no time to wait for a better price.
Where can you find cheaper IVF medication?
| Option | What it is | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| GoodRx | Free discount app for prescriptions, including many fertility medications | Compare the GoodRx price to your insurance price. Paying cash can come out cheaper. |
| Mark Cuban Cost Plus Drugs | Online pharmacy with transparent cash prices | Carries some fertility medications, like Clomid. Check each medication on your list. |
| TrumpRx.gov | Federal site with discounted prices on some EMD Serono fertility medications, like Gonal-f, Ovidrel, and Cetrotide | Only certain medications. Bigger discounts based on income. |
| EMD Serono Compassionate Care | Income-based discounts for self-pay patients | Participating pharmacies only. Veterans may qualify for Compassionate Corps. |
| Ferring savings programs | Programs for veterans, patients preserving fertility before cancer treatment, and rebates on select medications | Check Ferring's site for what's current. |
| ReUnite Rx | Discount program for eligible cash-pay patients | Apply online before you fill your prescription. |
| Fertility grants | Groups like Baby Quest Foundation, plus Livestrong Fertility for cancer survivors | Deadlines and rules vary. |
| More than one pharmacy | Specialty fertility pharmacies can price the same prescription differently | Get quotes from at least two. |
| Your clinic | They see this every day | Ask where other patients have found savings. |
Most programs have rules about income, insurance, or which medications they cover. Apply early, because approval takes time.
How do you keep medication savings on track with WeFertility?
WeFertility isn't a medication tracker. It's where you keep track of the money and the paperwork around your medication, so nothing gets missed.
- Make every application a task. Give it a due date and assign it to whoever's handling it.
- Watch the status. Waiting on approval? It stays in needs attention until it's done.
- Keep the paperwork. Upload applications and approval letters, or snap a picture of the pharmacy receipt.
- Log the bill when it hits. The workflow walks you through paying it or getting reimbursed.
- See what medication really costs. Spending by category shows you exactly where it's going.
Checklist: before your IVF cycle starts
- Ask your clinic which medications you'll likely need
- Ask insurance which medications are covered and whether you need prior authorization
- Check the GoodRx and Cost Plus Drugs price for each medication
- See if your medications are on TrumpRx.gov
- Apply for drugmaker discount programs you qualify for
- Get quotes from more than one specialty pharmacy
- Look into fertility grants
- Add each application to WeFertility with an owner and a due date
This is our experience, not medical or legal advice. Talk to your clinic, attorney, or tax professional.
How WeFertility helps
WeFertility remembers, so you don't have to. Every application, every deadline, and every bill, with someone's name on it. Try it free for 30 days, then it's less than a coffee a month. Download WeFertility on the App Store.
Planning the money side too? Read how much to save before starting fertility treatment or the IVF bills nobody warns you about.