the decision to pursue in vitro
fertilization or IVF is a journey that
often begins with heartbreak after
attempts to conceive naturally then
comes the anxiety over what happens next
followed by the financial stress when
couples realized the cost of an IVF
cycle some couples considering IVF
decide to pursue treatment
internationally where it's less
expensive tonight health reporter Haley
Hernandez explains the benefits and the
possible risks Erika la casa planned for
her babies to meet the Pope before she
even knew if they would exist we just
prayed and prayed to pray and pray and
pray so last day and Daniel may never
understand how many tears their parents
shed waiting to meet them you have those
bad moments like you're having that
miscarriage I remember one of them was
on my birthday and it sucked and God
just just
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the lacasa is new in vitro fertilization
or IVF might be their only chance but
the price tag can leave many couples
bankrupt with tens of thousands of
dollars needed to create embryos have
the procedure and all of the medications
we would wipe us out and what if it
doesn't work one round of IVF can cost
$15,000 and many women need more than
one round Erica did not want to go in
debt to become a mother but she would go
to Mexico I can get an IVF cycle done
for five grand after researching clinics
in Argentina Uruguay and Israel Erika
found a Facebook group about a Mexican
clinic just five hours away from Houston
and she says it was affordable anyone in
your family try to stop you did anyone
say that you're crazy for going to
Mexico it was crazy to my husband he was
the one that I had to sell I was like
look I go I don't feel comfortable
spending so much money and putting a
whole other stress on our family dr.
James nobbler from ccrm fertility in
Houston says some of his own patients
opted to travel abroad for IVF but he
warns the cheaper the price tag the
lesser the chance of success you get
what you pay for in terms of very
outdated technology much lower IVF
success rates and sometimes concerns
about safety dr. Nadler notes while
American couples might be seeking less
expensive alternatives abroad couples
from other countries are actually coming
here they know of the lab and the IVF
lab success rates and things like that
he encourages women to research patient
rights in other countries what happens
if the clinic doesn't do what it
promised do you have the same rights as
citizens of that country then remember
you'll need to tallied the cost of
travel hotels meals and transportation
for two weeks every time you go for a
cycle Erika lived by her budget saved
every receipt and after several tries it
was the
most amazing thing because to see our
baby finally hurt
that amazing sight
their daughter Celeste II now 2 years
old and adored she was way worth away
the weight then came Daniel he was a
surprise naturally conceived six months
later
I feel blessed that God sent them sent
him in a special way as well like he has
his own story now her family is complete
with all the blessings she had been
praying for all for about half the cost
dr. Nadler said there are payment plans
available for women who want to get IVF
here in the US ask for compassionate
care based on your income military
discounts and there are lending programs
plus here in the US there's an
organization called the Society for
assisted reproductive technology it
audits fertility clinics to guarantee
the success rates they disclose are
accurate Haley Hernandez KPRC Channel 2
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