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What is Infertility?
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, approximately 1 out of every 5 women in the U.S. in their childbearing age are unable to become pregnant or maintain their pregnancy. An infertility diagnosis may be reached when a couple has been unsuccessful in having a child after a year of trying.
There are several causes of infertility in women. These include disease, prior abdominal surgery, genetic disorders, or history of infection affecting the functioning of any of the female reproductive organs. But note that men can also contribute to the lack of success in getting pregnant.
Where Do I Begin as a Military Spouse?
Suppose you are a military dependent, and you would like to begin seeking treatment for infertility after unsuccessful attempts to conceive for a year. The first step is to make an appointment with your primary care manager (PCM) to complete your annual physical and obtain a referral to the Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility (REI) clinic.
You can find your assigned PCM by visiting the TRICARE homepage. You will be directed to find your region and the number to call to make an appointment.
At your appointment, alert your provider to any of the following:
- How long you and your partner have been trying to conceive
- Most recent pap smear and any abnormal findings in the past
- Any family history of infertility or reproductive disorders
- Exposure to sexually transmitted infections
- Recurring pregnancy loss
- Surgery on reproductive organs
Getting IVF Treatment
Not all military treatment facilities offer infertility treatment. Currently, there are only 6 nationwide where you can seek treatment. These locations are:
- Womack Army Medical Center – Ft. Liberty, NC
- Madigan Army Medical Center – JBLM, WA
- Walter Reed National Military Medical Center – Bethesda, MD
- Tripler Army Medical Center – Honolulu, HI
- Naval Medical Center – San Diego, CA
- San Antonio Military Medical Center – San Antonio, TX
Unfortunately, Tricare does not cover the cost of in vitro fertilization, genetic testing, cryopreservation, or intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). It does, however, cover all of the diagnostic testing or procedures such as a hysterosalpingogram (HSG), lab work-up, semen analysis, IVF medications, and any surgeries such as a salpingectomy – as these are done at a military training facility itself.
Your team at the military REI clinic will complete further infertility testing for you and your male partner, prepare an IVF treatment plan, provide an orientation to their IVF cycle, perform regular lab draws and ultrasounds, order IVF medications and refer you to their partnered IVF lab for the oocyte (egg) retrieval surgery. If determined, the REI team may also decide that a surgery is required to remove one or both of your fallopian tubes or perform a hysteroscopy before an embryo transfer.
Out-of-Pocket Costs
As a military dependent seeking IVF treatment, the out-of-pocket costs are unavoidable. Tricare simply doesn’t cover most of the care you will require.
Depending on where you seek IVF care, you can expect to pay upwards of $10,000 or more for a single IVF cycle. The baseline oocyte retrieval will cost approximately $8,000. What drives the cost higher are the following.
- ICSI
- Genetic Testing of Embryos
- Cryopreservation of Embryos
Typically, these costs are required to be paid at the time of the oocyte retrieval surgery. Keep in mind that couples usually go through a few rounds of IVF.
Summary
Seeking IVF treatment as a military dependent does not spare you or your partner the financial costs of IVF. However, Tricare does cover the costs of the care received through the REI clinic at an MTF.
To learn more about the services offered by an MTF for the treatment of infertility, you can visit the Tripler Army Medical Center’s REI clinic.