I struggled to pay for fertility treatments until I found a public grant. I paid just $7,500 for a full round of IVF.

The author originally paid for her fertility treatments out of pocket.

Courtesy of Danielle Elliot

I tried avoiding the high costs of IVF for as long as possible. Instead, I tried a less expensive fertility treatment.Within a year, I spent thousands on failed attempts, acupuncture, and supplements — not to mention the dozens of hourlong subway rides to and from appointments.That was all before I learned that New York State offers public assistance for IVF and other fertility treatments.At first, I self-funded my fertility treatmentsI started trying to get pregnant in the summer of 2023. I don't have a partner, and I didn't want to ask a friend to donate sperm, so I knew I'd need fertility treatments, like IVF or IUI. I'd be paying out of pocket because I buy health insurance through the healthcare marketplace, and the plan I was on did not include fertility.The process started with fertility testing and screenings. I paid about $1,000 out of pocket for these.When I got the go-ahead that my body was healthy, I decided to try intrauterine insemination (IUI). It's a less invasive procedure that costs about $2,200 in my area — which is significantly cheaper than a complete IVF cycle in the US, which can cost anywhere from $18,000 to $30,000.IUI has significantly lower success rates, but I felt OK with gambling $2,200 to potentially avoid spending much more on IVF.