Operational Takeaways

• The Problem: The "Base Fee" advertised by most clinics covers only ~40% of the total cost. Hidden fees often include anesthesia, blastocyst culture, and storage.
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• The Ovom Solution: We use a "Bundled Care" model. Our Core IVF package (€2,995) includes monitoring, anesthesia, and essential lab work that others charge extra for.
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• The Comparison: Ovom’s all-inclusive pricing is often 50–70% lower than comparable clinics in the UK or US, without compromising on world-class technology.
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• Financing: We offer 0% in-house payment plans and partnerships with Klarna and PayPal to make cash flow manageable.

"How much will this actually cost?"

As CEO and co-founder of Ovom, my job is to ensure that the logistical and financial side of your journey is as precise as the medical side. And I will be blunt: The fertility industry has a transparency problem.

If you Google "IVF cost," you will often see advertised rates that seem surprisingly low; perhaps €3,000. But when the final bill arrives, the total is often double that. This happens because many clinics quote a "Base IVF Fee" that serves as a marketing hook, excluding essential components like anesthesia, blastocyst culture, and cryostorage.

At Ovom, we don’t want financial anxiety to impact your patient experience or your biological outcomes. You cannot relax into treatment if you are worried about the next invoice.

In this guide, I will break down exactly what goes into the cost of IVF, expose the common "hidden fees," and show you how our Portugal-based hybrid care model, where you start your treatment at home and finish in our state-of-the-art clinic by the beach in Cascais, offers a world-class standard of care at a fraction of UK, US and other EU pricing.

The "Iceberg" Effect: What Are You Paying For?

Think of IVF costs like an iceberg. The "Base Fee" is just the tip you see above the water. The bulk of the cost often lies beneath the surface.

1. The Base Fee (The Advertised Price)

Usually, this covers the clinic's basic overhead for a standard cycle. It typically includes:

• The egg retrieval procedure (surgeon’s fee).
• Basic sperm preparation.
• Embryo transfer.

If a clinic advertises a low price, this is likely all you are getting.

2. The Variable Costs (The "Must-Haves")

These are rarely included in the base fee because they vary by patient, but you cannot do IVF without them.

• Medication (€1,000 – €2,000+): This is the biggest variable. Women with lower ovarian reserve (low AMH) may need higher doses of stimulating hormones. Note: You pay this directly to the pharmacy, not us.
• Anesthesia: You will be sedated for egg retrieval. Many clinics bill the anesthesiologist separately (approx. €500). At Ovom, this is included.
• Monitoring Scans: During stimulation, you need 4–6 ultrasounds. Some clinics charge per visit. At Ovom, all monitoring scans performed at our Cascais clinic are included.

3. The Lab Technology (The "Add-Ons")

This is where costs skyrocket in traditional clinics. Advanced lab techniques often carry surcharges.

• ICSI (Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection): Injecting sperm directly into the egg. Essential for male factor issues.
• Blastocyst Culture: Growing embryos to Day 5 for higher success rates. Some clinics charge extra for keeping embryos past Day 3.
• Embryo Freezing: If you have extra healthy embryos (the goal!), freezing them costs extra.

4. The Quality Equation

Lower cost does not mean lower standards. Portugal operates under strict EU tissue and cell directives, and our laboratory in Cascais uses the most advanced medical technology available globally. We aren't "cheap"; we are operationally efficient. By using technology throughout our patient journey, we reduce the time your care team are wasting on non-medical administrative tasks, meaning we can pass these time and cost savings on to you.

5. The Hybrid Advantage (Minimising Travel Costs)

A common fear is that travel expenses will "eat" the savings. We solved this with our Hybrid Care Model.

• Prep at Home: You don’t need to move to Portugal for a month. You can perform your initial consultations and local monitoring scans (blood-work and ultrasounds) at a partner clinic in your home country.
• The "Short Stay": You only need to be on the ground in Portugal for the critical procedures - only 3 to 5 days for egg freezing, and just 7 to 10 days for IVF.
• Lower Medication Costs: Pharmacy prices for IVF stimulation drugs in Portugal are often 30–50% lower than private prescriptions in the UK or US, which frequently offsets the cost of your flights and accommodation. Your dedicated Care Coordinator can talk you through the current pricing available, so we can find the best option for you.
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The Ovom Approach: Radical Transparency

We built Ovom to disrupt the "à la carte" model that disadvantages patients. We structure our pricing to be all-inclusive of the medical essentials.

Our Core IVF Package: €2,995*

This is not a "teaser rate." It is a comprehensive medical package that includes:

• Anesthesia & Operating Room Fees: No surprise bills on retrieval day.
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• All Monitoring Scans: When performed at our Cascais clinic.
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• Blastocyst Culture: We don't charge extra for growing embryos to the standard of care.
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• Sperm Preparation: Standard processing included.
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• Patient App Access: 24/7 access to your care team, data, and live embryo tracking.

Compare this to the UK, where a similar cycle often costs £6,000+, or the US, where it can exceed $15,000.

We are also transparent about what is not included in the Core Package: specifically, medications, freezing of additional embryos, cryostorage for frozen embryos, donor eggs and donor sperm, and other doctor-recommended interventions. You will be provided with a full invoice outlining all of your costs well before you start your treatment with us.

*Note: Core package only available for patients under 35, AMH > 1.5 ng/ml (result no older than 6 months), sperm count above 16 M/ml.

The "Hidden" Fees No One Mentions

When comparing clinics, ask specifically about these line items.

1. The "Batching" Fee

Some clinics charge per ultrasound appointment. If these aren't bundled, you could face hundreds of Euros in "visit fees" before you even reach the retrieval.

2. Storage Fees

Once your embryos are frozen, you pay rent.

• Industry Standard: Often billed quarterly.
• Ovom Standard: Our Premium Package (€6,995) includes 3 years of cryostorage upfront. Even our base freezing fees are competitively priced at €250/year.

3. PGT-A Testing (Genetic Screening)

This involves a biopsy to check embryos for chromosomal abnormalities. It is never included in a base IVF price.

• Ovom Pricing:
  • PGT-A testing: €800 setup + €300 per embryo.
  • PGT-M testing: €2250 setup + €400 per embryo.
• Why it costs extra: It requires shipping samples to a specialized genetics lab.

How to Pay: Financing Your Future

We know that liquidity is often the barrier, not desire. That is why we have built a robust financing ecosystem to support you.

1. Ovom In-House Payment PlansWe offer 0% interest payment plans directly. You can spread the cost of your treatment over time with no hidden fees or bank approvals.

2. Buy Now, Pay LaterWe accept PayPal and Klarna, allowing you to use your preferred flexible payment methods.

3. Long-Term FinancingFor larger amounts, we partner with trusted financial providers like Revolut and Novouna (UK) to offer personal loans tailored to healthcare needs.

Comparison: Standard Clinic vs. Ovom

FeatureStandard Clinic (UK/US)Ovom Care (Portugal)Base IVF Cycle£5,000 - £15,000+From €2,995AnesthesiaOften Billed SeparatelyIncludedMonitoring ScansCharged Per VisitIncluded (at clinic)Blastocyst CultureExtra FeeStandard of CarePricing Model"À La Carte" (Confusing)Bundled Packages (Transparent)

The Bottom Line

IVF is an investment, but it shouldn't be a gamble. By leveraging our location in Portugal, which is a hub for high-quality, cost-efficient medical care, Ovom can offer you world-class fertility treatment at a price point that makes sense.

Don't just look at the bottom line number on a website; look at what that number includes.

Ready to start your fertility journey? Book a Consultation with our expert team today.
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