A single cycle of artificial insemination typically costs between $1,200 and $2,350 without insurance, though the total can climb higher if you need donor sperm or fertility medications. With insurance coverage, out-of-pocket costs often drop to $300 to $1,000 per cycle. Because most people need more than one cycle, understanding the full picture of costs helps you plan realistically.
What a Single IUI Cycle Costs
Intrauterine insemination (IUI) is the most common form of artificial insemination performed in a clinic. The procedure itself is relatively simple: prepared sperm is placed directly into the uterus using a thin catheter, timed to coincide with ovulation. A single cycle without insurance runs $1,200 to $2,350 or more, depending on how much monitoring and medication you need.
That price tag bundles several components together. The procedure fee covers the insemination itself, but you’re also paying for ovulation monitoring (ultrasounds and blood tests), lab preparation of the sperm sample, and potentially fertility medications. Each of these adds to the total, and clinics vary in how they package or itemize them.
Where the Money Actually Goes
Breaking down a typical IUI cycle helps explain why costs vary so much from person to person.
Sperm preparation: Before insemination, the sperm sample goes through a washing process in the lab to concentrate the healthiest sperm and remove seminal fluid. At the University of Washington’s fertility lab, this runs $165 for a fresh sample or $85 for a previously frozen one. Most clinics charge in a similar range.
Monitoring: Your clinic will track your cycle with ultrasounds and hormone blood tests to pinpoint ovulation. Individual tests typically range from $50 to $400 each. A transvaginal ultrasound to count developing follicles runs $200 to $400, while hormone blood draws cost $50 to $200 per test. You may need two or three monitoring visits per cycle.
Fertility medications: Not every IUI cycle requires medication, but many do. Oral medications that stimulate ovulation are the least expensive option, while injectable hormones cost significantly more. A European cost-effectiveness study found that total medical costs per patient averaged roughly $3,300 with oral medication versus $4,900 with injectable hormones (converted from euros). Your doctor’s recommendation depends on why you’re having trouble conceiving.
Donor sperm: If you’re using a sperm donor, this is one of the largest single expenses. Vials from major sperm banks like Fairfax Cryobank range from $1,300 to $2,100 per vial, depending on factors like the donor’s profile and the type of preparation. You’ll also pay for shipping (around $235 for priority overnight delivery) and potentially storage fees ($475 per year if you’re banking multiple vials for future cycles). These costs sit on top of the procedure itself.
Home Insemination as a Lower-Cost Option
Intracervical insemination (ICI) can be done at home and is the least expensive path to trying with donor sperm. Instead of sperm being placed inside the uterus, it’s deposited near the cervix using a syringe or catheter that typically comes with the sperm vial. There’s no clinic fee, no monitoring appointments, and no sperm washing required.
ICI-ready donor sperm costs less than IUI-ready sperm because it doesn’t need the same level of laboratory preparation. Your main expenses are the donor vial (which can range from $400 to $2,500 depending on the bank and donor) and shipping. The tradeoff is lower success rates per cycle compared to IUI, since the sperm isn’t placed as close to the egg and isn’t concentrated through washing.
How Many Cycles to Expect
One cycle is rarely enough. In a study of over 4,200 insemination cycles, patients averaged about 2.2 cycles each, though the range spanned from 1 to 14. Age plays a major role in how many attempts you’ll need and how many are worth trying.
For women under 25, pregnancies in the study occurred within the first two cycles, with no additional pregnancies after that point. For women aged 40 and 41, the best chances came within three cycles, and pregnancies after the third attempt were rare. Various fertility groups recommend between 3 and 9 cycles before considering other options, but most clinicians suggest reassessing after three failed IUI cycles.
This means your realistic budget isn’t one cycle’s cost. It’s two to four cycles’ worth. At $1,200 to $2,350 per cycle without insurance, that puts the total expected spend at roughly $2,400 to $9,400 before you either conceive or move on to other treatments. Add donor sperm and the range climbs considerably.
What Insurance Covers
Insurance coverage for artificial insemination depends heavily on where you live and who your employer is. Patients with coverage that includes IUI typically pay $300 to $1,000 per cycle after deductibles and coinsurance, a substantial reduction from the full price.
About a dozen states plus the District of Columbia mandate some form of infertility coverage from private insurers. States with broader mandates include Illinois, New York, Delaware, Maryland, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Washington. Minnesota, Ohio, and Wisconsin also require coverage, though with various exemptions for small employers or religious organizations. Hawaii is adding large-group coverage starting in 2026.
There are important gaps in these mandates. Self-insured employers (companies that fund their own health plans rather than buying from an insurer) are generally exempt from state mandates because they’re regulated under federal law instead. This affects a large share of the workforce, particularly at bigger companies. Religious employers are also commonly exempt. And some states, like New Jersey, mandate coverage for fertility testing and counseling but specifically exclude procedures like IUI.
If your state doesn’t mandate coverage, your plan may still include it voluntarily. It’s worth calling your insurer directly and asking whether IUI, monitoring, and fertility medications are covered, since these are sometimes handled under different benefit categories.
How IUI Compares to IVF
Many people start with IUI specifically because of the cost difference. The average IVF cycle in the U.S. costs $11,000 to $12,000, roughly five to ten times the cost of a single IUI cycle. IVF also has considerably higher success rates per cycle, which is why fertility specialists generally recommend switching to IVF after three unsuccessful IUI attempts.
The cost calculus shifts when you factor in multiple failed IUI cycles. Three or four rounds of IUI with donor sperm and medications can approach the cost of a single IVF cycle, but with lower cumulative odds of success. For some patients, particularly those over 40 or with certain diagnoses, skipping straight to IVF can be more cost-effective in the long run. Your fertility specialist can help you weigh the numbers based on your specific situation.