Infertility treatment cost in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland: IUI, IVF, ICSI

This page covers Germany, Austria, and Switzerland.

What does infertility treatment cost? It is one of the most common questions about trying to conceive. And the honest answer: it depends. An insemination starts at €200. An ICSI can cost you more than €5,000 per cycle. The two are worlds apart, in both method and cost.

This article gives you a complete overview. No vague estimates, but concrete numbers for 2026. Which method costs what, what the health insurance fund pays, which states provide funding, and what the situation is in Austria and Switzerland. All in one article.

The methods at a glance

Before we get to the money, you should know the three main methods. Each has its place, depending on diagnosis, age, and individual situation.

IUI (intrauterine insemination): Prepared sperm are placed directly into the uterus. A minimal procedure, outpatient, without anesthesia. Suitable for mild male fertility problems or unexplained infertility. Success rate per cycle: 10% to 15%.

IVF (in vitro fertilization): Eggs are retrieved after hormonal stimulation and combined with sperm in the lab. Considerably more involved than IUI. Success rate per cycle: 25% to 35%, depending on age.

ICSI (intracytoplasmic sperm injection): Like IVF, but a single sperm is injected directly into the egg. Standard for severe male infertility. Success rate: comparable to IVF, approx. 25% to 35%.

Many couples end up with IVF or ICSI. IUI is the gentler starting point, but for many diagnoses it simply is not enough.

How long does it take?

What many people underestimate: the time. From the initial consultation at the clinic to the first treatment cycle, 4 to 8 weeks pass: diagnostic workup, semen analysis, hormone testing, approval by the health insurance fund. Then the cycle itself: with IUI, it is 2 to 4 weeks. With IVF and ICSI, 4 to 6 weeks (2 weeks of stimulation, egg retrieval, 3 to 5 days of embryo culture, transfer, and a 2-week wait until the test). If you need several cycles, you should realistically plan for 6 to 18 months, from the initial consultation to a positive pregnancy test.

Cost of all methods compared

Here is the overview you are looking for. All prices refer to a single treatment cycle in Germany, including the most important additional costs:

*PGT-A increases the success rate per transfer, not per cycle overall. In Germany, genetic testing of embryos is allowed only under narrow legal conditions.

An important shift in perspective: do not look only at the cost per cycle. Look at the cost per pregnancy. An IUI is cheaper per attempt, but you need 4 to 6 cycles on average. With IVF, 2 to 3 are often enough. In the end you pay a similar amount, but IVF is faster. You can find a detailed cost comparison of IVF and ICSI in our ICSI cost guide.

What does the entire treatment cost until pregnancy?

A single cycle is rarely the whole story. Most couples need several attempts. Here is what the calculation realistically looks like:

These figures do not include frozen embryo transfers. If you have frozen embryos from an earlier cycle, the next attempt becomes considerably cheaper: €700 to €1,500 instead of a complete new cycle.

What does the statutory health insurance fund cover?

In Germany, statutory health insurance covers 50% of the approved treatment costs. But there are conditions, and they are strict:

• The couple must be married
• Both partners must be at least 25 years old
• The woman must be younger than 40 (entitlement ends on the 40th birthday)
• The man must be younger than 50
• Only the spouses' own egg and sperm cells may be used
• A maximum of 8 IUI cycles without stimulation, 3 IUI cycles with stimulation, and 3 IVF or ICSI cycles (IVF and ICSI only as alternatives, not in addition)
• The treatment plan must be approved by the health insurance fund before treatment begins

What does that mean in practice? For an IVF cycle costing €5,000, you still pay €2,500 yourself after the insurance share. Over 3 cycles, that is €7,500 in out-of-pocket costs.

But not every fund stays at the mandatory 50%. Some voluntarily pay more under their bylaws. A few examples, as the funds themselves state them:

As of 2026. Bylaw benefits can change and apply only to treatment steps for the partner insured there. Call your health insurance fund and ask specifically. Switching funds is possible if you have been insured with your current fund for at least 12 months. The cancellation then takes effect at the end of the month after next. Plan this early, ideally before you begin treatment.

Private health insurance often covers more, but the rules vary widely by plan. Some pay 100%, others nothing at all. Check your contract or call your private insurer.

New bylaw benefits from individual funds starting in 2026

The basic statutory benefit is unchanged. Some funds, however, offer additional subsidies that can lower your costs:

Assisted hatching: Since January 2026, TK has covered a one-time amount of up to €200 for women aged 37 and older undergoing IVF or ICSI. Requirements: unsuccessful earlier attempts, a thickened zona pellucida, or cryopreserved embryos after cancer treatment. AOK PLUS also provides for assisted hatching for women over 35 under certain conditions. Without such a bylaw benefit, you pay for assisted hatching yourself (€300 to €500).

TESE subsidy: For surgical sperm retrieval (TESE), TK has paid a one-time amount of up to €300 since January 2026, and AOK PLUS covers TESE when medically necessary. According to familienplanung.de, a TESE costs €800 to €2,000, and for married couples the statutory health insurance fund can contribute toward half of that.

Not a game changer, but one more reason to check your fund's bylaw benefits carefully. Ask your fund which subsidies it offers.

Unmarried, same-sex, or single?

The 50% rule of statutory health insurance applies only to married heterosexual couples. Everyone else initially pays the full price. But there are options, and hardly anyone knows about them.

Unmarried couples: Statutory health insurance does not pay as a general rule. Some funds offer voluntary additional benefits, so ask your fund specifically. In addition, unmarried heterosexual couples can apply for federal funding through the Federal Ministry of Education, Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth (BMBFSFJ): up to 12.5% of the out-of-pocket cost for cycles 1 to 3, up to 25% for the 4th cycle, only for IVF and ICSI. Federal funding applies only if the state also provides a subsidy.

Same-sex female couples: Statutory health insurance does not pay, not even for married female couples, and there is no federal funding either. State funds are currently available only in Bremen and Rhineland-Palatinate. With private health insurance, it depends on the individual contract.

Single women: Fertility treatment with donor sperm is legal in Germany. However, as a single woman you are entirely a self-pay patient: no statutory health insurance benefit, no federal funding. Plan for the full costs plus sperm bank fees (according to familienplanung.de, €700 to more than €1,000 per portion). For tax purposes, the costs are deductible under current case law only in cases of illness-related infertility, and there is not yet a ruling by the Federal Fiscal Court (Bundesfinanzhof, BFH) on this.

Funding from the German states

This is where it gets interesting. The federal government and the states jointly subsidize IVF and ICSI (not insemination). For married couples, together they can usually provide up to 50% of the out-of-pocket cost, but the states set maximum amounts per cycle. You must submit the application before treatment begins.

States with funding (as of 2026):

• Saxony: Max. €750 (IVF) or €900 (ICSI) in the 1st to 3rd cycle, €1,600 or €1,800 in the 4th cycle. Also for unmarried couples.
• Thuringia: Max. €800 (IVF) or €900 (ICSI) in the 1st to 3rd cycle, €1,600 or €1,800 in the 4th cycle.
• Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania: Max. €800 or €900 in the 1st to 3rd cycle, €1,600 or €1,800 in the 4th cycle.
• Rhineland-Palatinate: Max. €800 or €900 in the 1st to 3rd cycle, €1,600 or €1,800 in the 4th cycle.
• Lower Saxony: Same maximum amounts, but a funding freeze since June 1, 2026 (no new approvals).
• Saxony-Anhalt: Only the 1st to 3rd cycle, max. €800 (IVF) or €900 (ICSI).
• Saarland: Max. €1,000 per cycle (1st to 4th cycle).
• Hesse: Only the 4th cycle, max. €3,000 (IVF) or €3,300 (ICSI).
• Bremen: State share max. €400 (IVF) or €450 (ICSI) in the 1st to 3rd attempt, €800 or €900 in the 4th attempt.

Example calculation, Saxony: An IVF cycle costs €5,000. Statutory health insurance pays €2,500 (50%). Funding is capped at €750 in the 1st to 3rd cycle. Your share: about €1,750 instead of €5,000. That makes a difference.

Baden-Württemberg, Bavaria, Berlin, Brandenburg, Hamburg, North Rhine-Westphalia, and Schleswig-Holstein do not currently participate. If you live there, you do not get federal funding either, because the federal government pays only together with the state. Important: According to the Fertility Information Portal (Informationsportal Kinderwunsch), federal funds are scarce because of required budget savings, so approval is not guaranteed.

Tax deductibility

In Germany, fertility treatment can be deducted as an extraordinary burden under section 33 of the German Income Tax Act (Einkommensteuergesetz, EStG). This applies to your entire out-of-pocket cost, that is, everything left after insurance reimbursement and state funding.

What you can deduct:

• Treatment costs (clinic invoices for all cycles)
• Medication costs (keep your prescriptions!)
• Travel costs to the clinic (usually calculated at 30 cents per kilometer)
• Overnight accommodation costs if the clinic is out of town
• Diagnostic costs (semen analysis, hormone testing, ultrasound)
• Counseling costs (including psychological counseling)

Important: The Federal Fiscal Court has clarified that tax deductibility is not tied to marital status. Unmarried couples can also deduct their fertility treatment. Women in a same-sex partnership can deduct the costs including donor sperm if infertility is present in their case. For single women there is so far no BFH ruling, only a 2020 decision by the Münster Fiscal Court (Finanzgericht Münster) that allows the deduction in cases of illness-related infertility.

Concrete example calculation: Three IVF cycles with €2,500 out-of-pocket cost each = €7,500. Minus the reasonable burden (approx. €2,935 for a married couple without children with a total amount of income of €60,000, calculated in steps) = approx. €4,565 as an extraordinary burden. At a marginal tax rate of 35%, this results in tax savings of approx. €1,600. That corresponds to almost two thirds of one out-of-pocket share.

Collect all receipts starting with your first appointment. Even if you do not yet know whether you will need them.

Cost comparison: Germany, Austria, Switzerland

Fertility treatment costs differ considerably across the three countries. Not only in price, but also in reimbursement.

Austria is often the cheaper option for couples who live there. The IVF Fund covers 70% of the costs for IVF and ICSI, for married couples as well as for registered partnerships and cohabiting partnerships. A specific diagnosis is required (fallopian tubes, endometriosis, PCOS, or male cause), and at least one partner needs a primary residence in Austria. The clinics bill the fund directly. A maximum of 4 attempts. The treatment costs themselves are also below the German level.

Switzerland is the most expensive place. The mandatory basic health insurance (Grundversicherung) covers only IUI (a maximum of 3 cycles per pregnancy), not IVF and ICSI. High clinic prices come on top. Many Swiss couples go to Austria or Germany and save considerably despite travel costs.

That is why many couples in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland deliberately compare across national borders. If you live in a border region, you should seriously consider it. You can find clinics in all three countries in our clinic directory.

7 tips to save money on fertility treatment

These strategies can noticeably reduce your out-of-pocket cost:

1. Switch health insurance funds. Some statutory health insurance funds voluntarily pay more than the mandatory 50%, for example AOK PLUS with 75% or AOK Bayern and TK with fixed subsidies. Note the commitment period of 12 months and the notice period until the end of the month after next. A switch can still be well worth it.

2. Apply for state funding. Sounds trivial, but it is real money, provided you live in one of the 9 participating states. The application is a form plus a cost estimate from the clinic. Do this before treatment begins.

3. Compare medications. Some hormone medications have generic alternatives. Ask your clinic about them directly. Difference: 30% to 50% in medication costs.

4. Use cryopreservation. If extra embryos result from your first IVF cycle, have them frozen. A frozen embryo transfer costs €700 to €1,500, a full new cycle €4,000 to €6,000. You can find more on freezing eggs in our elective egg freezing cost guide.

5. Compare fertility clinics. Price differences between German clinics are up to 40%. The cheapest clinic is not the best, but expensive does not automatically mean better either. Compare prices and success rates. Our Fertility Clinic Finder helps you find the right clinic.

6. Use the tax deduction. Fertility treatment costs are deductible as medical expenses, even for unmarried couples. Read the section “Tax deductibility” above for a concrete example calculation.

7. Look across the border. Clinics in Czechia, Spain, or Austria often offer lower prices at comparable quality. Especially for self-pay patients, this can be worthwhile.

Frequently asked questions

What does infertility treatment cost in total?

The total cost depends on the method. An IUI costs €200 to €900 per cycle, an IVF €3,500 to €6,000, and an ICSI €4,500 to €7,000. You usually need several cycles until pregnancy. For IVF/ICSI, plan on €7,000 to €21,000 in total, before insurance coverage and funding. You can find detailed IVF costs in our separate guide.

Does the health insurance fund pay for assisted reproduction?

Statutory health insurance covers 50% of the approved costs, but only if the couple is married, both are at least 25, the woman is younger than 40, and the man is younger than 50. A maximum of 3 IVF or ICSI cycles are subsidized. Unmarried couples receive no benefit from the health insurance fund, but can apply for federal and state funding in the 9 participating states.

Can I deduct the cost of fertility treatment from my taxes?

Yes. Fertility treatment counts as an extraordinary burden under section 33 EStG. You can deduct treatment costs, medication, travel costs to the clinic, and even overnight accommodation costs. Important: Collect all invoices and receipts starting with your first appointment. The deductible amount depends on your income and the reasonable burden limit. Ask a tax advisor for advice on this.

Is fertility treatment cheaper abroad?

Often yes. For couples who live in Austria, the IVF Fund (70% coverage) offers the best value for money among Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. If you live in Germany, however, you cannot use the fund, because at least one partner needs a primary residence in Austria. Czechia and Spain have even lower clinic prices. Note, however: federal and state funding exist only for treatment in Germany, and whether your fund reimburses a share of treatment abroad is something you must clarify with it beforehand. Compare clinics in different countries and check what works out for your situation.

How many attempts do you need on average?

With IUI, you need 4 to 6 cycles on average. With IVF and ICSI, it is 2 to 3 cycles until a pregnancy, for women under 35. From age 35, the number of cycles needed rises. From age 40, the success rate per transfer drops considerably, so more cycles are often needed. What matters is not only the method, but also the quality of the clinic and the individual diagnosis.

What new health insurance subsidies are there starting in 2026?

The basic statutory benefit has not changed. Some funds, however, pay more under their bylaws: Since January 2026, TK has covered a one-time amount of up to €200 for assisted hatching (women aged 37 and older) and up to €300 for surgical sperm retrieval by TESE. AOK PLUS also provides for both benefits under certain conditions. Ask your fund which subsidies it offers.

Does the health insurance fund also pay for unmarried or single women?

As a general rule, the statutory fund does not pay, and bylaw benefits such as those of AOK Bayern expressly apply to married couples. Unmarried heterosexual couples can apply for federal and state funding in the 9 participating states. For lesbian couples, state funds exist only in Bremen and Rhineland-Palatinate. Single women are entirely self-pay patients. For tax purposes, the costs are deductible for them under current case law only in cases of illness-related infertility.

How long does fertility treatment take in total?

From the initial consultation to the first treatment cycle, 4 to 8 weeks pass (diagnostic workup, approval). An IUI cycle takes 2 to 4 weeks, an IVF or ICSI cycle 4 to 6 weeks. If you need several cycles, you should realistically plan for 6 to 18 months, from the initial consultation to a positive pregnancy test.

Conclusion: what you should do now

The costs of assisted reproduction can be planned for. You now know what IUI, IVF, and ICSI cost, what the health insurance fund covers, and what funding exists. The most important points in brief: compare clinics, apply for all funding, and plan realistically for several cycles.

The next step? Use our free Fertility Clinic Finder to find the right fertility clinic for your situation, with transparent prices and real success rates.

Sources

• Section 27a of Book V of the Social Code (SGB V): Assisted reproduction, Federal Ministry of Justice, as of 2026
• Guidelines on assisted reproduction, Federal Joint Committee (G-BA), 2022
• Funding check: Funding in the German states, Fertility Information Portal of the Federal Ministry of Education, Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth (BMBFSFJ), 2026
• Assisted reproduction: TK benefits, Techniker Krankenkasse, 2026
• Section 33 EStG: Extraordinary burdens, Federal Ministry of Justice, as of 2026
• BFH, judgment of October 5, 2017, VI R 47/15: Fertility treatment in a same-sex partnership, Federal Fiscal Court (Bundesfinanzhof), 2017
• We would like a baby: Information on the IVF Fund, Austrian Ministry of Social Affairs, 2025
• KLV Annex 1: Benefits of basic health insurance, Federal Office of Public Health (BAG), 2026