Everything allowed — most expensive. Own-egg IVF from €18,000/cycle, donor from €25,000. Below: the cost per baby, the rules that apply to you, and how it compares.
USA costs and options: everything is legal here (including family balancing), but cycles run €15,000–25,000 — usually much higher per baby than EU donor options.
| Item | USA |
|---|---|
| IVF own eggs / cycle | €18,000 |
| IVF donor eggs / cycle | €25,000 |
| Donor-egg success (any age) | ≈48% per transfer |
| Rule | USA |
|---|---|
| Egg donation | both |
| country_table_age_limit | none |
| country_table_single_women | yes |
| country_table_same-sex | yes |
| country_table_pgt-a | yes |
| country_table_sex_selection | YES |
| Surrogacy | yes (paid) |
Laws change — verify current eligibility for your nationality and situation.
A "cheap" cycle isn't the same as a cheap baby. Model your exact case — age, own/donor — in the cost-per-baby calculator to see where USA ranks for you.
Cost data: clinic averages 2026. Legal status: verify current rules for your nationality.
USA cycles run €18,000–25,000 — roughly 5–6× the EU cost. Everything is legal (including sex selection and paid surrogacy), and some clinics are excellent. But for most patients over 40, cost per baby usually favors EU donor eggs, even accounting for travel. Model your case to compare.
Annual cycles: approximately 438,000 per year (CDC 2021) — the world's largest IVF market. Live birth per egg retrieval: under 35 ~50%, 35–37 ~36%, 38–40 ~23%, over 40 ~8%. Donor eggs: ~50% success. US clinics vary widely in success and cost (€15,000–25,000/cycle); there is no single regulator, so verify each clinic's CDC-reported rates.
A cheap cycle is not the same as a cheap baby. Because success falls with age, the honest figure is the cycle price multiplied by the number of transfers you are likely to need. Using this country's own-egg price and registry live-birth rates: At €18000/cycle, this is premium pricing, so cost per baby matters even more — low success at 40+ means many cycles, multiplying the total spend.
| Age band | Own-egg LBR / transfer | Typical transfers | Est. own-egg cost to one baby |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 35 | 48% | ~2 | €36,000 |
| 35-37 | 41% | ~2 | €36,000 |
| 38-40 | 32% | ~3 | €54,000 |
| 41-42 | 18% | ~3 | €54,000 |
| 43-44 | 8% | ~4 | €72,000 |
| 45+ | 4% | ~4 | €72,000 |
Illustrative model: registry live-birth per transfer (SART/CDC, HFEA) × typical transfers to a cumulative live birth (PMC10591412) × this country's cycle price. Your own odds depend on your diagnosis and clinic — model them in the calculator.
From about 38-40 onwards, donor eggs usually win on cost per baby: at ~48% per transfer they typically need ~2 transfers, so ~€50,000 here — often less than chasing own-egg success at falling odds.
In USA, egg donation status is 'both'; the upper age limit is none; single women: yes; same-sex access: yes; PGT-A embryo testing: yes; non-medical sex selection (family balancing) is permitted — rare in Europe; surrogacy: yes (paid). Eligibility depends on your nationality and personal situation, so verify the current rules for your case before you commit.
Who USA suits best: single women, same-sex couples, surrogacy routes, family balancing.
IVF success is driven mainly by maternal age and egg type, not by the country you choose. The public registries put own-egg live birth at roughly:
The success figures on this page come from national IVF registries, not clinic marketing. Primary sources:
Compiled and fact-checked by the BabyPath editorial team against the registries above. Per-retrieval (CDC) and per-transfer (HFEA) use different denominators — both are shown so the numbers are not misread. Educational information, not medical advice; outcomes vary by individual and clinic — always consult a licensed fertility specialist.
Own-egg IVF in USA is roughly €18,000 per cycle. Donor-egg IVF in USA is about €25,000 per cycle (success ~48% at any age); donor status: both. The figure that matters is cost per baby (price × the cycles you'll likely need) — calculate yours with our cost-per-baby tool.
Egg donation in USA: both. Patients from countries that ban it (e.g. Germany, Italy) often travel for this.
Single women: yes.
Same-sex access in USA: yes.
Age limit in USA: none. Over the limit or 40+, donor eggs are usually the realistic route.
Non-medical sex selection in USA: YES.
Surrogacy in USA: yes (paid).
Success tracks age, not country: own eggs ~48% under 35 falling to ~4% over 44; donor eggs hold ~48% at any age (ESHRE/CDC). A clinic's headline rate also reflects its patient mix.
The success rates, cost ranges and legal-eligibility rules on this page are compiled from public clinical registries and national guidelines — not opinion. They are planning estimates and do not replace advice from a licensed fertility specialist.
Reviewed against: HFEA (UK), SART/CDC (US), ESHRE/EIM (EU) and NICE CG156.
Compiled and fact-checked by the BabyPath editorial team against the primary sources above · last reviewed 2026-06-12 · BabyPath is an independent cross-border comparison platform, not a clinic. Always consult a licensed clinician before starting treatment.
We compare IVF success rates, prices and laws across 12 countries — using real CDC, HFEA and ESHRE data — to show your true cost per baby, not per cycle. Donor eggs, age 40+, single or same-sex: we show where it's affordable and legal for you.
Get 3 matched clinic quotes — free