<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>Exclusive:</span></strong><span> Katelyn Hughes, 29, and her husband Joel always </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/cost-of-living-housing-crisis-to-blame-australia-birth-rate-dropping/3920c79b-1c85-4034-a750-d2f4703261c8" rel="" target="_blank" title="wanted to be parents"><span>wanted to be parents</span></a><span> but didn't anticipate it would cost them $50,000 and counting.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>They're among the one in six Australian couples affected by infertility, many of whom are going into debt to start a family or can't afford to try in the </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/cost-of-living" rel="" target="_blank" title="cost-of-living crisis."><span>cost-of-living crisis.</span></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The average total cost per standard cycle for In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) in Australia can range from $11,500 to $17,000, according to Minerva Fertility.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/cost-of-living-housing-crisis-to-blame-australia-birth-rate-dropping/3920c79b-1c85-4034-a750-d2f4703261c8" rel="" target="_blank" title="Aussies on good money are being priced out of parenthood"><strong><span>Aussies on good money are being priced out of parenthood</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Medicare rebates may apply to specific components but even then, IVF can be prohibitively expensive for some would-be parents.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The couple started IVF in 2021 and were floored by the cost.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"We had just gotten married and we were really focused on trying to get into the housing market [but] all of our money was spent on IVF," Katelyn told nine.com.au.</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/national/ivf-unaffordable-cost-of-living-crisis-exclusive/c6f1b3ac-086e-41d3-83ff-7dea9bbadfff" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><em><strong><span>Have you got a story? Contact</span></strong></em><span> </span><strong><em><span>reporter Maddison Leach at</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="mailto:mleach@nine.com.au" rel="" target="_blank" title="mleach@nine.com.au"><strong><em><span>mleach@nine.com.au</span></em></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>She fell pregnant in 2023 on their ninth round of IVF but son Fletcher was stillborn at 26 weeks.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The heartbreaking loss only made the couple more determined to have another child.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Now on their 15th round of IVF, Katelyn and Joel have had to dip into their superannuation.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"There are so many more costs than just the direct IVF cost," she said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"There's years of testing and trying, medications, mental health support."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Katelyn also had to drop down to part-time work for the flexibility to continue with IVF, slashing their income.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The Hugheses know continuing IVF will have a huge impact on their long-term finances and retirement plans but will do whatever it takes to have another baby.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>They'd like to see more targeted investment in IVF to support Aussies dealing with infertility have children.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Increasing Medicare rebates, reducing out-of-pocket costs, and supporting more cycles could make a huge difference to couples already struggling with the cost of living.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"IVF isn't a lifestyle choice – for many, it's the only path to having a child," Katelyn said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Rowan Berry, 33, and his wife Anastacia, 35, had to delay starting IVF for longer than they'd like due to the cost-of-living crisis.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/abortions-terminations-due-to-cost-of-living-australian-birth-rate/58e60e95-0193-4a1c-b9fb-64d91a25ed11" rel="" target="_blank" title="'Australians aren't choosing careers over children, they're choosing financial survival'"><strong><span>'Australians aren't choosing careers over children, they're choosing financial survival'</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Our rent has increased from $620 per week to $750 per week in the last couple of years," Rowan told nine.com.au.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"House prices to become unreasonable for anyone who is struggling to begin a family."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Grocery costs are also through the roof, so it took the couple a while to save up for IVF.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>They've been quoted up to $1000 for specialist appointments and $1200 for each IVF cycle in NSW.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"We only have the finances for one attempt but we will find a way to do more if we have to," Rowan said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>They feel the cost is worth it after eight years of trying to start a family naturally and suffering two miscarriages.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/vasectomies-on-the-rise-in-australia-exclusive-data/e327612f-9118-4673-abec-860564301353"><strong><span>This surgical procedure is booming in Australia as cost of living bites</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Jenna Adams, from South Australia, said the cost of IVF ruined her family financially.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>She and her partner spent more than $50,000 on multiple cycles in the 2010s.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>They had to access their superannuation and sell Adams' car to afford it and managed to have two daughters, now aged four and two.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Becoming a mother has been one of the biggest joys of Adams' life but the cost was crippling.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"We still haven't been able to financially recover," she told nine.com.au.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"It left us with nothing left in savings and we've had to make voluntary contributions to our super to try and build it back up."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Going through multiple rounds of IVF also took a significant and lasting toll on her physical and mental health.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Adams would have loved to have more children but with the cost of living and the price of IVF, it just wasn't possible.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><em><span>NEVER MISS A STORY:</span></em></strong><span> </span><strong><em><span>Get your breaking news and exclusive stories first by following us across all platforms.</span></em></strong></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><ul><li><strong><em><span>Download the 9NEWS App here via</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://apps.apple.com/au/app/9news/id1010533727" 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