By Dr. Shweta Agarwal, MBBS, DGO Medically reviewed by Dr. Shweta Agarwal, MBBS, DGO · July 2026
Information on this page is educational and does not replace a medical consultation. Outcomes and costs depend on individual clinical factors.
Aansh Hospital & IVF Center is a government-registered Level-2 ART clinic (Reg. No. MH/AC/2024/15441/L2/Chandrapur/132), serving Chandrapur, Nagpur, and Vidarbha. Our government ART registration covers IVF, embryo freezing, and frozen embryo transfer performed by our in-house embryology team.
Many couples plan their IVF budget around a single cycle and are then caught off guard by the possibility of a second attempt. This is one of the most common gaps in financial planning we see — not because clinics hide the possibility of a second cycle, but because it is uncomfortable to think about upfront, and the cost structure of a second attempt is genuinely different from the first and rarely explained clearly.
This guide explains, in plain terms, why one cycle is sometimes not enough, what a second attempt typically costs compared to the first, how cryostorage fees work, and how to budget realistically across more than one attempt from the outset.
Why might one IVF cycle not be enough?
A single IVF cycle does not guarantee a pregnancy, because outcomes depend on biological factors — egg and embryo quality, fertilisation, and implantation — that vary between cycles and cannot be fully predicted in advance. This is true for every patient, at every clinic, regardless of age or clinical profile, and it is why realistic planning includes the possibility of more than one attempt.
This is a factual, not a discouraging, statement: many couples who eventually have a successful pregnancy do so on a second transfer, whether from a second full cycle or from a frozen embryo generated during the first. Planning your finances around this possibility from the start, rather than being surprised by it later, is simply more realistic budgeting.
What does a second cycle cost if it uses a frozen embryo transfer?
If your first cycle produced surplus embryos that were frozen, a second attempt is typically a frozen embryo transfer (FET) — a substantially less expensive procedure than a full fresh IVF cycle, because it skips ovarian stimulation and egg retrieval entirely. A FET involves endometrial preparation (medication to ready the uterine lining), monitoring scans, the lab work of thawing the embryo, and the transfer procedure itself — but none of the stimulation injections, retrieval anaesthesia, or retrieval procedure that make up a large part of a fresh cycle's cost.
This is one of the most valuable financial aspects of a successful first cycle that produces multiple good embryos: each additional transfer attempt from those frozen embryos costs meaningfully less than the original cycle. Final cost depends on individual clinical evaluation — see Costs & EMI for current FET pricing. The frozen embryo transfer page explains the FET process step by step.
What does a second cycle cost if it requires a fresh attempt?
If the first cycle did not produce surplus embryos to freeze, a second attempt means a new fresh cycle — with its own stimulation medications, egg retrieval, and lab fertilisation — priced similarly to the first cycle rather than at the lower FET cost. This is the scenario couples should be aware of when a first cycle produces only the embryo(s) used in the initial transfer, with none remaining.
Because stimulation medication needs can also change between cycles — sometimes a different protocol or dose is used based on how the ovaries responded the first time — the medication cost of a second fresh cycle is not always identical to the first. Final cost depends on individual clinical evaluation; ask for a fresh written estimate ahead of any second attempt rather than assuming the first quote still applies.
How much does cryostorage cost, and for how long?
Annual cryostorage for frozen embryos is typically charged at approximately ₹1,000 per month per straw, for as long as the embryos remain stored. This is a recurring cost that continues independently of whether or when you use the embryos for a future transfer, so it is worth factoring into your ongoing budget, not just your initial cycle cost.
If you know you want to attempt a FET in the near term, this ongoing cost is relatively small. If storage continues for a longer period — for example, while a couple decides on timing, or plans a second child later — the cumulative storage cost over several years is worth discussing with your clinic as part of your overall financial plan.
How does 0% EMI apply if we need more than one cycle?
0% EMI can generally be applied separately to each cycle or FET attempt, spreading the cost of each stage across 3–24 months rather than requiring the full amount upfront every time — which is particularly useful for couples who did not anticipate needing a second attempt. This means a second cycle or FET does not have to be paid in one lump sum any more than the first one did.
Because a second attempt is a new financial commitment with its own cost breakdown, it is worth revisiting the EMI plan and written estimate at that stage rather than assuming the original arrangement automatically carries over. Full current terms are on the Costs & EMI page.
What budgeting questions should we ask before starting our first cycle?
Ask your clinic, before your first cycle begins: if we have surplus embryos, what would a FET cost and how does that compare to this first cycle? If we don't have surplus embryos and need a second fresh attempt, would the cost be similar to this quote? What is the monthly cryostorage fee if we do freeze embryos? And can EMI be applied separately to a second attempt if needed?
Asking these questions upfront — even though you may hope not to need the answers — means you are financially prepared either way, rather than facing a completely new and unexpected budgeting conversation if a second attempt becomes necessary. Our guide on what's included in an IVF package explains the full first-cycle cost structure that this multi-cycle planning builds on.
If you are already partway through treatment elsewhere and weighing the cost of continuing versus a fresh assessment, our free second opinion can review your reports and previous cycle details with Dr. Shweta Agarwal.