Kallie Humphries is a three-time Olympic gold medalist who went through multiple rounds of fertility treatments before her son was born. It was the culmination of her lifelong wish to become a mother, a journey that ultimately led to $70,000 in medical expenses, more than three times what she had anticipated it would cost.

Humphries’ experience illustrates one of the many painful realities of fertility treatments, one that is especially true for in vitro fertilization: the first attempt often isn’t the last. Success varies substantially with age, diagnosis, and other factors, and many patients ultimately will require multiple cycles. Each new attempt means a new round of invasive procedures and expensive medications.