Exclusive: Katelyn Hughes, 29, and her husband Joel always wanted to be parents but didn't anticipate it would cost them $50,000 and counting.

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 cost-of-living crisis.

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.

READ MORE: Aussies on good money are being priced out of parenthood

Medicare rebates may apply to specific components but even then, IVF can be prohibitively expensive for some would-be parents.

The couple started IVF in 2021 and were floored by the cost.

"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.

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