Is Costco jumping on the Big Fertility bandwagon?

Costco, a big box warehouse club, is partnering with Big Fertility to make it easier for customers to receive fertility interventions, including in vitro fertilization (IVF).

Key Takeaways:

• Costco has announced a partnership with Sesame, a cash-pay health care marketplace, and IVI RMA, a global network of fertility clinics.

• Would-be patients (Costco members) will be able to meet with doctors for virtual visits and diagnostics at a discounted monthly rate, skipping wait times, and then will be referred to an IVI RMA clinic.

• The move further solidifies the fertility industry as a business which commodifies the creation of children and turns them into products for profit.

• Last year, Costco noted that it had no plans to sell abortion drugs from its pharmacies.

The Details:

Self magazine reported the details of the new partnership. Costco members can access the fertility services for just $99 a month, while non-members will pay $119. Those who sign up will be able to meet with a doctor of their choice on the Sesame platform for a fertility intake and diagnostics, before then being transferred from Sesame to an IVI RMA clinic. According to Self, over 85% of IVI RMA clinics are within 25 miles of a Costco store. IVI RMA says online that it "finished 2025 with over 200 clinics and more than 200,000 assisted reproduction treatments."

Richard Stephens, Senior Vice President of Pharmacy at Costco, said in a press release:

"Our partnership with Sesame and IVI RMA reflects our commitment to transparent and affordable solutions that reduce barriers, are more accessible, and more affordable for our members. By combining transparent pricing with coordinated care, we’re removing the barriers that have historically kept quality fertility treatment out of reach for too many families.”

Any medications prescribed would be eligible for "exclusive Member pricing that includes savings of up to 80% on medications like Follistim through pharmacy programs."

Despite this recent controversial move, last August, Costco noted that it had no plans to sell the abortion pill in its pharmacies. Live Action News noted at the time:

Bloomberg stated in its report:

Costco Wholesale Corp. has decided not to dispense the abortion pill mifepristone at its more than 500 pharmacy locations, a decision hailed by a group of faith-based activists who urged the retailer to avoid selling the drug.

Costco said in a statement that it hasn’t seen consumer demand for the pill, and had no comment on whether the conservative group had any role in its decision.

Why It Matters:

The fertility industry is shockingly under-regulated, and through it, children have been turned into products to be bought and sold on demand. And all the while, the process is turned into a business, with “volume discounts, package deals and 100 percent guarantees for baby making,” a previous Washington Post article explained.

Numerous fertility businesses have offered volume discounts and sales, and even lotteries.

The fertility industry is rife with eugenics-based screening practices to ensure only the "best" children are implanted; they are screened for imperfections and those that don't make the grade are usually discarded. Human embryos have been turned into jewelry,  fought over and abandoned in divorce agreements, and even traded among would-be parents so adults can ensure they receive the exact 'products' they want.

The Trump Rx program has also begun to offer fertility and IVF drugs at discounted rates.

There is so little regulation that sperm and egg donation have become "fertility marketplaces" where buyers fight over the most in-demand donors.

The Bottom Line:

The fertility industry has turned the process of creating a family into a business transaction; partnering in this sort of venture is likely to be profitable, but may come with other consequences.