The cost of fertility treatments are forcing them to the 'Fertility Black Market.' It's an illegal and dangerous Internet market where families trade or buy fertility drugs.

And, it's extremely popular.

On Web sites and message boards, I found hundreds of couples buying and selling unused fertility drugs. The titles read: "Leftover meds for sale" and "I'm in desperate need of fertility drugs."

One was from Sammamish; another from Seattle.

'Like Liquid Gold'

"It's a horrible desperation, that you couldn't even explain to anyone who hasn't been there," says Debra, who has been seeing a fertility specialist for four years.

A dose of injectable hormone that costs $700 at the drugstore is only $200 on the Infertility Black Market.

"The stuff is like liquid gold, it's very expensive," says Dr. Lee Hickok of Pacific NW Fertility Clinic.

Women say they are taking the risk because they can't afford not to -- it's all about the money.

Fertility treatments are expensive. In-vitro fertilization is $10,000, plus add another $5,000 for drugs, and that's $15,000 for just one try at making a baby.

"When I start betting my home equity on this, it's a scary thought," says Debra.

Debra and her husband took out loans, pulled money from their 401(k) and got a home equity line of credit to pay for in-vitro.

"It is almost overwhelmingly, unbelievably expensive."

Willing To Do Just About Anything

Many couples can't afford that. On fertilitext.com, one woman writes: "The only way we could even try this one time was by being able to get our meds from this board because our loan didn't cover the meds..."

Another text message: "If I had $50,000 sitting around, I'd be buying from a pharmacy, obviously."

Debra has thought about the infertility black market, but will not give up on her treatments.

"How can I give up? I haven't gotten what I wanted," she said. "I'm not gonna get what I want if I give up."

Port Orchard's Angela Li and her husband went where Debra wouldn't: online to buy another woman's unused drugs.

"It was very scary and knowing insurance didn't cover it -- that was very scary and we just wanted a child of our own so badly that we were willing to do just about anything," says Li.

You Don't Know What You're Getting

But Dr. Hickok warns against the temptation of the black market.

"Number one, it's illegal," he said. "Number two, you don't know what you're gonna be getting."

Li said: "Until I heard it on the news I didn't realize it was illegal to sell your left over medication."

Angela saved nearly $3,000 buying online. They had no idea if the left over meds were stored properly, tampered with or expired.

Dr. Hickok worries the infertility black market won't be shut down until someone gets hurt. He blames our medical system, saying only those who can afford fertility specialists get a chance to make a baby.

"Our system is not a good one, it's not fair," insists Hickok.

"The difference in price far outweighed the risk honestly," confesses Li.

Christian, who the Li's call their "miracle baby," was born 2 years ago.

"When the doctor put him in my arms, I couldn't stop crying; I couldn't believe he was here and in my arms, 12 years of waiting and trying, it was wonderful, the most wonderful feeling," Angela Li said.

Angela and her husband are thinking about shopping the fertility black market again so Christian can have a brother.

"There is basically no other way to try and realize your dream," says Li.

No matter the risk.

The Washington Board of Pharmacy said they had no idea couples were buying unused meds online in our state. But, the FDA knows all about it.

Although buying unused meds online is illegal, the FDA admits prosecution is rare.

But, it issued a buyer beware warning: reminding consumers they have no assurances that the drug is what it is.