IVF FAQ

Infertile couples who are considering in-vitro fertilization (IVF) often have many questions regarding treatment. Listed below are answers to some commonly seen questions concerning advanced fertility treatment.

What is the percentage of success with each treatment cycle?
The possibilities of success with an IVF treatment vary from patient to patient. Your physician can best predict the outcome in your case after a complete evaluation. This includes reviewing your history and prior responses to fertility medications, a thorough physical examination and testing, and drawing up a plan to prepare for your treatment. All IVF treatment programs are required to report their statistics to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention and are available for public review.

How much does in-vitro fertilization (IVF) treatment cost?
Your costs for IVF will depend on how much medication you will need, whether your insurance covers a portion of treatment, and other factors. Our staff will work closely with you to help you manage your costs.

How long do I have to take the fertility hormone injections?
The length of time that you will be taking the injections will depend on the in-vitro fertilization (IVF) protocol chosen for you. Typically, patients receive injections for 8 to 10 days, but some must take them for a little longer.

What are the side effects of the medications I will be taking?
IVF treatment side effects vary from patient to patient. However, reactions to medications may include skin irritation at the injection site, abdominal bloating, headaches, breast tenderness, and nausea.

Who will give me the injections?
You, or a family member of your choosing, will be taught by our staff how to give the subcutaneous injections. This means your spouse or family should know how to prepare for IVF as well

Are medications included in the cost of a cycle?
No. Medications are not included in the cost of an IVF cycle. The amount of medication you will need will depend on your age, ovarian reserve and history.

What constitutes day one of my cycle?
Day one of your cycle is considered your first day of full flow menstrual bleeding, not spotting. If this occurs after 4 p.m. (noon), the next day is considered day one.

How many monitoring visits will I have while I am in treatment?
This will depend on your individual response to the medications. During an IVF cycle at our clinic, you will have between six and nine appointments, including one for the egg retrieval.

When can we have intercourse after embryo transfer and if I am pregnant?
After your embryo transfer, we ask that you refrain from intercourse until your pregnancy test, which is about two weeks later. If you are pregnant, as long as you are not experiencing bleeding or discomfort, intercourse is okay after we are able to detect the baby’s heartbeat. This will be approximately two weeks after your positive pregnancy test.

Is the egg retrieval process painful?
No, not generally. It lasts approximately 20 to 30 minutes, and IV sedation is administered so that you will not be awake during the process. Some patients have mild cramping after the procedure and are discharged with a prescription for pain medication.

When will I be able to tell if I am pregnant?
A pregnancy test is scheduled approximately14 days after the embryo transfer.
How long will I stay with the practice once I am pregnant? Typically, you will not be discharged to your Ob-Gyn until 6 to 8 weeks into your pregnancy. You will have several blood tests and ultrasounds to determine the development of the pregnancy before you are released into their care.

Referrals
If your insurance is an HMO/managed care plan and you are required to obtain a referral from your primary care physician, the referral must be obtained before you can be seen for an office visit. Please coordinate this with your primary care physician in advance. Appointments will be rescheduled if required referrals are not received in the office by the time of your visit.