The prospect of undergoing
IVF (in vitro fertilization) can be intimidating and overwhelming at first. Simply finding out that your or your partner could be experiencing fertility issues can be stressful enough on its own. While the initial consultation presents a great opportunity to ask a variety of questions about IVF treatment, how it works, and what you can expect, it’s also natural to feel a little bit nervous about the whole process. To help you overcome your nerves and be a little more prepared for your
first IVF consultation, we’ve collected a list of the most commonly asked questions we get from patients along with their answers.
What Tests Need to Be Done before Starting IVF Treatment?
It’s important to know what types of tests your doctor will administer, how results will be delivered, and what types of medications they’ll put you on during the process. Don’t be afraid to ask your doctor about their specific diagnostic process and fertility treatment plan for you. Before you can start IVF treatment, your doctor needs to make sure your body is in good enough health to carry a pregnancy to term. They’ll order blood tests to check your hemoglobin levels, blood sugar, blood group, rule out infections, and look for any abnormalities. Women may also be asked to undergo a series of fertility tests to check for
PCOS, ovulation status, your ovarian reserve, and any other factors. Males may also undergo a series of blood tests and a
semen analysis before starting IVF treatment.
Are the Tests Done at the Clinic?
It’s important to know where the tests are done so that you can plan your treatment accordingly. Most clinics do the tests onsite so that their own technicians can handle the process directly. One of the major advantages of onsite testing is that the tests are processed by the clinic’s lab which means you’ll get the results back a lot faster. Some clinics send the tests out to third-party laboratories for examination. If this is the case, then you should ask for the name of the lab they use, so you can see if they’re working with a reputable testing facility.
What Are My Chances of Success with IVF?
Although it’s impossible for any
IVF clinic to guarantee a successful live birth or pregnancy for all patients, you should still ask what your doctor thinks your chances of success will be depending on specific factors that pertain to you. Based on your fertility rate, blood tests, weight, and health, your doctor should be able to give you a general idea of whether or not the procedure is likely to be successful. Unfortunately, sometimes it really is just the luck of the draw for some people. But, you should also ask about the clinic’s success rate to get an idea of the type of results they’re able to achieve.
Is It Better to Use Fresh or Frozen Embryos?
Generally speaking, there isn’t a single blanket solution that works for everyone. It’s not a matter of whether it’s better to use
fresh or frozen embryos, per se. It’s a matter of which one is the most viable option for you, specifically. Couples who want to get the process going as fast as possible could benefit more from the convenience and efficiency of transferring a fresh embryo, which can be done immediately during the ovulation process. Other couples, however, may have a higher chance of success if they opt for a frozen embryo. Unfortunately, neither option is guaranteed to yield a live birth or pregnancy. But, it’s always a good idea to have a few extra embryos frozen as a backup plan if your first IVF treatment doesn’t take.
Embryo storage has come a long way over the years and is a trusted process at fertility clinics across the country.
What Can I Do to Increase My Chances of Conception?
Actually, there are a number of steps that you can take to improve your chances of a successful
IVF treatment. First and foremost, you should try to maintain as much of a healthy lifestyle as possible. To maintain a healthy weight and BMI for your age and height, you should exercise regularly and try to stick to a healthy diet that’s high in antioxidants. On top of that, you should try to keep your
stress levels low as a high cortisol (stress hormone) count can make it harder to conceive. If you’re a smoker, quit and refrain from drinking alcohol. Your doctor will make more specific recommendations based on your personal medical history.
What Are Some Possible Risks or Side Effects?
Just like traditional pregnancy, IVF can take a huge physical toll on the pregnant person. There are a few pregnancy risks or potential complications that you should be aware of, including:
- Ovarian Hyper-Stimulation Syndrome (OHSS), particularly for women with PCOS
- Certain IVF drugs carry some level of risk
- Injections can cause some pain
If at any point during the treatment you experience abnormal symptoms likes severe abdominal pain, fever, inflammation, headaches, leg redness, etc., then you should notify your doctor immediately.
What Are My Options if the Treatment Fails?
As we tell all of our patients from the beginning, there’s a chance that the treatment could fail. Depending on the reason for the failure of the treatment, you may be able to try again at a later date. If you have extra frozen embryos, then you could opt for a
frozen embryo transfer (FET). Otherwise, the only option is to start the entire IVF treatment cycle from square one.
How Much Does IVF Treatment Cost?
IVF funding can be on the expensive side for a lot of couples, but you may be eligible for government funding. Before committing to IVF treatment, also find out if the procedure will be covered partly or fully covered by your insurance provider. Be sure to always ask your doctor upfront what the cost will be.
About ONE Fertility Kitchener Waterloo
ONE Fertility Kitchener Waterloo is completely committed to providing the best possible medical care and advice to all of our patients based on their individual needs. Our goal is to make the IVF process as comfortable and stress-free as possible to facilitate your success. We’ll take the time to provide you with details about your treatment plan and answer all of your questions during your initial IVF consultation.
Contact us today to learn more about our
state-of-the-art fertility clinic in the Kitchener-Waterloo area or to book a consultation!
