Step 1: IVF Consult Appointment and Informational Session
The first step is to contact your fertility center and schedule a consult. Your physician will thoroughly review your medical records and ensure that IVF is appropriate. An individualized treatment plan is developed that includes orders for pre-cycle testing.
After your consult, you will generally meet with a nurse for an informational session. Your fertility nurse enables you to have a one-on-one contact throughout your cycle. At this appointment, the nurse will give you a general description of an IVF cycle and review the screening process as well as time frame for completion. At this time, you will have an opportunity to discuss any questions or concerns that you may have regarding IVF.
Finally you will meet with a Financial Counselor to discuss your upcoming cycle. The financial department will be able to tell you the estimated cost for your treatment, procedures, and options. They will also discuss with you insurance coverage and payment options.
Step 2: Completion of Required Tests and Uterine Evaluations
Coordination of an IVF cycle is complex, exciting, and at times stressful. The American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) and the FDA set the screening requirements. It is your responsibility to make sure that all items on your checklist are completed prior to starting stimulation medications. If you have any questions, please call and speak with your nurse or Medical Assistant.
An IVF cycle can take up to 3 months to complete from initial screening to the actual egg retrieval and embryo transfer.
Step 3: Informed Consent and Complete Treatment Plan
It is important that you and your partner are aware of the possible risks associated with IVF and understand the procedures involved. This visit will be with your doctor and will allow you to ask any questions you may still have about the process and review of your completed checklist. Your treatment consents will be signed at this time.
You will meet one more time with the Financial Counselor after your visit with the doctor to finalize your payment plan and options.
Step 4: Create Calendar and Assign Day 1 Protocol Review
A calendar is created to outline your individual stimulation protocol developed by your physician and includes a schedule of medications and appointments for your IVF cycle. This calendar is created only after the checklist items are completed. An estimated day 1 is assigned according to the regularity of your menstrual cycle. Your calendar will be sent to you via mail or email depending on your preference. Your individual protocol will be reviewed with you by your primary fertility nurse including your medications.
Step 5: Injection Teaching
Your doctor wants to provide you with the best chance for success and part of this process is injection training. During the injection class you will participate in hands on demonstration for injection technique.
Step 6: Suppression Check and Cycle Start
At this appointment, the sonographer will measure your uterine lining and check your ovaries for any possible follicles or cysts. If the ultrasound is normal, a nurse will then review the individual calendar and confirm your Day 1 with additional instructions for medications, appointments, retrieval dates and embryo transfer dates. As your IVF cycle proceeds, you will have morning appointments with blood work and/or ultrasounds performed on Day 3, Day 5, and Day 8.
Further ultrasounds and blood tests are ordered as needed each day and may require changes in your medication dosage. The nurse will call you after each of these appointments with the lab results and any further instructions.
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