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By the time you consider IVF, you’ve probably already been through a physical, emotional, and financial journey. It’s very common to feel a loss of control, but you are not alone. Our team at Family Beginnings is here to help you through every step of your IVF journey. We’re proud to offer some of the lowest cost treatment plans in Indiana to our patients – please call the office for pricing.
What is IVF?
In vitro fertilization, or IVF, is a process where eggs and sperm are combined in a laboratory instead of in the body. The embryos grow in incubators in the laboratory and then can be transferred back to the woman. Chances of conceiving with IVF depend on your age and the reason for your infertility.
IVF Timeline
Every patient starts with a detailed medical history and physical exam. Before your first appointment, please fill out the New Patient Packet and bring it to the office with you. The first appointment is a consultation where you and your doctor will have a discussion about your needs and possible pathways.
A baseline scan and labs (E2, LH, P4, AMH, HIV labs, etc.) are done before you start a cycle. Anti-Müllerian Hormone (AMH) is a test that reflects ovarian reserve. The results of these labs help give the doctor an idea of what treatment options may be best for you.
A follow up appointment will be scheduled with the doctor to go over the results of your labs and discuss your options. At this point, you’ll go over your calendar and sign the consents for your treatment plan.
Since your body normally only makes one or two eggs per month, you’ll take medications called gonadotropins to stimulate your ovaries to make many follicles. Progesterone is taken as well to help develop a healthy uterine lining.
You’ll have several ultrasound appointments to track the growth of the follicles.
36 hours before your retrieval, human Chorionic Gonadotropin (hCG) is given as an injection to stimulate your body to ovulate.
The morning of your egg retrieval, the anesthesiologist will give you some medication to help you relax, and then you’ll be given an IV drip of propofol to make you go to sleep.
The egg retrieval is performed with an ultrasound-guided needle attached to the transvaginal ultrasound probe, the same way the ultrasound exams were done to monitor your ovaries.
The eggs are retrieved from the ovaries through a needle; the whole procedure only lasts 15-20 minutes.
Watch a video about egg retrievals here:
On the same day as the egg retrieval, your eggs are either inseminated or ICSI is performed.
18 hours after ICSI is done, the eggs are checked for signs of fertilization. You’ll receive a call that day to let you know how many eggs have fertilized.
On Day 5, the embryos should be at the blastocyst stage. At this point, the embryos are either transferred, biopsied for PGT, or cryopreserved.
The embryo transfer is done with an abdominal ultrasound. You’ll be able to watch on the ultrasound monitor as the embryos are placed into your uterus.
After the transfer, you’ll be told to rest for 20 minutes. We tell our patients to take it easy for the next few days.
One week after the transfer, you’ll get your blood drawn for a progesterone level. This tells us the quality of the uterine lining.
Two weeks after the transfer, you’ll get your blood drawn for a pregnancy test. This gives us a quantitative hCG level.
Interested in setting up an appointment?
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