Every IVF journey is different but still similar in so many ways. Couples who have been through the journey understand the value of choosing the right clinic and physician to embark on the life-changing journey with them. Undoubtedly, couples have questions, a lot of them, for that matter, and it is always better to communicate them with your physician.

IVF helps recently spoke to a few couples and asked them to share the queries they got resolved during their first visit to IVF physician. In case you are a couple all set to meet your IVF physician for the first time, here’s a series of questions you might like to ask them.

If I have unexplained infertility, which one would you suggest: IUI or IVF?

Before asking your fertility doctor these questions, you have to be well aware of the distinction between the two procedures.

Sperm is inserted inside the uterus during an intrauterine insemination (IUI) treatment to get healthy sperm closer to the egg and boost the probability of successful fertilization. Working sperm and fallopian tubes are necessary for IUI.

Depending on the advice of each doctor and the circumstances of each patient, normally after 3-5 unsuccessful IUI cycles, your IVF doctor will recommend the next step: IVF (In vitro fertilization).

Patients undergoing IVF therapy will take fertility drugs to stimulate their ovaries, which will cause several follicles to grow. Once the follicles are mature, the eggs will be removed and fertilised into embryos in our lab. The produced embryo or embryos are subsequently put inside the uterus.

How much does IVF treatment cost?

Couples are advised to enquire about any and all costs you can expect during the process. The IVF treatment can be expensive; thus, it is advised to get cost details specific to your treatment plan from your fertility clinic beforehand.

Typically, your quote should include the price of the lab procedure, blood testing, scans, ovarian stimulation medicines, and embryo transfer. Costs for freezing, blastocyst cultivation, and special semen may or may not be covered.

It is advisable to ask your clinic for all the information (including the price of FET, PGD/PGS testing, and any additional services that may be required).

Which examinations should I get before IVF?

Make sure your body is capable of supporting a pregnancy before beginning an IVF cycle. A few blood tests will be run to assess your Hb, blood group, blood sugar, any infections, etc. 

In order to determine your ovarian reserve, the state of your ovulation, the likelihood of PCOS, etc., there are also several fertility tests available for women. Blood tests are performed on the male partner to screen for infections and to determine his blood type.

Prior to beginning the IVF procedure, he will also need to have semen evaluated. Depending on your particular circumstances, any specific testing can be further recommended.

What are my chances of being successful with IVF?

Your personal determinants for IVF success are more crucial than your IVF clinic’s success rates. After considering a number of variables, including age, the reason for infertility, ovarian reserve, sperm quality, uterine lining, and others, an expert fertility specialist will be able to inform you of the likelihood of success in your instance. Being realistic and setting the proper expectations for the course of treatment is always a good idea.

What is the success rate of your clinic in terms of live births and pregnancy rate?

Knowing the live birth and pregnancy rates for IVF cycles at the clinic where you are receiving treatment is always a good idea. While they are unable to predict your specific chances of success, it gives you a basic understanding of the clinic’s requirements.

Is there anything I can do to increase my chances of having a successful IVF cycle?

Your chances of having a successful IVF procedure at any point can be increased by leading a healthy lifestyle, maintaining a normal BMI, managing your stress levels, abstaining from alcohol and tobacco use, and maintaining a healthy weight.

For IVF, it’s best to follow a healthy, antioxidant-rich diet and steer clear of a sedentary lifestyle. Given that the human sperm life cycle is 42–76 days, implementing the necessary steps can cause male semen parameters to begin to improve in just around 3 months.

In addition to this, it is strongly advised to use folic acid before conception and to address any existing medical issues appropriately if they are present.

How long is the IVF procedure estimated to take from beginning to end?

The egg retrieval stimulation cycle lasts, on average, between 10 to 14 days. However, each case is unique, depending on how the patient’s body responds to the drugs.

This period of time begins when the patient starts taking the drug used to stimulate the ovaries before the egg retrieval process.

After embryos are fertilised and biopsied, it typically takes two weeks to get the genetic testing results. After having this information, you can start preparing for an embryo transfer cycle. Each FET cycle, or frozen embryo transfer, is unique due to several factors.

The embryo transfer operation normally occurs between days 19 and 21 of the patient’s menstrual cycle in a typical scenario. About 10 days after implantation, a pregnancy blood test is conducted.

 Your pregnancy will be tracked till the OB ultrasound at 10 weeks.  You will typically be released to OB’s care following your 10-week OB ultrasound.

IVF is performed in batches. Do you employ or hire outside embryologists?

Instead of waiting to complete numerous cycles in a batch, the clinic may do your IVF cycle at any time of the month thanks to its in-house embryologist.

Additionally, since maintaining the lab is a part of an embryologist’s everyday responsibilities, IVF lab maintenance is better done in their presence. Find out if your clinic employs an embryologist full-time.

What potential risks or side effects should I be on the lookout for?

Physical exertion for the lady during IVF treatment is possible. Ovarian hyper-stimulation syndrome (OHSS) is a danger, especially for women with PCOS.

The daily injections can be uncomfortable for some women, and there are some hazards associated with IVF medications.

If you experience any strange symptoms, such as fever, excruciating abdominal pain, headache, edoema, or redness in your legs, you should contact your doctor right away.

What options do I have if the treatment doesn’t work?

You should be aware that IVF does not have a 100% success rate, and there is a potential that the first cycle of IVF will not result in a pregnancy. You may receive a frozen embryo transfer if you have additional embryos from your first cycle that were frozen (this is a typical technique today) (FET). The success rates of fresh and frozen embryo transfers are currently comparable.

The only choice would be to restart the IVF cycle if you did not have any frozen embryos from your initial cycle.

Couples typically experience a lot of anxiety and fear while deciding whether to have IVF because the majority of patients are unaware of what to anticipate throughout an IVF cycle.

This fear typically results from their lack of experience with the process, but by asking the appropriate questions, you may reduce your anxiety and make the process of IVF much easier.