You might be considering in vitro fertilization (IVF) to grow your family, but you have questions. It’s a big decision – one that involves a lot of your time, energy, and oftentimes, money. Of course, it’s always advised to talk with your fertility specialist about your personalized treatment plan. In general, here are answers to some of the common questions people have when they’re thinking about doing IVF.
Is IVF painful?
IVF involves taking injectable medications which may cause some discomfort. Some patients find that icing the area for a few minutes prior to injection is helpful to minimize pain. As your ovaries respond to the medications to grow multiple follicles, you may experience some discomfort and bloating.
During the egg retrieval procedure, you will receive an anesthetic. The procedure is quick and pain-free. However, it is not uncommon to have some soreness and abdominal bloating and cramping for a day or two after your egg retrieval. The embryo transfer is similar to a pap smear is virtually pain-free in most cases.
Is IVF expensive?
IVF can vary in cost from clinic to clinic, depending on where you go and if any additional procedures are needed, such as intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) or genetic testing of embryos. The average cost for an IVF cycle at CCRM Fertility using frozen eggs is $12,880, with additional fees for anesthesia, testing, medications, and storage.
Before starting treatment, it’s important to check your fertility health benefits with your insurance provider. Your insurance may cover fertility testing necessary to begin IVF, but may not cover the process itself, which includes egg retrieval and possibly the embryo transfer. CCRM Fertility has numerous financing partners and offers IVF Refund and Multi-Cycle programs to help make the IVF process more affordable for patients.
Is there a risk of twins or multiples?
Depending on how many embryos are transferred to your uterus, you have an increased chance of twins or more with IVF. Thanks to advances in fertility treatment, single embryo transfer greatly reduces the risk of twins or multiples to 1-2%.
How many embryos to transfer is a conversation to have with your fertility specialist as part of your treatment plan.
What are the side effects of IVF?
You might notice side effects from the injectable medications you take during the IVF process. These could include:
- Mild bruising or pain at the injection site (using different injection sites can help)
- Breast tenderness
- Hot flashes
- Bloating
- Fluid retention
- Nausea
- Headaches
- Mood swings
- Low energy or fatigue
Keep your care team informed if these effects become difficult to manage. Bleeding, fever, and significant pain in your pelvic area are more serious side effects and should be reported right away.
How successful is IVF?
IVF success depends on many factors, including your age, your clinic, and if you or your partner have a health condition that affects your reproductive system.
CCRM has some of the highest IVF with comprehensive chromosome screening (CCS) live birth rates in the nation.
You can increase your chances of success by working with an experienced fertility specialist, and maintaining a healthy lifestyle.
If you’re ready to take the next steps to grow your family with IVF, meet with one of our CCRM Fertility specialists by making an appointment today.
