Please keep in mind that protocols vary with each clinic and what is written below is not to be seen as medical advice. There is a lot of information on the internet about IVF. Please consult your doctor for information that is pertinent to your case.
Your doctor is going to chose a treatment protocol based on your labs, medical history and prior treatment.
Treatment may begin with a short course of birth control pills. This intervention will get all of your hormones down to a baseline level. Another option that your physician may chose to suppress your hormones are medications called Lupron (Leuprolide), Ganirelix or Cetrotide.
Some doctors may think that you are ready to go right into stimulation. Your doctor will prescribe medications that stimulate your ovaries, similar to that which your body already makes: think FSH and LSH. This will get you get more than one egg per cycle.
While you are on the stimulation medication, you may be asked to come in for monitoring every two to four days. This monitoring will be done with ultrasound and bloodwork. This typically happens first thing in the morning to get your labs resulted that day.
Once everything looks acceptable to your physician, it will be time for your trigger shot. What kind of trigger shot used depends on your prior IVF cycles and/or your estrogen levels. Your doctor will give you a very specific time of day to do the trigger shot.
Your egg retrieval will be scheduled for approximately 36 hours after your trigger shot. The timing makes it incredibly important that you complete your shot exactly when the doctor recommends. You may need to prepare your medication in advance and re-watch injection videos an hour before your assigned time.
At the surgery center, you will get an IV for anesthesia. You will be asleep for about 15-20 minutes while the doctor performs a vaginal ultrasound and passes a needle through the vaginal wall into both ovaries. In recovery, the embryologist will be able to tell you how many eggs they recovered. This is not the total eggs that will be mature. Your provider or one of their partners may perform your retrieval. Ask in advance so that you can be mentally prepared.
In the days following retrieval, you will receive updates on the growth of the embryos and on genetic testing results if you choose to have that done on your embryos. Your clinic will go over every option with you.
If you are having a fresh transfer, you will return to the office for an embryo transfer on day 3 (typically reserved for low quality embryos) or day 5 (for higher quality embryos).
If you are having a frozen embryo transfer, then you will have a period about a week or two after retrieval. When you get your period, you will call your clinic to get started on your frozen embryo transfer (FET) protocol.
In preparation for the FET, you may be given pills to build up the lining of the uterus or pills to cause ovulation. You may start progesterone injections before the transfer, the timing of these injections will also be very important.
Once everything looks acceptable on the labs and ultrasound, you will do the frozen embryo transfer.
Remember, this is an overview of the typical interventions and treatments. If this is different than what your doctor is doing based on your labs, ultrasound and medical history, please adhere to the advice of your provider. They know you and your case best.
Personal Check-In:
Based on the information about IVF provided, what questions do you have for your provider. Jot those down. If you don't have questions, perhaps take this check-in a step further. What emotions does this provoke in you? How are you processing all of this information provided in an emotional way? Are you communicating closely with your support system? What steps do you need to take to feel more supported?
If you're looking for a support group, please check on our virtual support group!
Information taken from the Navigating Infertility Workbook with information provided by Dr. Amelia Bailey with Fertility Associates of Memphis.
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