In Vitro Fertilization
What is IVF?
In vitro fertilization (IVF) is a process where eggs and sperm are combined outside of the uterus to create fertilized embryos. Following IVF treatment, an embryo can be transferred to the womb to develop. This IVF treatment process has been used for more than 30 years. It’s the most common method of medically assisted pregnancy, with the highest success rates.
Build your family with in vitro fertilization (IVF)
- High Success Rates: IVF has proven to be one of the most effective fertility treatments, with success rates significantly higher than other methods. It's especially beneficial for couples facing issues like blocked fallopian tubes, severe male infertility, and unexplained infertility.
- Advanced Technology: Utilizing the latest advances in medical technology, IVF allows for careful monitoring and manipulation of the reproductive process, enhancing the chances of conception and a healthy pregnancy.
- ICSI for Male Infertility: Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI) is a specialized form of IVF that's particularly effective in overcoming male infertility issues. In ICSI, a single healthy sperm is directly injected into an egg, significantly improving fertilization chances for couples where male factor infertility is a concern, such as low sperm count or poor sperm motility.
- Genetic Screening Options: IVF offers the possibility of preimplantation genetic testing (PGT), which screens embryos for genetic abnormalities. This is particularly advantageous for couples with a history of genetic disorders or recurrent miscarriages.
- Flexibility and Control: IVF provides more control over timing and family planning. It’s a preferred choice for those who wish to delay parenthood, including options like egg or embryo freezing.
- Inclusive for Diverse Family Structures: IVF is a versatile option, accommodating a wide range of family structures. It's a suitable choice for same-sex couples, single parents, and those using donor sperm or eggs, making it an inclusive fertility solution.
Who Is IVF Right For?
IVF may be right for heterosexual and LGBTQ+ couples and individuals who:
- Have tried to conceive for 6+ months.
- Need medically assisted pregnancy to have a child.
- Haven’t had success with other fertility treatments (like medication and insemination).
- Have polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), endometriosis, low sperm count, or other diagnoses that can affect fertility.
The Full IVF Journey
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Fertility Testing and Diagnosis
Depending on your reason for choosing IVF, you’ll go through diagnostic testing to look into the cause of your infertility. IVF is not always necessary or feasible, so your doctor might recommend alternative treatments to start.
Care Coordination and Financial Consultation
A Pinnacle Fertility staff member will go over the financial side of the IVF process with you. Your clinical team will review your calendar, order your medications, and prepare you for your treatment.
Stimulating Egg Production
During this step, you’ll begin hormonal treatments by either taking daily pills or injectable medications. These encourage your ovaries to produce a higher number of mature eggs than they would naturally. The end goal is to get at least three mature and fully developed eggs. We’ll track your egg development with blood tests and ultrasounds. It takes time for your body to adjust to the hormones and nurture your new eggs, so this stage can take several weeks.
Pre-IVF Hormonal Preparation
To prepare your body for IVF, you may need to take birth control pills. It might seem counterintuitive, but birth control helps:
- Prepare your ovaries to respond better to hyperstimulation medicine
- Coordinate your cycle so you can plan your treatment around your schedule
In addition to starting birth control, we may perform additional tests and recommend lifestyle adjustments as needed.
Ovulation & Egg Retrieval
Once you’ve produced enough mature eggs, you’ll receive a hormone injection that induces ovulation (releasing the mature eggs). After about 36 hours, you’ll return to our office for the outpatient egg retrieval procedure. An anesthesiologist will place you under IV sedation and our specialists will remove the eggs. This only takes about 15 minutes, and you’ll rest comfortably afterward in one of our recovery rooms. After about 30 minutes, you’ll be able to go home.
IVF Process & Monitoring
We perform fertilization in our state-of-the-art lab with the retrieved eggs and selected sperm cells provided by your partner or a sperm donor.
Once the eggs have been retrieved, a single sperm is injected into each egg in a process called ICSI to complete the insemination process.
Our lab specialists closely monitor the embryos as they develop and will give you updates on their progression. During this stage, we can also screen for certain genetic disorders, ensuring only the healthiest embryos with the greatest chance of a successful IVF pregnancy are transferred. If you’d like, we can also reveal the sex of embryos.
Pregnancy Testing & Monitoring
After the transfer, you'll take medications that help support your pregnancy in the early stages. Approximately two weeks later, you'll revisit the clinic for an HCG pregnancy test. For those with a positive result, your navigator and provider will closely monitor your progress through regular lab work and ultrasounds, ensuring the pregnancy progresses smoothly until it's time to transition to your OB/GYN for ongoing care. In the event of a negative pregnancy test, we'll schedule a follow-up appointment to explore and discuss the available next steps and options.
Embryo Transfer
The doctor will meet with you to determine the best transfer plan. Our goal is to maximize the chance of a successful IVF pregnancy while minimizing the chance of multiple births. Your age and prior history with IVF will affect your transfer plan.
Once you and your doctor agree on a plan, we’ll perform the transfer. This outpatient procedure doesn’t require sedation - it’s quick and is often compared to the sensation of a pap smear. Any high-quality embryos left over can be frozen for use in future IVF cycles.
Embryo Vitrification
Any high-quality embryos that are left after an implantation attempt can be frozen by vitrification to be used in a future embryo transfer. Vitrification is a special way to freeze your eggs and embryos that avoids trauma to the cells. Water is removed from the eggs or embryos and replaced with an “antifreeze.” Then the egg is quickly brought to a very cold temperature. By removing the water and freezing it quickly, your eggs or embryos are safe from damaging ice crystal formation.
Real Stories, Real Success: Our Patients Speak
We can't thank you all enough for making our IVF journey such a positive experience. Your team's expertise and warmth meant the world to us. You made our dreams come true, and we're forever thankful.
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THEY ARE AMAZING!!! I absolutely love this clinic and everyone who works here! Being a lesbian couple, we were nervous trying to find a fertility clinic for us.. they made us feel so comfortable right away! They are so caring and sweet! I definitely recommend this place!! && Dr. Z is the man!! Nicest doctor I have ever met! I would give them a 100 stars if I could!
Thanks to Dr. Dudley, we achieved a successful pregnancy, a dream that once seemed unattainable. His expertise and empathy made him not just a doctor but a beacon of hope in our most challenging times. We are profoundly grateful to Dr. Dudley and highly recommend him to any couple facing fertility issues!
We've worked with RGI twice now, and have had an excellent experience both times. Dr. Maseelall and her team have been amazing to work with. This time around, we were introduced to the "navigators" who essentially act as a liaison between us and the doctors, which was a change from the last time we were there. We found having access to a dedicated resource - even by text message - was a huge plus.
I highly recommend Dr. Dudley! He is one of the only doctors who explained things clearly, realistically, and positively. His bedside manner is outstanding. A defining moment (without disclosing my medical history) was when I explained something to him and he responded with "I believe in a women's intuition." He believed me, ran a quick test, and pivoted the plan. I can't recommend him enough.
My husband I went to Dominion after struggling with some fertility issues and multiple miscarriages. We couldn't have made a better choice! You can tell that the staff really care about their patients and make you feel at ease. At the beginning of the process, we were feeling a bit overwhelmed, but the doctors were understanding and great at explaining each step to us along the way. We now have a healthy baby boy and we could not be more happy and grateful to Dominion Fertility!!
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Advances in infertility treatments have helped thousands of people become parents, but insurance coverage requirements vary by state and insurance plan. Check with your insurance provider to understand the fertility treatment benefits available to you.
At Pinnacle Fertility our Financial Counselors can help make your treatment even more affordable. They’ll help you navigate your insurance options, how to use your FSA/HSA benefits, apply for financing, and find grants. We also partner with financing providers to offer fertility financing.
We partner with various financing providers to offer fertility financing options. Learn more here
We recommend that anyone interested in financing options for their treatment to apply and see if they get approved. Our financing provider partners will make every effort to customize a loan within the framework of your current financial status.
The credit requirements for financing fertility treatment can vary depending on the lending institution and the specific financing program. Some lenders offer fertility treatment financing with relatively lenient credit requirements, while others may require a higher credit score and a strong credit history. It's advisable to research different financing options, compare their credit requirements, and choose one that aligns with your financial situation and credit profile.
During IVF treatment, some common side effects may include mild discomfort, bloating, and mood swings due to hormonal medications. Ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) is a rare, potential side effect that can cause more severe symptoms like abdominal pain and swelling. It's important to discuss any concerns or side effects with your provider during the treatment process.
Everyone’s IVF experience is different. While some people might achieve a successful pregnancy after one cycle, others might require several.
An IVF treatment cycle typically lasts about 4-6 weeks. It involves stages such as ovarian stimulation, egg retrieval, embryo transfer, and pregnancy testing. However, the duration can vary based on individual circumstances and any specific treatments or evaluations required before starting IVF.
In general IVF is not a painful procedure. Your doctor will prescribe injections that you’ll be required to self-administer which could be somewhat painful. Both the egg retrieval and embryo transfer procedures are not typically considered to be painful procedures, and are often compared to the feeling of a pap smear.
Yes, there are some risks associated with IVF, although they are generally low. Potential risks include ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS), multiple pregnancies, ectopic pregnancies, and the possibility of failed cycles. It's essential to discuss these risks with a fertility specialist and make informed decisions based on your specific situation and medical history.
The success rate of In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) varies widely depending on factors like age, cause of infertility, and clinic-specific factors. On average, IVF success rates for women under 35 are around 40-50% per cycle, with decreasing success rates as women age. Connect with us to consult with a fertility specialist for personalized information and to understand that multiple cycles may be needed to achieve a successful pregnancy.
ICSI, or Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection, is a method in IVF where a sperm is directly injected into an egg to enhance fertilization chances. In contrast, traditional IVF involves combining eggs and sperm in a dish. It's important to note that not all eggs fertilize, and not all fertilized eggs become healthy embryos. Embryo development is closely monitored, and mature embryos may undergo genetic testing before being transferred to the woman's uterus.
While it might seem counterintuitive, to prepare your body for IVF you’ll take birth control pills. These help prepare your ovaries to better respond to stimulation medication and also help coordinate your cycle so treatment can be planned accordingly.
Next, you’ll begin hormone therapy, either taken as a pill or injectable medication. This medication encourages your ovaries to produce more mature eggs than they would naturally. The end goal is to get at least three mature and fully developed eggs.
Once you’ve produced enough mature eggs, you’ll receive a hormone injection that induces ovulation (releasing of the eggs). After about 36 hours, you’ll return to our office for the outpatient egg retrieval procedure.
The IVF process typically spans 4-6 weeks, involving ovarian stimulation, egg retrieval, fertilization, embryo transfer, and pregnancy testing. Success is not guaranteed, and multiple cycles may be needed. The timeline can vary based on individual circumstances and clinic protocols.
IVF and IUI are two different types of fertility treatments to achieve a pregnancy. IUI, or Intrauterine Insemination, is a process where sperm is placed directly inside a woman’s uterus to facilitate fertilization. IVF, or In Vitro Fertilization, is a process where eggs and sperm are combined outside of the uterus to create fertilized embryos. Following IVF, an embryo can be transferred to the womb to develop.