Aa
IVF
My husband and I are seriously considering IVF. I really don't know anything about the procedure...was just wondering if anyone could tell me about the process as well as cost.
Thank you guys so much. This was very informative. I guess I was unaware of all the medications/costs associated with this process. My insurance company is very firm in that they will not cover anything for infertility. In fact, I even have a difficult time trying to get them to cover my annuals! Perhaps it is time to shop around for a more cooperative insurance company!
The cost of ivf depends greatly on your protocol that your RE prescribes since for us the meds were the most expensive part. I was taking Gonal-F which is probably most expensive FSH drug. If you will be taking follistim, your meds will cost significantly less.
Heres the breakdown of my costs (I keep all paperwork for tax exemption):
Meds: $4500 (ouch!!)
Surgical fees:
retrieval: $1500
Transfer: $685
IVF lab charges: $3740 (this is w/o ICSI). With icsi you will be paying much more
Hospital charges:
retrieval: $1575
transfer: $596
Anesthesia for retrieval: $400
My insurance paid for u/s visits and blood work.
I hope this helps!! Like I said, ivf costs vary quite a bit across clinics and protocols.
Your insurance may cover some costs or may cover nothing at all. You should check that before you start the process.
Good luck to you!
Helen
Heres the breakdown of my costs (I keep all paperwork for tax exemption):
Meds: $4500 (ouch!!)
Surgical fees:
retrieval: $1500
Transfer: $685
IVF lab charges: $3740 (this is w/o ICSI). With icsi you will be paying much more
Hospital charges:
retrieval: $1575
transfer: $596
Anesthesia for retrieval: $400
My insurance paid for u/s visits and blood work.
I hope this helps!! Like I said, ivf costs vary quite a bit across clinics and protocols.
Your insurance may cover some costs or may cover nothing at all. You should check that before you start the process.
Good luck to you!
Helen
there are so many protocols and prices
full blown IVF out of your own pocket can be 10 = 20 thousand without insurance
I adoped embryos and it was less than 3 grandd for everything
lilli - gave you great info about the process
I am 26weeks 6 days with twins
full blown IVF out of your own pocket can be 10 = 20 thousand without insurance
I adoped embryos and it was less than 3 grandd for everything
lilli - gave you great info about the process
I am 26weeks 6 days with twins
Hi Babyseeker!
My husband and I went to an IVF Clinic required by his HMO (in Illinois, HMOs are required to pay for 4 attempts--but we had to pay c for shipment of medications and embryo freezing.)
By the time we went to this clinic, we had already done all diagnostic tests (semen analysis, ultrasounds, blood tests) via my gyne and husband's primary care doc.
We had a conslutation with our IVF doc. He told us about the process, the odds of success, etc. When we agreed to do the May cycle, we had another consult with an IVF nurse who gave us our medication info (and we signed lots of forms.)
Meds were shipped to our house. Lots of syringes and medications. It was scary! But, our clinic has online films with the proper way to administer the shots (we watched these films every time we did the shots.) I had to do 4 shots a day for 2 weeks. Believe me, you do get used to it.
Every other day, I had to go to the clinic for blood draw and ultrasound to monitor my follicle growth (they are looking for multiple follicles for multiple eggs--hopefully mature eggs.)
After a blood draw and ultrasound, I'd get a call from the clinic later in the day to tell me change dosages or keep it as is.
When they determine that my follicles were ready, I was told to report to the hospital for retrieval. You must had a ride home after this procedure. They put me in "twilight" anesthesia--which means I would not remember the procedure, but I could take instruction (this was weird for me because my husband said that I climbed out of the wheelchair and into bed and I don't remember a thing!)
On the day of retrieval, your partner provides either a fresh semen sample or frozen--if that is what you arrange with the clinic. Once the sample is obtained by the lab, they start doing their thing.
A day or two later, they called to tell us how many eggs were obtained, how many were mature, how many fertilized properly.
Then, the lab decides whether to do a 3-day or a 5-day transfer of the embryos that fertlizied successfully (the lab wants to monitor and see how they're growing.)
The last time we did this, it was a 5-day transfer. We went back to the hospital. They asked that I bring a bottle of water because my bladder had to be full for the procedure. They brought us in the back so the lab person could recommend how many to transfer and to tell us what grade they are (AA, etc). The grades depend on how they've grown over the last few days.
Then, via ultrasound, they placed the fertilitzed eggs. Then, they sent me home for 48 hours of "couch potato." After the 48 hours, they asked that I not exercise, do any heavy lifting, or have sex until the pregnancy test (the infamous 2 Week Wait.)
The clinic told us the exact day when we were supposed to make the appointment for the pregnancy test (it's a blood draw.)
We did our first IVF in May and got a negative pregnancy test (after transferring 2 embryos). We are currently on our 2nd attempt and my next pregnancy test is September 10 (after transferring 3).
Sorry this is so long. Hope this helps.
My husband and I went to an IVF Clinic required by his HMO (in Illinois, HMOs are required to pay for 4 attempts--but we had to pay c for shipment of medications and embryo freezing.)
By the time we went to this clinic, we had already done all diagnostic tests (semen analysis, ultrasounds, blood tests) via my gyne and husband's primary care doc.
We had a conslutation with our IVF doc. He told us about the process, the odds of success, etc. When we agreed to do the May cycle, we had another consult with an IVF nurse who gave us our medication info (and we signed lots of forms.)
Meds were shipped to our house. Lots of syringes and medications. It was scary! But, our clinic has online films with the proper way to administer the shots (we watched these films every time we did the shots.) I had to do 4 shots a day for 2 weeks. Believe me, you do get used to it.
Every other day, I had to go to the clinic for blood draw and ultrasound to monitor my follicle growth (they are looking for multiple follicles for multiple eggs--hopefully mature eggs.)
After a blood draw and ultrasound, I'd get a call from the clinic later in the day to tell me change dosages or keep it as is.
When they determine that my follicles were ready, I was told to report to the hospital for retrieval. You must had a ride home after this procedure. They put me in "twilight" anesthesia--which means I would not remember the procedure, but I could take instruction (this was weird for me because my husband said that I climbed out of the wheelchair and into bed and I don't remember a thing!)
On the day of retrieval, your partner provides either a fresh semen sample or frozen--if that is what you arrange with the clinic. Once the sample is obtained by the lab, they start doing their thing.
A day or two later, they called to tell us how many eggs were obtained, how many were mature, how many fertilized properly.
Then, the lab decides whether to do a 3-day or a 5-day transfer of the embryos that fertlizied successfully (the lab wants to monitor and see how they're growing.)
The last time we did this, it was a 5-day transfer. We went back to the hospital. They asked that I bring a bottle of water because my bladder had to be full for the procedure. They brought us in the back so the lab person could recommend how many to transfer and to tell us what grade they are (AA, etc). The grades depend on how they've grown over the last few days.
Then, via ultrasound, they placed the fertilitzed eggs. Then, they sent me home for 48 hours of "couch potato." After the 48 hours, they asked that I not exercise, do any heavy lifting, or have sex until the pregnancy test (the infamous 2 Week Wait.)
The clinic told us the exact day when we were supposed to make the appointment for the pregnancy test (it's a blood draw.)
We did our first IVF in May and got a negative pregnancy test (after transferring 2 embryos). We are currently on our 2nd attempt and my next pregnancy test is September 10 (after transferring 3).
Sorry this is so long. Hope this helps.
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