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what to ask at first IVF consultation???
HI all,
I am facing my first appointment with the fertility specialist next week to discuss IVF. Any advice as to what exactly we should ask at this meeting? What are the details we should iron out? Help! I know that when we go in there I will go into my daze state and it is afterwards I will kick myself about the questions I did not ask. DH is great at taking in information but he leaves the questions to me as it is after all my body.... But I dont know what to ask! I have read up on the theory but with the IUI I found that nothing theoretical prepares you for the actual event. I should also say that the whole idea of ivf scares me silly. If it wasnt in pursuit of something so amazing my courage would fail me completely. So please, any tips and advice?????
I am facing my first appointment with the fertility specialist next week to discuss IVF. Any advice as to what exactly we should ask at this meeting? What are the details we should iron out? Help! I know that when we go in there I will go into my daze state and it is afterwards I will kick myself about the questions I did not ask. DH is great at taking in information but he leaves the questions to me as it is after all my body.... But I dont know what to ask! I have read up on the theory but with the IUI I found that nothing theoretical prepares you for the actual event. I should also say that the whole idea of ivf scares me silly. If it wasnt in pursuit of something so amazing my courage would fail me completely. So please, any tips and advice?????
There is a great book called "The Baby Solution, Your Essential Resource for Overcoming Infertiltiy" that has a great chapter on choosing a clinic. It is by Daniel Kenigsberg. Try to get a copy! Good luck and SSBD!
hi,
yes, there are different ivf regimens. there is agonist-antagost protocol, microflare lupron (aka short protocol), and lupron protocol. ask your RE which of the regimens would he recommend for you. i was always on the microflare lupron and i found out it is the fast of the fast tracks... the best of the best and now i'm concerned since it didn't work if it is the end of the rope for me. will be meeting with my re this monday armed with more info... anyway, enough about me.
within all 3 protocols... there are different medication doses. you should ask him about the doses, whether you are on the highest or if they are starting you on the lowest. i'm assuming since you haven't done ivf before and they don't know how your ovaries will respond to these meds, they might put you on the average (what they call 'their go to protocol' - and this you should find out) to see how your ovaries will respond and then go up or down from there on your next ivf. hopefully you wouldn't need to have another cycle and you'll get a BFP from the first :).
yes, this is a lot to take and overwhelming... hang in there it'll all be worth it. let me know what your doctor says.
good luck :)
ps. i would also ask though a little premature (since this wouldn't happen until later but it gives you an idea how your doctors thinks and work). ask him how many embryos will they transfer. some clinics will only do no more than one. some are more flexible and will ask you 1 to 3 embryos. my clinic initially was only pushing for one. i insisted on more and the most they will do is 3. after insisting... i got 3. of course, it didn't work. i'm sometimes paranoid. i know everyone says you have to trust your re, but if i get resistance at first, it makes wonder if my preference is really followed since i do not see what goes on on the other end during the procedure. blah..blahh.. blahh... lol.
GOOD luck!
yes, there are different ivf regimens. there is agonist-antagost protocol, microflare lupron (aka short protocol), and lupron protocol. ask your RE which of the regimens would he recommend for you. i was always on the microflare lupron and i found out it is the fast of the fast tracks... the best of the best and now i'm concerned since it didn't work if it is the end of the rope for me. will be meeting with my re this monday armed with more info... anyway, enough about me.
within all 3 protocols... there are different medication doses. you should ask him about the doses, whether you are on the highest or if they are starting you on the lowest. i'm assuming since you haven't done ivf before and they don't know how your ovaries will respond to these meds, they might put you on the average (what they call 'their go to protocol' - and this you should find out) to see how your ovaries will respond and then go up or down from there on your next ivf. hopefully you wouldn't need to have another cycle and you'll get a BFP from the first :).
yes, this is a lot to take and overwhelming... hang in there it'll all be worth it. let me know what your doctor says.
good luck :)
ps. i would also ask though a little premature (since this wouldn't happen until later but it gives you an idea how your doctors thinks and work). ask him how many embryos will they transfer. some clinics will only do no more than one. some are more flexible and will ask you 1 to 3 embryos. my clinic initially was only pushing for one. i insisted on more and the most they will do is 3. after insisting... i got 3. of course, it didn't work. i'm sometimes paranoid. i know everyone says you have to trust your re, but if i get resistance at first, it makes wonder if my preference is really followed since i do not see what goes on on the other end during the procedure. blah..blahh.. blahh... lol.
GOOD luck!
Thanks! Lot to think of there. We have done the tests for this clinic and the previous clinic. Nothing to report. If one more nurse tells me that I've much better looking ovaries than you'd expect from a woman of my age, I swear I'll jump up from the couch, half naked and all, and punch her! (end of rant) Our monday meeting is with the RE himself. I am 43 and think that I've wasted over a year between clomid and the IUI round ( which does not appear to have worked as instead of pregnacy symptoms I have pre AF sympotoms) This new clinic was recommended quite highly, but I expect its like all treatments and procedures, what works for one person may not for another, its a question of luck. My insurance covers IUI, not IVF. So we have decided, if the RE thinks is suitable, to try two to three IVFs max. The idea of it scares me ridgid. Are there different types of IVF medication regimes or are they all based on the same types and doses of meds? I get confused with all the brand names.
i started my ivf at 38, i'm now 40 and going for my 5th ivf cycle. 2nd cycle resulted in a miscarriage. that being said, from my experience, i didn't know that all ivfs are not created equal and this is more important for our age group since getting us pregnant with out own egg is more of a challenge than not. so are some things to ask...
1) what is their rate of pregnancy, for your age group with ivf using your own egg (in case you don't know... some docs encourages women 40+ to consider egg donor) some clinics if have higher rate than others in our age group. colorado is one.
2) what method would they recommend for your case (clomid, iui, ivf) and ask why that method... my doc wanted me to do 3 cycles of clomid (i have a feeling b/c my insurance mandates it.. it is cheaper than ivf). i refused and asked to be placed on the 'fast track' meaning ivf so i'm not wasting time. all women responds differently even under the same age group.
3) will you be allowed to keep trying or will they put a limit on how much you can do ivf or each method?
3) you will be asked to do a battery of tests to make sure you have no other reproductive issues... bld test (to ck your hormones), ultrasound (to ck the integrity of your uterus, ovaries, etc), and (with my doc) patients were psychologically evaluated to see if you know the emotional toll this can take and see if you are 'somewhat' prepared. i said 'somewhat' b/c you can never be prepared. it will test your courage and perseverance (and your relationship). in short, make sure your doc tells you what will you need before you start your actual treatment and how long this will take.
4) cost might be an issue for you. you can ask this too... the cost of each method is different.
5) who will do your treatment: is it just one doctor or do they have a team that covers for each other (find out how qualified they are).
6) though the clinic may be around for a long time, your doctor may be new to this procedure... ask how long has he/she been doing this and ask his success rate. a clinic's success rate is different from the doc's success rate. be prepared that he/she may be vague on this but at least you asked. :))
i hope this helps... if i think of more i'll post again.
GOOD luck! :)
1) what is their rate of pregnancy, for your age group with ivf using your own egg (in case you don't know... some docs encourages women 40+ to consider egg donor) some clinics if have higher rate than others in our age group. colorado is one.
2) what method would they recommend for your case (clomid, iui, ivf) and ask why that method... my doc wanted me to do 3 cycles of clomid (i have a feeling b/c my insurance mandates it.. it is cheaper than ivf). i refused and asked to be placed on the 'fast track' meaning ivf so i'm not wasting time. all women responds differently even under the same age group.
3) will you be allowed to keep trying or will they put a limit on how much you can do ivf or each method?
3) you will be asked to do a battery of tests to make sure you have no other reproductive issues... bld test (to ck your hormones), ultrasound (to ck the integrity of your uterus, ovaries, etc), and (with my doc) patients were psychologically evaluated to see if you know the emotional toll this can take and see if you are 'somewhat' prepared. i said 'somewhat' b/c you can never be prepared. it will test your courage and perseverance (and your relationship). in short, make sure your doc tells you what will you need before you start your actual treatment and how long this will take.
4) cost might be an issue for you. you can ask this too... the cost of each method is different.
5) who will do your treatment: is it just one doctor or do they have a team that covers for each other (find out how qualified they are).
6) though the clinic may be around for a long time, your doctor may be new to this procedure... ask how long has he/she been doing this and ask his success rate. a clinic's success rate is different from the doc's success rate. be prepared that he/she may be vague on this but at least you asked. :))
i hope this helps... if i think of more i'll post again.
GOOD luck! :)
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