IVF Consult tomorrow! Questions...

poppies717 · October 2013

I am so excited. I am sad that DH can't go, but he's starting his new job tomorrow (and changing our insurance to one that covers IVF)! By the end of tomorrow, we hope we'll know if we have to pay for a round of IVF OOP or if the coverage will begin immediately.

These are the questions I'm planning on asking to doctor at our consult tomorrow. Anything I should add/remove?

-->DH's SA results have shown he is borderline normal (decent count at 31.7 million, 50% motility, 4% morphology - he hits all the minimums for motility and morph). My HSG came back normal. Given my history of weird periods (especially the 12 days of bleeding I just had), should we redo the FSH and TSH (family history of thyroid stuff)?

-->What options can you offer us regarding collecting sperm? (DH has had severe mental blocks and couldn't produce samples)

-->What type of protocol would you use for our IVF cycle?

-->What other testing will you order for us, and when? When can we get started on this thing?

-->Embryos - how many do you usually transfer in a case like ours?

It's Sunday before 9 and I haven't had my coffee. I am sure I will think of more, but I know that this is a path too many have had to walk before. Anything you can add/remove to my list is greatly appreciated! Enjoy this gif.

Panderp · October 2013

Usually, IVF clinics/offices will do repeat panels of bloodwork to know where you are right now.

You may want to look up your office's success rates on the SART website.

Ask about how they determine what embryos can and cant be frozen and cost for freezing (this is almost always paid OOP, insurance rarely covers this). Ask initial freezing fee and then yearly maintenance/storage.

Do they do all the bloodwork there or do they use satellite labs?

Ask how much ICSI is and how long they'd wait with IVF to determine if they need to do it (our numbers were very similar to yours and we did 1/2 the embryos with IVF and the other half with ICSI).

Ask if you get eggs to fert. with both methods, will they identify to you which embryo/s are being placed back?

Ask how much rest they recommend post ER and post ET

seahorse01 · October 2013

Yes, what she said. Good luck!!! I'm always curious to see if clinics batch patients or if they are on individual schedules. Maybe ask about early or late appointments if you will need them for your job.

islandmonkey8 · October 2013

No advice, but lots of luck tomorrow!

Apollo11235 · October 2013

GL tomorrow! I hope they're able to get you started ASAP

poppies717 · October 2013

@panderp - Thank you! The place we are going to has a 37% success rate in pregnancies resulting in live births (ETA according to SART). It's about 5% higher than the other place we were going to. This new place also offers ICSI as part of the package, but I wonder if we'll need it. Something to ask!

spongebobsquarepanties · October 2013

Good luck, poppies! I hope your consult goes well.

CincodeMayoLove · October 2013

Panda is wise. Good luck!!!

GoodWolf · October 2013

Good luck poppies!

LuckyAngel07 · October 2013

Lots of luck to you! I hope the appt goes well tomorrow and you get all your ducks in a row to get this thing under way!

sparklingdiamond · October 2013

I have no advice to offer, but wanted to say good luck tomorrow!

ILoveRedVino · October 2013

I'd ask if you can convert to ICSI at the last minute. We didn't have any reason to believe that we would need it, but wanted to keep the option open if fert was a problem.

Find out they have payment packages. For example, we paid in full for our fresh cycle, and they through in an FET cycle for free if the fresh didn't result in a live baby. In addition, we have one year of storage for our frozen embryos. Many clinics offer "deals" or have third party vendors that control it for you. It's nice.

Ask about assisted hatching, what quality they will freeze, and PGD. You may not need any, but atleast know what the options and parameters are.

LooneyLife · October 2013

I don't have anything to add as we never did an IVF consult, but it sounds like you've gotten some great advice.

Good luck!

spin25 · October 2013

ILoveRedVino said:

I'd ask if you can convert to ICSI at the last minute. We didn't have any reason to believe that we would need it, but wanted to keep the option open if fert was a problem. Find out they have payment packages. For example, we paid in full for our fresh cycle, and they through in an FET cycle for free if the fresh didn't result in a live baby. In addition, we have one year of storage for our frozen embryos. Many clinics offer "deals" or have third party vendors that control it for you. It's nice. Ask about assisted hatching, what quality they will freeze, and PGD. You may not need any, but atleast know what the options and parameters are.

s/o ICSI, assisted hatching, etc....our clinic had us sign something ahead of time to authorize both in the event it was necessary, even though there was no reason to believe it would be. There was someone on the board ( @cheezus maybe? I could be wrong) whose clinic didn't ask them to authorize ICSI ahead of time, so they just didn't do it and she wondered if they could have had more fertilize had they done it. In short, ask if you need to sign off on it just in case.

Uptowngirl2009 · October 2013

I have no advice but wanted to say good luck with your consult! I hope it goes well!

poppies717 · October 2013

I will put the ICSI stuff in my notebook for questions.

This place offers a deal where you do 2 IVF cycles, and if you are not pregnant, they will do a 3rd for free. They also have another deal where you can pay for 3 IVF cycles, and if they do not result in a live birth, you get a percentage of your money back.

poppies717 · October 2013

I'm not sure how these plans factor in if you have insurance that will cover IVF. DH thinks that if we have to wait for IVF coverage, we'd be able to get in one OOP cycle.