GILFRIENDS’ GUIDE TO IVF
🌷There’s a lot of information about IVF. I remember having SO many questions. I also remember being shocked by the misinformation, specifically around cost. Below are the questions I had, and my answers based on my two rounds of IVF (note, this is not meant to be medical advice, just information I would give a girlfriend based on my experience).🌷
1. How much does IVF really cost? $26k-$35k per round.
We were quoted an “IVF estimate” of $18k. This number did not consider genetic testing for me and Phil, genetic testing of our embryos, the medication, nor transfer fees. It also did not include additional appointments or conversations with the doctor or additional testing. The first-round cost us around $32k (not including a gestational carrier transfer fee). After the first round, Phil and I did not have to get genetically tested again, so it was around $26k. On top of that, storage fees for the embryos are $1250 a year.🌷
2. How long does the IVF process take? 5-6 months for the first round; 1-2 months for subsequent rounds.
Fertility clinics have waitlists. Ours was 2 months out for a consultation. After the consultation, you’ll undergo bloodwork and tests (so will your partner). Then, you and the doctors track your cycle for a month or more. After the doctors understand your cycle and bloodwork, they plan a medical protocol for your egg stimulation medications. You’ll likely start stimming 2-3 months after your initial consultation, and an egg retrieval will be roughly 2 weeks after you start the stimming meds. My egg retrieval was about 3 months after our initial consultation. After the first round, you likely don’t need to do testing again, so the timeline is shortened, and you can start stimming when the doctor gives you the go-ahead.🌷
3. What is the difference between an egg, embryo, and blastocyst? Egg + Sperm = Embryo; Embryos grow into blastocysts
Eggs are “retrieved” from the female. The stimulation medications (primarily, the shots) make the eggs grow and mature at a faster pace so the doctor can [hopefully] retrieve multiple during 1 cycle. An embryo is created when a mature egg is fertilized by a sperm. A blastocyst is what an embryo becomes after it has been dividing and growing for roughly 5 days (and has roughly 100 cells). Note: not all eggs retrieved are mature; not all mature eggs fertilize and become embryos; not all embryos make it to blastocysts; and not all blastocysts are viable or genetically normal.🌷
4. What is a good number of eggs to get in one cycle? 15 or more is a good starting number.
If you are not creating embryos, but rather freezing your eggs, I have heard you should shoot to freeze 25-35 eggs if you are in your 30s. If you are in your 20s, your eggs are a better quality, and you likely don’t need as many. If you are creating embryos, see the next question.🌷
5. What is a good number of genetically normal embryos to get each cycle? 1 or more.
There is a natural attrition (decline) after the egg retrieval, and the older you are the faster the numbers decline. Of all the eggs retrieved, about 80% will be mature. Of the mature eggs, about 80% will fertilize (and become embryos). Only 30-50% of the embryos will make it to the blastocyst phase. Roughly 40% of the blastocysts will be genetically normal (this is highly dependent on age; this % reduces to 25% at about age 42). For example, if 15 eggs are retrieved, you can expect 12 to be mature, 10 to fertilize, 3-5 to make it to the blastocyst phase, and 1-2 to be genetically normal blastocysts.🌷
6. Are the side effects terrible? Weight gain? Pain? Mine were not. The emotional toll was the hardest part (wondering if this was going to work.) The constipation wasn’t so fun either.
Giving yourself multiple shots a day can be intense. I gained a couple pounds. The physical limitations were tough (not being able to run or get my heartrate up.) I missed caffeine. I was a little crampy as I got closer to my retrievals. All in all, though, IVF was not nearly as scary as some of the horror stories I had heard. Put it this way, if money was not a consideration, and I could bank a bunch more healthy embryos, I would not hesitate to do another round.🌷
7. How many shots can I expect to give myself for 1 round of IVF? Plan on about 35-45 shots per cycle.🌷
8. What is the time commitment like for IVF? The consultation, bloodwork, and cycle-tracking early in the first stage are not overly time consuming. The real time commitment comes for the 2+ weeks while you are stimming, as you go in every day or every other day for ultrasounds and bloodwork. 🌷
9. How do people afford this (without insurance)? People get second jobs, stop any non-necessary life expense, and even take out second mortgages on their homes. It’s expensive. For a lot of people, IVF is not a reasonable option (understandably).🌷
10. How painful is the egg retrieval and recovery? Not very. I was knocked out for my surgery, was sleepy the rest of the day, and went to work the following.🌷
