You’ve taken an important step in your fertility journey by having your initial consultation and meeting your healthcare team. After discussing insurance and financial matters with your advisor, you’ve completed essential pre-testing, including bloodwork and semen analysis. With your physician’s recommended treatment plan in hand, you’re almost set to embark on this new chapter!
Before diving into your treatment cycle, there’s a bit more education to cover. Your nurse will provide you with a detailed written ‘protocol’ outlining your upcoming treatment. This document serves as a schedule and instructions, guiding you on when to reach out to the clinic, when to come in for baseline testing (which includes bloodwork and ultrasounds), and when to take any prescribed medications.
If you’re using injectable medications, it’s important to have completed an injection class. Your nurse will also remind you to review and return your signed consent forms.
When it’s time to start your treatment cycle, you’ll typically need to make two phone calls: one to the front desk to schedule your appointment for the first few days of your menstrual cycle and another to your primary nurse. This ensures that your care is streamlined when you arrive at the clinic.
What is Monitoring?
‘Monitoring’ refers to the morning routine of ultrasounds and blood tests to evaluate how your body is responding to treatment. Your physician reviews these results daily, and your nurse will relay any further instructions.
Whether you’re undergoing a natural cycle with timed intercourse, an IUI, IVF, or donor egg treatment, monitoring is a critical aspect of your plan.
- IUI: You may begin with oral or injectable medications to promote follicle growth, with monitoring used to determine ovulation timing for your IUI.
- IVF: During IVF, injectable medications are administered, and monitoring appointments track the number and size of follicles, allowing for medication adjustments as needed.
- Donor Egg: Donor patients receive similar injectable medications as IVF patients, while recipients are given medications to prepare the uterine lining for embryo placement.
Meet Your Monitoring Team
Your monitoring team is dedicated to ensuring a safe and efficient experience. It begins with the Patient Services Representative (PSR) who checks you in for your appointment.
Medical Assistants (MAs) will handle blood draws and guide you to the ultrasound area, where registered sonographers or physicians will conduct your ultrasound and provide immediate feedback. A nurse is generally available to answer any questions, clarify your next steps, or assist with prescriptions. If you have financial inquiries, a financial counselor is also on hand.
Baseline or Premed Testing
In the early days of your menstrual cycle (typically days 2, 3, or 4), a blood pregnancy test and an ultrasound are performed to confirm that you’re not pregnant, and to check that your estrogen levels are low and your uterine lining is thin. This baseline testing also assesses for any significant ovarian cysts and measures your resting antral follicle count (AFC). These parameters help determine the best time to initiate your treatment cycle.
Once your physician reviews the results, your nurse will call you, usually in the afternoon, to outline your medication protocol and schedule your first monitoring appointment.
Beginning Monitoring
Regardless of the treatment path you choose (except for donor recipients), monitoring will involve blood tests for estrogen levels and ultrasounds to track follicle and uterine lining growth.
- Monitoring Hormone Levels: Estradiol levels help gauge egg follicle growth, while LH levels indicate impending ovulation, which is vital for timing intercourse or IUI cycles.
- Monitoring Follicle Growth: Depending on your treatment, either time or medication may promote follicle growth. The clinical team looks for normal, progressive growth, with the ideal number of follicles varying by age and diagnosis.
- Uterine Lining Growth: Around days 6 or 8 of your cycle, your uterine lining will begin to thicken, a critical factor for embryo implantation. Slower development can occur, especially in those with irregular cycles, and may require adjustments in medication.
Physician Review and Cycle Instructions
Your monitoring results are logged into the system for review by your physician, who will make dosing decisions based on your progress. Expect a call with instructions between 4:00 and 6:00 pm, as multiple specialists frequently review each case to ensure comprehensive care.
Convenient Monitoring Locations
Our electronic medical records facilitate seamless coordination among your clinical team, regardless of where you decide to have your monitoring. Appointments can be scheduled at various locations starting at 7:00 am on weekdays, with select weekend availability. We understand that your time is valuable, and strive to make your monitoring experience as smooth as possible.
If you’re looking for more insights into home insemination, check out this blog post. For those interested in quality insemination kits, Make a Mom is a reliable resource. Additionally, Healthline offers excellent information on IUI and pregnancy.
In summary, morning monitoring is a vital part of your treatment journey, providing essential insights into your body’s response. By staying informed and connected with your care team, you can navigate this process with confidence.