Embarking on the journey of IVF can be both thrilling and overwhelming. At Pacific Fertility, we understand the importance of keeping our prospective parents informed and supported throughout the process. Here’s a friendly guide to what you can expect regarding timing, results, egg retrieval, and embryo transfers, especially for those using an egg donor.
Consultations and Appointments
After your initial consultation with Dr. Anderson, you’ll decide on a plan tailored to your needs. This includes scheduling a blood test to check for genetic mutations, which is crucial when working with a donor. We’ll also arrange for the donor to undergo similar testing. If both you and the donor share genetic traits, we can move forward quickly. Additionally, we’ll determine the best approach for sperm donation, whether that involves fresh samples or pre-frozen ones. Our goal is to have everything prepared for you—blood work results and sperm samples included.
Donor Preparation
While you’re going through this process, your donor will also begin her preparations. Once we receive her psychological and genetic evaluations, we’ll arrange for a meet-and-greet. This is where we’ll conduct a comprehensive assessment of her ovarian health and collect blood samples to check her genetic carrier traits. It usually takes about two weeks to get results back, and we understand that waiting can be nerve-wracking. As soon as the lab results come in, our nurse coordinator will reach out to confirm that everything is set to proceed.
The Donor’s Menstrual Cycle
Next, we’ll time the hormone treatment to align with your donor’s menstrual cycle. Depending on the cycle’s timing, this could start within days or weeks after receiving lab results. We aim to have medications ready and provide the donor with clear instructions on how to begin the treatment. On the second day of her period, she’ll commence hormone injections. About nine days later, we’ll have the highly-anticipated egg retrieval.
The Egg Retrieval
After the eggs are harvested, we’ll promptly update you on how many were successfully collected. Our expert team will fertilize the eggs right away, and we’ll keep you posted on how many embryos develop normally. This is a pivotal moment, and we’ll provide you with another update around days five or six regarding embryo quality. Depending on whether you opt for PGS testing, we’ll either proceed with a transfer or freeze the embryos for a future transfer when your surrogate is ready.
Surrogate Preparation
Throughout this process, your surrogate or intended mother will also be preparing her uterus for transfer. The timing of her transfer will depend on her menstrual cycle, aligning perfectly with the embryo’s development stage. IVF involves many moving parts, and when we collaborate effectively, it leads to a successful journey towards pregnancy.
While some factors are beyond our control, the IVF timeline generally remains consistent. We are committed to facilitating your cycle’s progress and will keep you informed with timely updates. At Pacific Fertility, we pride ourselves on being responsive and supportive, so you always feel connected.
If you’re ready to take the next step in your IVF journey, don’t hesitate to reach out for a free consultation. And if you’re looking for more resources, check out this post on gifts for new moms, which could be a fun way to celebrate your journey. Also, consider visiting Make a Mom for their in-depth information on home insemination kits, or Healthline, where you’ll find a wealth of knowledge about pregnancy and home insemination.
In summary, IVF is a multi-step process that requires careful timing and coordination, but with the right team and preparation, it can lead to the family of your dreams.