5 Essential Questions to Ask Before You Start IVF Treatment
By Kath / March 2, 2017 / No Comments / Tips
Millions of people are affected by infertility around the globe and every year there is an increase in the number of women looking into in vitro fertilisation (IVF) as a way to bear children and complete the little family that they have always dreamed of having.
The thing is that while it is relatively easy to think about getting IVF treatment – it is not that easy to actually put into practice and the process itself can be quite hard to understand. Due to its high success rates IVF is the most popular way for infertile women to fall pregnant, but understanding what it is before taking it on is essential.
These are the questions you should ask the clinic before you start IVF treatment:
What is IVF?
First things first, you need to understand what exactly it is that you are doing to your body. Simply put – IVF is a process whereby a woman’s eggs are collected from her uterus and fertilised outside of her body. They are then incubated for two to five days and then implanted back into the uterus and this allows for a much higher chance of the pregnancy taking.
Eggs and sperm can be from the parents themselves or through the route of donation. For more detailed information visit eggdonationfreinds.com.
How likely is it that I will fall pregnant?
IVF is much like natural pregnancy and there is a slight chance that you won’t fall pregnant during the procedure. The likelihood of pregnancy changes from individual to individual, and therefore you need to ask the doctor exactly what your chances of falling pregnant are. They have a wealth of data at their disposal and should be able to give you a good indication.
How much is it going to cost?
IVF is amazing, but it isn’t cheap and it’s important that you are aware of how much you need to budget for your treatment. This will vary from clinic to clinic and will also depend on what kind of medical aid or health care plan you have.
According to the NHS IVF introduction page: “If you’re not eligible for NHS treatment, or you decide to pay for IVF, you can have treatment at a private clinic. Costs vary, but one cycle of treatment may cost up to £5,000 or more.”
Get a detailed breakdown of costs for your procedure so that you know exactly what each cycle of treatment is going to cost you.
Who is my go-to-person?
Establishing who your doctor, nurse or other point of contact is at the clinic is essential. Knowing who you should reach out to for advice and information will help you be more relaxed with the procedure and gives you more peace of mind.
Do I get early pregnancy care?
The early stages of pregnancy are always rather nerve-wracking and there is a whole bunch of tests and scans that need to be done. You should find out how much care the clinic is willing to give you and what assistance they will provide for the first three or so months of tests and scans.