5 Crucial Questions to Ask Yourself Before Considering IVF
IVF, or in vitro fertilisation, is the process of fertilising the egg and sperm in a lab before inserting the egg into the woman’s reproductive system. The majority of couples do not immediately jump at the idea of IVF, but it ends up being a solid option for many. Here we look at things you need to ask before IVF.
There are plenty of ART (assisted reproductive technology) options out there to help you start a family and there’s no issue looking into those options.
If you and your partner are considering IVF, then you should start by asking yourself these five questions before IVF.
Is IVF the best treatment for us?
While you and your partner most likely tried to conceive naturally at the start, the difficulty to conceive eventually brought you to start looking at alternative treatments.
IVF is just one of many alternative treatments and procedures, and other popular ones include artificial insemination, donor embryos, surrogacy, ICSI, and more.
Each of these procedures has its own set of treatment options, risks, and costs. Before IVF is considered one of the better options because of its success rate, but that does not mean it is 100% successful (none of them is) if you’re interested in comparing IVF costs to the other treatments.
Ensure that you and your partner discuss each possible option and conduct thorough research to determine if this is the best choice for your family.
What’s the best clinic?
Once you decide on IVF, it’s time to find a clinic. While all clinics set out with the same goal in mind, each clinic could be different based on treatment plans, personnel, and how well you get along with them.
Just as you were doing your research before IVF treatment, make sure you do your research on IVF clinics. Read online reviews, reach out to other couples, and even see if you can go and visit a clinic one day.
Meet with doctors and other members of the team and have them walk you through the process, even if you feel like you know it better than the back of your hand.
Are you and your partner adequately prepared?
Even though it may seem like all you have to do is wait for the doctors to perform the procedure, the truth is that there are several steps you can take to increase your chances of IVF success.
The big changes are with your diet and lifestyle. If you are your partner were already trying for a baby before, then you know that you should cut out smoking and any heavy drinking before IVF. You need to eat plenty of fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and lean meats.
Be sure you’re eating plenty of fruits and veggies with a high amount of folic acid. Folic acid helps prevent any birth defects, so load up on leafy greens like spinach and fruits like oranges and strawberries. If you’re already doing that, then great!
Substitute red meat with lean meats like turkey, chicken, or fish. Avoid deep-sea fish, which are high in mercury, and target fish high in omega-3 fatty acids. These will help build up egg strength and health, increasing your chances of success with IVF.
Are you and your partner aware of the costs?
When it comes to paying for IVF, some insurance plans cover the treatment, but the majority do not. That means you’ll be paying out of pocket, and payments can range from £1,500 to £4,500 per cycle.
Ensure you and your partner understand the costs before making a decision about IVF treatment. Look to see which ones offer payment plans or those that can be worked with in conjunction with part of your insurance. Knowing these finances before IVF is really important.
Are you ready to be patient?
Unlike Hollywood would have us believe, IVF is not a quick procedure. It often takes a few months of preparation, and even then, it won’t be a success.
While IVF has a relatively high success rate, 25-30%, depending on who you ask, it becomes less successful with age. The magical cut-off age is 35, before IVF chances drop.
Many couples tend to undergo treatment 2-3 times before they have success, so know that it will be just a bit longer of a road.
Have these tips helped you with what to ask before IVF? Let me know in the comments below.
