IVF schedule

IVF Financials:
My GHI (City of New York) covers 80% of the cost. I'm allowed 3 IVFs. This is my first. My out of pocket cost is about $2000. The medication cost of Lupron, Gonal-F and Menopur will probably be around $200-400. The birth control pills cost $5. Now, I have dual coverage from my husband's healthcare. I'm also allowed 3 IVFs under his healthcare, covered by 80% of the cost. So all together I can do 6 IVFs, which is alot. But to lessen our out-of-pocket cost, we can give up an IVF cycle of my husband's coverage to cover the $2000 we will have to pay.

We also elected to freeze our embryos which is not covered but worth it. If I freeze my embryos (if I have any good viable ones to freeze), I don't not have to go through all these shots again. I just have to defrost the embryos and have them inseminated. It's also good, if I'm thinking about having additional children, later on down the road. Oh, GHI allows 3 IVFs and 3 frozen embryo transfers. To freeze my embryos, it will cost around $1200 and $600 for every year afterwards.

Here's is my IVF schedule, which spans 2 months:

Preparation Cycle for IVF

This is a preparation month to prepare my body. During this month, I will take birth control pills to regulate my period. Then around the 3rd week of my period, I take Lupron. It suppresses the pituitary and significantly reduces estrogen levels to prevent ovulation. It prevents the eggs from releasing because when they go retrieve the eggs, they want the eggs to be there. I will take the Lupron for a month. Then stop the birth control around day 22. In about 3-4 days my period should come again.

This is the crazy month now!

crazy month

This month is like an IUI cycle. After my 2nd period starts, I have to schedule for a baseline blood withdraw and sonogram. I will keep on going for blood withdraw and sonogram for 2-3 weeks, every other day. On my 2nd day of your cycle, along with the lupron stomach shot in the morning, I have to give myself a shot of a mixture of Gonal F & Menopur at night. Around the 3rd week, it will be time for my egg retrieval. I have to give myself a trigger shot and 36 hours later, I will be taking anesthesia and will be under. My husband will also need to give the sperm on the same day and will have to drive me home.

During 5 days, they will combine egg and sperm. Then watch the embryo grow. They will pick the best graded embryos to be inseminated, which will be the end of 5 days. After insemination, I will be given progesterone suppository to help with implanation. Suppository is great as oppose to the 6 inch needles, they previously used. I think I have to  give myself the suppository for awhile. I will probably be hormonal and my body will feel some pains and cramping during this month. But  it's to be expected. I am hopeful!