Tips on how to prepare for IVF

IVF treatment is definitely a stressful time. It can be intense. With every IVF cycle, you invest a lot of your precious time, money and psychological capital. That is why it is beneficial for you to be prepared as much as you can to help your chances to get pregnant and have a healthy baby. To help you do that our expert in this webinar is Jennifer “Jay” Palumbo, a freelance writer, infertility and women’s rights advocate. Jennifer gives her perspective on the above topic from the point of view of a patient who had struggled with infertility for years and was finally successful. Watch to know what she did differently during her last IVF cycle. We are here to take you by the hand and help you ease the stress, be prepared physically and mentally and give you tips and hints so your IVF treatment goes as smoothly as possible. It is important for you to know what to expect, what questions to ask and how to speak with your doctor. If you haven’t considered IVF yet, but you are struggling to get pregnant naturally or you have had multiple miscarriages after natural conception, this webinar is also for you – find out whether you should visit a fertility specialist and how to approach it. Remember that every infertility case is different and some women may need several IVF attempts to get pregnant and some need only one. Infertility can be unpredictable but it is extremely important to be prepared both mentally and physically. This webinar aims to allow Jennifer to share her story with you, give you emotional support, give you a better understanding about what’s ahead of you and empower you to take steps that are right for you and your partner not for the clinic. We know how strong the TTC community is – we are truly stronger if we share views, opinion, advice, and support one another along the way. Remember: you are not alone. Wishing you all lots of Baby Dust! Share this webinar with a Friend who might want to watch it.

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The IVF journey is different for each patient

The IVF journey is different for each patient; it’s long and full of difficult choices. However, sharing experiences and hearing what others went through on the same path makes it easier. To that end, we’ve invited Jennifer Palumbo, a freelance author, infertility and women’s rights advocate, to share her experience on her own journey with IVF, as well as tell us the common themes and concerns she encountered during her time working with IVF patients from all over the world. Jennifer’s journey began with a diagnosis of unexplained infertility:

After three years of unsuccessfully trying to conceive, she went on to try six Clomid cycles, three IUI inseminations, and four IVF treatments, of which only the final one was successful. It’s important to know that all of this happened before the advent of PGT-A (or as it used to be known, PGS).

Following her journey, she became an powerful infertility advocate, talking about her experiences to help other prospective parents who were going through the same difficulties she did. To get us all up to speed, infertility is a disease or condition of the reproductive system. Jennifer points out – and it can’t be stressed more – it’s a medical issue, not a personal fault. Understanding that basic point helps afflicted patients cope better. It affects one out of every eight couples in the United States. 11.9%, or 7.4 million women received services intended to help with infertility in their lifetime, according to the Centre for Disease Control.

A third of all infertility issues is attributed to the male partner

A third of all infertility issues is attributed to the female partner, a third to the male partner, and the last third is attributed to a combination of issues with both partners or is left unexplained. Historically, however, medical science tends to assume the problem originates with the female partner. For this reason Jennifer recommends that both partners get tested. Approximately 85-90% of infertility cases in the US are successfully treated with drug therapy or surgical procedures. Only a small minority, less than 3% actually need advanced reproductive technologies like IVF. Jennifer reiterates:

Get yourself and your partner tested if you’re having problems conceiving. Chances are your issue originates within a minor defect or hormonal imbalance which can be corrected without the need for a full blown IVF cycle.

According to Jennifer, a lot of patients only see their gynaecologist for assistance with their infertility issue. While they can help with the initial testing (AMH/FSH), a reproductive endocrinologist should be consulted if you’ve had two or more miscarriages, or if you’re over the age of 35, or haven’t been able to conceive for more than a year. The first course of action recommended by gynaecologists is a cycle of Clomid. It’s considered to be the first line of defence against reproductive issues, however, most people aren’t aware that there are limits and recommendations for treatment; depending on your age and/or diagnosis, no more than three to six cycles should be performed. In fact, over a prolonged period of treatment (around six months) it can actually have an adverse effect and exacerbate the original issue, making it even harder to conceive. Despite this, a lot of doctors keep their patients on Clomid longer than is necessary before moving on to other treatments. A common issue experienced by women are recurrent miscarriages. It’s recommended to see a reproductive endocrinologist if you’ve experienced more than two miscarriages – they could be caused by autoimmune or endocrine issues, or uterine or chromosomal anomalies. Don’t accept the excuse that it’s “just bad luck”. Jennifer also advises prospective parents not to stick to just one doctor. Getting a second opinion is always a smart choice, especially if you’ve been seeing the same doctor for a long while – a fresh pair of eyes can sometimes spot something the first doctor missed, or suggest an alternative method of treatment. If you decide to see an infertility clinic, be aware that many of them have cut off ages for treatment. Some clinics will not see you if you’re over the age of 42 and want to be treated using your own eggs. Chances for success using that method aren’t the highest and the clinics don’t want to risk their success rates. Because of practices like this, remember to not live or die by SART success rates when choosing a clinic. Additionally, always ask about “shared risk” and “cash back” IVF multi-cycle programmes. Some clinics will not accept you if they know they’re going to have to give money back to you (in case your treatment proves difficult, or if qualifying testing reveals issues which may prevent you from receiving a successful IVF treatment). Ask a lot of questions, know what you’re getting into. Another inside tip: don’t hold up your treatment just to see a particular doctor. In places where there’s a lot of people on staff, or in university based practices you do end up meeting most of their doctors anyway. According to the Journal of the American Medical Association, the odds of you having a baby on your first IVF attempt are 29.5%. These odds stay steady through your fourth attempt, but it jumps up to 65% by the sixth. Jennifer believes it’s important to know this fact before your first attempt, as the knowledge can be comforting in case it doesn’t work on the first go. Some people assume IVF is like this magic bullet that just works on the first attempt. Not knowing the reality and the odds can cause additional stress and mental strain in case the first cycle doesn’t work.

Your partner is your main source of support, but constant worrying about fertility is just going to cause strain. Assign a fertility-free period – a night every other day, where you do literally anything BUT talk about fertility. Use a swear jar if you have to. This will keep your spirits up and your mental state more peaceful. Force yourself to have a period of time during which you simply don’t think about your treatment and have some fun. Infertility affects all aspects of your life – from the relationships with your friends and family, through mental and physical health, to your career.

The big thing about infertility and other similar diagnoses is that they tend to occupy all of our attention, thus intruding on all of those aspects of our lives. There are two things to remember here: first of all, infertility doesn’t define one’s self or one’s worth – it’s simply a medical issue that can affect everyone and that can be treated with modern medicine. The second thing is that stress caused by infertility tends to exaggerate our negative emotions regarding certain aspects of life. In order to fight that, remind yourself that there are definitely other areas where you keep succeeding. Stress related to infertility can also cause you to view everything in your life through its prism; it makes it seem like your whole life is defined by this one issue. Jennifer recommends doing whatever it takes to keep you safe – do not isolate yourself from your friends and family and spend time with other people, doing things that give you happiness and peace of mind. Additionally, joining a support group – offline or online – can be a massive help. Being able to talk about your experience with other women who are going through, or have gone through the same process is incredibly therapeutic; they are also an invaluable source of information and tried and true methods for keeping calm and carrying on through stressful times. Fertility Lifelines offers a list of support groups. Check them out. Knowing your options when dealing with infertility issues is always a good idea. Just understanding that modern medicine offers you a literal arsenal of choices and approaches on how to tackle the problem is empowering – because it makes you understand that you’re not powerless. Understanding that you have the information, resources, and tools needed to make decisions regarding the issue give you the confidence necessary to maintain a positive outlook on things. Talk to your doctor, do your research and learn as much as possible. Here are some of the options recommended for patients in various scenarios:

• eSet: elective single embryo transfer – this option is recommended more and more as it’s safest for both the mother and the embryo. Implanting more than one embryo, obviously, increases the chance of a multiple pregnancy. However, it also carries the risk of premature delivery and other issues which may threaten both the mother and her children. During eSet, only the healthiest embryo is implanted, which increases the chances of a smooth and successful pregnancy.
• Freeze All Cycles: this method involving freezing every embryo generated during an IVF cycle. It’s based on recent findings, which suggest that IVF outcomes can be improved by allowing the uterine environment to return to its natural state, rather than implanting the embryos straight away during the stimulated cycle. As an added bonus, freezing the embryos also gives embryologists time to perform genetic testing on the embryos.
• Mini-IVF: this approach is recommended for older women, women with PCOS, those with lower ovarian reserves and cancer patients. It involves taking a low-dose oral medication to stimulate ovulation, along with low doses of gonadotropins to induce the growth of a small number of high- quality eggs. It’s less taxing on the body than a full blown hormone treatment during a standard IVF procedure.
• PFT-A, formerly known as PGS: by performing genetic screening of embryos, fertility specialists increase the chances of a successful implantation while reducing the risk of a miscarriage by selecting chromosomally normal embryos to transfer. This is the approach most commonly recommended for women who suffer from recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL)
• Endometrial Receptivity Test: this generic test utilizes a small sample of a woman’s endometrial lining to determine the best timing to transfer the embryo after an IVF cycle. This is usually recommended if you’ve done PFT-A, but your embryos still fail to implant successfully.

Patients in the United States may encounter another problem – the lack of insurance coverage for infertility. According to an anonymous online survey done by EMD Serono and Resolve: the National Infertility Association, 47% of patients with insurance report that their plan covers less than half the cost of a single full IVF cycle. 61% of respondents paid out of pocket for a single cycle of IVF, covering costs between $15,000 and $30,000. The problem becomes apparent if we look at a 2015 study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, which found that women abandon IVF “too soon”, that is, after three or four unsuccessful attempts. This is a problem, as data shows that patients that do continue with treatments have a 69% chance of delivering a successful pregnancy after nine cycles. The majority of women – 65.3% of those studied – deliver a baby after just six cycles, particularly if they’re under the age of 40. How are women supposed to afford six to nine cycles if their insurance barely covers a single cycle? Jennifer offers a couple of strategies:

• If your insurance comes from your job, speak to human resources. Resolve, the National Infertility Association, has a lot of information on obtaining coverage through that method. There’s a whole page dedicated to research which shows how investing in IVF coverage actually benefits the company and saves them money in the long term, which has convinced HR departments in the past. Read more about insurance myths.
• Reach out to your insurance company and make sure that IVF isn’t covered. Request either an exemption of benefits or ask how you can file an appeal to get IVF covered by insurance.
• You can request documentation from your doctor supporting the case that IVF is medically necessary in your case.
• Speak to your accountant whether any money you’ve spent previously can be filed under “medical” when doing your taxes.
• Look into whether or not your Flexible Spending Account or your Healthcare Savings Account can be used towards IVF.
• Ask your doctor and/or clinics whether there are any IVF clinical trials that you qualify for that may cover either the cycle or any of the medication. While you’re at it, sometimes patients
• Finally, advocate for your rights. Resolve in the U.S. provide help if needed.

Additionally, there are several organisations around the world which offer patients fertility grants. They are too numerous to list here but do your research and see if there’s anyone offering such an option in your area.

Remember you’re not a bad person for having negative thoughts about yourself, but remember that infertility is just a medical issue that could happen to anyone. It’s just that – it doesn’t define your worth as a person; it’s just a problem that can be solved. You’re not a bad patient for asking your doctor questions. Don’t base your entire life around fertility – you’re a human being and you have other things in your life; maintain a healthy balance to stay sane.

If you’d like to reach out to Jennifer, feel free to connect with her on Twitter (@the2weekwait) or Instagram (@jennyjaypal).