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In Vitro Fertilization (IVF)

By combining world-class embryology with compassionate care, IVF helps a wide variety of families reach their goal of pregnancy.

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Understanding IVF

During IVF, eggs are collected from the ovaries and combined with partner or donor sperm in our lab. The resulting embryos are then cultured for up to 7 days.  

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The IVF Process

Every step of IVF is adjusted to fit you, and a team of physicians, nurses, and embryologists will guide you from beginning to end.

For about two weeks, you will take hormone medications that encourage the ovaries to develop multiple mature eggs. Some patients start on birth control pills before beginning stimulation. Ultrasounds and blood tests help us track your progress and pinpoint the right time for retrieval.  

Our physicians collect the eggs in a brief procedure, using ultrasound to guide a fine needle into each ovary. You will be under deep sedation or monitored anesthesia care throughout, and the procedure lasts approximately 20-30 minutes. Afterward, cramping, bloating, a swollen abdomen, and constipation are the most common side effects, and most patients feel ready to resume normal activity within 1-2 days.  

Ahead of retrieval, your physician will talk with you about using fresh or frozen sperm. In the lab, the sample is “washed” to isolate the healthiest, most active sperm for fertilization.  

Our embryologists fertilize the eggs in our lab. Sperm may be placed alongside the eggs, or a single sperm may be injected into each egg through a technique called intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI).   

Our embryologists monitor the embryos closely as they grow for up to 7 days. Sage Reproductive Center physicians often recommend freezing all viable embryos and completing a frozen embryo transfer, which can take place after your IVF cycle.  

Leading up to your transfer, you will take medications that manage ovulation and prepare the uterine lining for implantation. With close monitoring, your physician will choose the transfer date that gives you the best likelihood of success. 

The transfer procedure is fast and simple. A thin catheter carrying your selected embryo is passed through the vagina and cervix and into the uterus. Anesthesia generally isn’t needed, though you may feel some mild discomfort.  

Between eight and twelve days after your transfer, you will visit our clinic for a blood pregnancy test. With a positive result, we will book your next monitoring visit. If the result is negative, we will set up a consultation to review the cycle with you. We know a negative result after IVF can be difficult, and our team will be there to support you through every option available to reach your goal.  

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Who is IVF for?

In Vitro Fertilization can help many kinds of patients, from people facing infertility to LGBTQ+ couples to individuals choosing to become parents on their own. You may be a candidate for IVF if you have:

 

  • Blocked, damaged, or removed fallopian tubes, or a prior tubal ligation
  • Male factor infertility
  • Fibroids in the uterus
  • A known genetic condition
  • Infertility with no identified cause
  • Certain ovulatory disorders
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IVF Costs and Insurance Coverage

Every insurance plan treats fertility coverage differently, and you may have more options than you expect. We will verify your insurance benefits, review your out-of-pocket costs and available financing options (if needed) so you can plan and move forward with confidence. Sage Reproductive Center keeps fertility costs clear and transparent.

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Your family-building journey can start today.

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IVF FAQs

IVF includes two procedures. The first is egg retrieval, and because it is done under monitored anesthesia care, you shouldn’t feel pain. Cramping, bloating, and abdominal swelling for a day or two afterward are common. The second procedure, the embryo transfer, is done without anesthesia. Some of our clinics offer Valium to help you relax during the transfer, and you will be asked to arrive with a full bladder. It feels like a pap smear; mild cramping is possible, but most patients describe it as painless. Both procedures are brief. Some injectable medications can cause temporary soreness, stinging, or muscle aches.

Yes. Because IVF collects eggs straight from the ovaries and places the embryo directly in the uterus, it works for people whose tubes are tied, blocked, or damaged.  

Our recommendations during IVF are much like the advice for a healthy pregnancy: eat a balanced, nutritious diet and avoid alcohol and marijuana. Light exercise and good sleep help too. Review any medications or supplements you take with your physician.