Whether you’ve been to multiple IVF consultations before or this will be your first, we believe it’s vital to ask all of your questions during your fertility consultation.
So, to help put your mind at ease, we’ve come up with ten common questions to ask during your first consultation.
How long should I try to conceive naturally before trying IVF?
We recommend you seek expert help if you fall under any of the following categories:
- You’re under 35 and have been unsuccessful in trying to fall pregnant for 12 months.
- You are over 35 and have been unsuccessful in trying to fall pregnant for 12 months.
- You are over 35 and have been unsuccessful after six months of trying to conceive.
What tests need to be done before starting the IVF treatment?
We require couples who are seeking fertility advice to undergo some preliminary tests. These tests may include:
- Women: blood tests, pelvic ultrasound or x-ray
- Men: semen analysis, ultrasound, genetic and hormonal tests, testicular biopsy
For a more detailed outline of what will be measured during these tests, head to our Fertility Tests Page.
Does your clinic perform fresh or frozen embryo transfers (FET)?
Yes, we do. Although your IVF cycle may result in several good-quality embryos, only one is usually transferred into the uterus, with the rest to be used later.
How many eggs will you retrieve?
We aim to retrieve as many eggs as possible through our fully stimulated cycle to increase your chance of a successful pregnancy and allow access to be frozen for future use. To help achieve this, you will be given medications to help stimulate your ovaries to produce more eggs than you usually would.
How long will you store my frozen embryos?
Embryos can be stored frozen indefinitely; however, in Australia, there may be a time limit of five years, depending on which state you live in. Please check with your FSF Fertility Specialist.
How long is the IVF process expected to take from start to finish?
Steps one through six of the IVF treatment process are subject to appointment availability and your menstrual cycle. Once you’ve had your embryo transfer, you must wait 14 days until you do a pregnancy test.
What are the costs not covered by Medicare?
At First Step Fertility, most of our services are bulk-billed, offering you significant savings. The few out-of-pocket expenses not covered by Medicare are as follows
- Day Procedure Centre Fee (Egg Collection) – $1275 (depending on clinic location)
- Day Procedure Centre Fee (transfer) – $320-$530 (depending on clinic location)
- Medication – $100-$260 approx
- Mandatory Counselling Appointment (Victorian Patients Only) – $230 approx
Please note that these prices are subject to change. Please refer to our full list of IVF treatment costs for up-to-date figures.
(Prices updated as of 20/07/2022)
Do you offer IVF payment plans?
Here at First Step Fertility, the majority of our services are bulk-billed. We also offer you the option of setting up interest-free IVF payment plans to help soften any out-of-pocket expenses.
What are my options for embryos that won’t be used?
There are a few options for excess frozen embryos. They can be disposed of, donated to another infertile person or donated to the City Fertility laboratory for training purposes.
What are my chances of success with IVF?
Success rates can vary significantly between individuals, so it is vital to discuss your chance of pregnancy with your fertility doctor. Success rates differ vastly due to but are not limited to things such as your or your partner’s circumstances such as age, medical history, genetic makeup and lifestyle factors such as weight and smoking.
It’s for these reasons that we don’t like to advertise success rates, and for these reasons, we don’t recommend you compare clinics’ success rates.
To learn more about IVF and discuss the treatments further, don’t hesitate to contact us on 1800 111 373 or book an appointment at your leisure.
