You should have received specific instructions on starting birth control, please connect with Taylor, RN, if not. Generally, you will begin birth control on cycle day three of the period one month before your retrieval procedure is planned. For example- if you have a retrieval in February, you will need to start birth control in January by cycle day three.

Breakthrough bleeding happens commonly. Usually, it is no big deal. We will look over your baseline labs and ultrasound to be sure your body is ready to start the stimulation medications.

Yes, once you stop taking the birth control, you should expect a period.

Refrigerate any OPEN medications. Usually any multiuse vial- low dose compounded HCG, used gonal-f pens/vials, leuprolide compounded vial, omnitrope vials, and zomacton vials need to be refrigerated.

Do not start your ganirelix injections until you are instructed to do so the doctor will decide when to start based on the follicle sizes seen in the day 5 and 8 ultrasounds.

Gonal-f pens are MULTIUSE- please do not throw them away! Each pen contains about 1000 units of gonal-f. Your medications were ordered based on a best estimate of how much you will need for 12 days. You may have a little left over, or if the doctor increases your dose, you may need to order more.

We accept donations. Please consider donating any extras before throwing them in the trash.

Currently, the preferred method is subcutaneous. The box says intramuscular, but it can also be given subcutaneously. Here is a great tutorial! How To Inject Novarel® 5,000 IU Subcutaneously | Fertility Treatment | CVS Specialty® (youtube.com)

Please use a small needle- you should have received a 3ml syringe with a 25g x 5/8 in needle. Use that one!

Usually, yes. You should have clear instructions on your updated calendar.

Procedure dates and times are not set until after the day 8 scan. The doctor decides when to retrieve based on follicle sizes and lab results. As soon as she assigns a trigger injection time, you will receive set appointment information on an updated calendar. The initial projected retrieval day is likely to change.

Your doses may change/fluctuate. The doctor will review day 5 scans and labs to determine if your doses need to be adjusted. You will receive an updated calendar with doses.

Please arrive one hour prior to the procedure time. Nothing to eat or drink 8 hours prior to procedure. Your partner (if applicable) will need to provide a fresh sperm sample in the office. After a sample is provided, staff will prepare you for your procedure. We use IV sedation. Your procedure will take about 20-45min. After the procedure, recovery will take about 30 minutes.

Lose comfy clothes, no jewelry or perfume.

Yes, please have an adult over 18 years old with a valid license available to drive you home.

Fresh sperm samples before the start of the egg retrieval procedure are preferred. Your partner may collect in the office. If you feel you need to make any special arrangements, please reach out to Taylor, RN to discuss a plan.

Yes, please abstain from ejaculation of any type for at least two days but no more than 5 days. Please collect the semen specimen by masturbation directly into a sterile specimen container, provided by the clinic. Lubricants, saliva, lotions, etc., may not be used to obtain the sample as they may be harmful to the sperm. Clean the penis and hands prior to collection with water only.

We recommend arriving the night before the procedure and heading home the day after the procedure. Please be cautious when booking arrangements as your calendar is not concrete. Alaska’s weather is always a factor, please take this into consideration, especially in the winter months.

Major travel is not recommended for at least a week post egg retrieval.

Expect moderate discomfort to moderate pain. You will feel “full” and bloated following the medications. Swelling and some light bleeding is expected. The pain should gradually improve over the week following the procedure, the worst of it being the first three days post op. We are happy to provide pain medication as needed, just ask!

Reach out to the clinic if the pain is intolerable, you have any signs of infection like fever/chills/body aches, difficulty peeing, excessive bleeding of more than a pad an hour. Seek immediate medical attention if you are having difficulty breathing or chest pains. Ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) is an infrequent, but not uncommon, complication of the shots that you received during your IVF cycle. It tends to occur 5 to 12 days after your retrieval. You may feel achy and bloated after your ovarian stimulation. This can be normal. However, if it becomes worse, if your ordinary clothes are not fitting, if you are having difficulty with breathing, if you are rapidly gaining weight, have worsening pain, or if you are experiencing severe nausea or vomiting you must contact your doctor.

Please let Taylor, RN know! We may need to order more.

Yes, both are okay.

Yes, protected intercourse is totally fine.

We recommend nothing in the vagina for 7 days.

We recommend waiting 7 days to prevent infection.

We use sterile technique during the egg retrieval. Additionally, you will receive prophylactic antibiotics in the procedure room on the day of your procedure.

Yes, please take a urine pregnancy test at home the day after you trigger and send Taylor, RN your results. We expect them to be POSITIVE due to the Novarel trigger shot.

Yes, totally expected after the trigger shot.

You should have a period within two weeks following your procedure.

We recommend a good prenatal and vitamin D3. DHEA and CoQ10 is not needed after retrieval.

Please notify Taylor, RN, when your first period begins following the egg retrieval, you will most likely need to start birth control and begin transfer cycle preparations.

Generally, results take 2-3 weeks. Luminary will send you consents and payment instructions prior to releasing the genetic testing results.

ICSI is almost always the recommended type of fertilization because fertilization rates are usually higher when ICSI is utilized. The embryologist will select healthy looking sperm and manually fertilize each egg.

The embryologist will place the eggs and the sperm in the same dish and allow the sperm to locate and fertilize the eggs on their own.

You will receive a call from your doctor the day after your egg retrieval to inform you of your fertilization rates. You will hear from your doctor again a week later to inform you of the culture and freeze results.

The clinic charges a fee for PGT biopsies to be performed by the embryologist. The biopsies are then sent to Luminary, to run the genetic testing on each biopsy. You will owe a fee directly to Luminary for the genetic testing process. In short, you will have two separate charges associated with PGT- one to the clinic and one to Luminary. This should have been discussed in detail during your financial consultation.

Here are some great tutorials!
Gonal-f redi-ject pens
How To Inject Gonal-f® RFF Redi-ject Pen | Fertility Treatment | CVS
Specialty® (youtube.com)
HCG low dose Sub Q
How To Inject Low-Dose hCG | Fertility Treatment | CVS Specialty®
(youtube.com)
Lueprolide Trigger
How To Inject Leuprolide Acetate Trigger | Fertility Treatment | CVS
Specialty® (youtube.com)
Novarel Trigger
How To Inject Novarel® 5,000 IU Subcutaneously | Fertility
Treatment | CVS Specialty® (youtube.com)
Ganirelix
How To Inject Fyremadel (Ganirelix® Acetate) | Fertility Treatment |
CVS Specialty® (youtube.com)
Omnitrope
How To Inject Omnitrope® | Fertility Treatment | CVS Specialty®
(youtube.com)

Breakthrough bleeding happens commonly. Usually, it is no big deal. We will look over your baseline labs and ultrasound to be sure your body is ready to start the transfer prep process.

Yes! Please follow the specific instructions given to you with your prescription or written on your calendar.

Yes, once you stop taking the birth control, you should expect a period.

Yes, please have labs drawn as early as possible on the same day as your ultrasound is scheduled.

No, you can have all labs drawn non-fasting.

No, your labs are walk-in and do not require an appointment.

Yes, protected intercourse is totally fine.

Please arrive 30 minutes prior to your appointment time with a FULL bladder. Do not void until after the transfer procedure is completed. Your partner may accompany you to the procedure room. The transfer procedure is usually about 20-30 minutes. The most uncomfortable part should be the urge to pee. You may leave the clinic immediately following the procedure. No sedation is needed or used.

Lose comfy clothes, no perfume.

Yes, here is a tutorial that is extremely helpful! How To Inject Progesterone in Oil | Fertility Treatment | CVS Specialty® (youtube.com)

You will need to keep up with the progesterone injections until 10 weeks of pregnancy or until a negative pregnancy test.

You will need to take vaginal estrace until 10 weeks of pregnancy or until a negative pregnancy test.

Your beta-HCG lab (serum pregnancy test) will be drawn about 10 days post transfer. Lab orders will be sent electronically. Details will be discussed the day of your transfer.

Please establish care with a primary obstetrician by 8-10weeks of pregnancy.

Yes, but please let me know where to send your beta-HCG lab order.

Yes, both are okay.

Set schedules are usually not decided on until the week before the procedures. Usually, the day of your transfer will not change from your FET cycle calendar schedule, but specific times are not concrete until close to the procedure week.

We recommend arriving the night before the procedure and heading home the day of the procedure. Please be cautious when booking arrangements as your FET cycle calendar is not concrete. Alaska’s weather is always a factor, lease take this into consideration, especially in the winter months.

No, but please be sure to sign all consents ahead of time. Signatures of both intended parents are required. You will receive consents via DocuSign about 3 weeks prior to the procedure date.

Please wait until you are instructed to start the progesterone injections. Usually, they will begin 5 days prior to the transfer date.

Progesterone can cause itchiness and knots in the muscle where it is injected. Warm compresses and gentle massaging can help break them up. If they become painful or hot to the touch, please let Taylor know.

It is not recommended. The recommended site is the upper glute. Please review this tutorial for recommended injection site. How To Inject Progesterone in Oil | Fertility Treatment | CVS Specialty® (youtube.com)