ACTUALLY DOING IT

How long do I need to be there for?

Once for the initial meeting. Secondly, for the egg collection and transfer, which will be approx 5 to 7 days.

What about the drugs?

(see 'How to buy your IVF drugs' for full details)

You’ll either buy them at the clinic or find a supplier in UK. Shop around as costs can vary enormously.

What about the internal scans?

(see 'Internal Scans' for full details)

You will need to have your (on average) 3/4 scans for IVF before you go for the main procedure.  Those will be done in UK. Where you have them is up to you. But it’s not that common practice to do this, so do check around and make sure they understand the full picture. Some scans can be done at your local fertility Unit at a NHS hospital, others at private clinics.

There are costs involved of course, generally at around £30 to £100 per scan.

Do I need to take a week off work afterwards?

It has been advised to take it easy for the 2 week wait (2WW). Take medical advice about what to do exactly for your situation.

Now you can read those books, magazines or watch those films you have wanted to for ages. As long as you take regular strolls (not runs!) and don’t hunch over the PC for hours at a time searching for 'IVF successes', you should be fine. Take advice about going swimming, using the gym, or any other activities.  Give your body a treat and relax.

What about my partner’s requirement?

As a couple, it’s rather useful if your male partner was actually there too.  Over planning can lead you to forget the most crucial things! And amazingly it has happened.

He needs to be there for the sperm donation on the main day, and then how long he stays afterwards is up to you guys. Don’t underestimate the emotional support you will need from each other around this time. Take time off!  Remember he's just as anxious about this too.

What’s the normal process?

After you have taken all the specific medication for your protocol and had your internal scans up to your mid cycle, then you need to prepare to fly to the clinic for the big part. They will advise you when to fly in exact time to use the main ovulation drug.

You should expect to stay 5 to 7 days for the procedure. The day after you arrive should be your egg collection. You will be taking some drugs to ease the collection (ok, it’s a little uncomfortable and may be for the rest of the day – like a bad period pain). This takes about 20 mins. Your partner can be with you and you’ll be able to watch the screen to see the collection itself. He will then need to nip off to a small room and add his contribution too. Best to do it at the clinic, but if not, within 2 hours from ejaculation.

Then you go back to your hotel and chill out. Don’t do anything strenuous like tourist shopping! You need looking after all day because of the drugs you have taken.

The day after egg collection you can phone to see if the embryos have fertilised. Now is the hard part. Do you have enough to freeze? Do you have the option to have one or two embryos put back in? they will talk to you about different embryo qualities e.g. a 4 cell embryo is a grade 1 (this is ideal, but grades are not everything. Nature has a big part on deciding what sticks or not!)

Depending on your protocol, you will either have the egg transfer the next day or day after. It takes about 15 minutes! Such a anti-climax after all this waiting! But you will feel hardly anything. After which you should have another afternoon relaxing. Most clinics say fly home after about 24 hours, but find out from the. Some don’t mind when you go. It’s not as if the embryos can fall out!

After the transfer you will be given extra progesterone (they will give to you, you don’t need to pre-buy). They will tell you how and when to take them for the next 14 days. Generally they are in pessary form.