XP from TTC 35+: advice for tmrw's appt with RE?

lhcooper

Hi all -- so tomorrow morning is my CD 10 u/s with my actual RE.  Since I don't know that he'll be the one doing my IUI #5 in another day or two or three after that, I want to bring up IVF with him while DH and I are there together.  My plan is simply to say that after this IUI and the next in January (if neither works, that is), we are thinking we should begin the IVF process in February, and what do we do to start thinking now about everything it involves so that we're prepared and not trying to learn about everything fast and all at once?  I know there's probably a separate consult appointment, etc., but I'm hoping they've got written materials I can look at already.  Just wondering if there are any particular questions people who have done IVF think I should ask at this point--remember, we have 2 IUIs yet to go, so it's really a question about learning what I'll want to be asking now so I can ask better questions/be more knowledgeable later, if that makes sense.  Also, if there are any informative IVF websites that aren't linked to specific clinics that people know about, that would be helpful too.

STL34

I would ask if there is any additional testing they require for you to move to IVF. I know my clinic requires all husbands of patients doing IVF to have an MSA and DNA fragmentation test.  I also had some additional b/w that was required.

You could also ask how your clinic handles IVF cycles.  My clinic batches IVF cycles, so you have to sign up in advance for a cycle and then you go on BCPs at some point to make your cycle coordinate with the cycle dates.

You can also specifically ask for written materials that they have and the consent forms that you would be required to complete.

I asked a whole bunch of other questions, but they were more specific to my Dx.  Good luck! 

lhcooper

Thank you! I hadn't even thought about additional testing, and this matters a lot because DH and I don't live together, but we'll be together (where my clinic is) in late December-late-January and so that could be done then as needed.  They did an SA on him (is that the same as an MSA?) before we began IUIs, but definitely not the DNA fragmentation which I hadn't even heard of until just now.  Same on the batching issue--wouldn't even have known that's how it could be done. 

Thanks again!

STL34

An MSA is a magnified SA.  Not all clinics require them.  Mine did, so it was one more thing we needed to complete before cycling.  Since your DH isn't always around, it would definitely be a good thing to find out about.

Most of the other testing I did was stuff that I specifically requested like an RPL panel and immune testing.  I am glad I got those done because I found out I do have problems that could contribute to IF and/or m/c if IVF was to work for us.