Frequently Asked Questions

Most patients should expect minimal or no side effects. You should be able to continue with your everyday activities during your treatment.

For a standard IVF cycle, expect approximately 4 to 6 weeks from the start of ovarian priming through egg retrieval and embryo transfer.

No. We use strong sedation and relaxation medications—most patients sleep through the 5–10 minute retrieval. Some may have light cramping afterward.

1. Semen evaluation

2. Ovarian reserve testing

3. Evaluation of the Uterus

4. Testing Required by the State of California and the FDA

ICSI (Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection) is a technique where a single sperm is directly injected into an egg. It’s been widely used since the 1990s; millions of healthy babies have resulted without a significant difference in outcomes.

You may consider adding PGT, especially if age or other factors increase the risk of chromosomal abnormalities. PGT doesn’t guarantee success, but it can reduce miscarriage risk and give added clarity.

In line with the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) guidelines, we recommend transferring 1 or 2 embryos. You’ll always have final say based on your goals and circumstances.

We do not recommend extended bed rest. Studies show early movement after the transfer may improve the implantation success—immediately resuming your daily activities is fine.

Absolutely. We’re proud to be one of the first Northern California clinics to provide inclusive fertility services for lesbian partners. You are welcome and supported here!

You mustn’t wait too long before seeing an infertility specialist. Timing depends on age. At Bay IVF, we use the following guidelines:

35 or younger  12 months

36 – 37              9 months

38 – 39              6 months

40 – 41              3 months

42 and older immediately

Your state of reproductive health can play an important role when trying to conceive. Please review the IVF Diet and Lifestyle (PDF) document and follow the recommendations as closely as possible.

The decision of which treatment is the most appropriate for you is based on your past reproductive history, the results of your fertility testing, and the outcome of any previous reproductive treatments you may have had. You may need In Vitro Fertilization treatment if any of the following apply to you:

1. History of tubal blockage and pelvic adhesions

2. Male Factor Infertility

3. Infertility associated with endometriosis

4. Infertility associated with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCO)

5. Unexplained infertility

6. Long-standing infertility: no contraception for more than a year and a half

7. Decreasing “ovarian reserve”: IVF may be the most appropriate treatment for women over the age of 37.

8. You did not become pregnant with intrauterine insemination (IUI) cycles.

9. You did not become pregnant with ovarian stimulation cycles with oral or injectable medications.

Sonohysterogram (saline ultrasound, water ultrasound) is an essential part of the treatment prerequisites. It evaluates the health of the endometrial cavity.

A sonohysterogram is a quick, mostly painless procedure at Bay IVF. A thin, soft catheter is passed through the cervix into the uterus, and a small amount of sterile saline solution is gently instilled. A transvaginal ultrasound is used to confirm the absence of polyps, scarring, or fibroids inside the uterus.

The probability of a successful IVF treatment declines sharply after age 43. Patients who are 44 and older should strongly consider Donor Egg IVF as the most effective treatment to achieve a successful pregnancy.

You do not. At Bay IVF, we do not discriminate based on marital and family status, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, or genetic characteristics.

Although the IVF procedure has by now become almost standardized, there are still subtle differences among IVF centers. Such slight differences may play a significant role for some patients.

Unfortunately, yes. Increased maternal weight can have a profound negative effect on the IVF procedure and its outcome:

1. More medication is needed to stimulate the ovaries

2. Lower egg quality

3. The safety of the egg retrieval procedure

4. Decreased uterine receptivity

5. Increased risk of the baby’s heart defects

At Bay IVF, we recommend that patients adhere to our reproductive health guidelines (PDF). They can optimize health, may improve the quality of eggs and sperm, and result in gradual weight loss, leading to one’s ideal BMI.

The Frozen Embryo Transfer (FET) procedure is much shorter than an In Vitro Fertilization cycle. It usually takes only 2-3 weeks to complete a FET cycle, and only 2 clinic visits are needed.

There is no time limit on storing cryopreserved eggs or embryos. They are stored in liquid nitrogen at close to absolute zero degrees temperature and do not age.

Your uterus does not “grow old.” Theoretically, there is no age limit for the recipient mother of frozen-thawed eggs or embryos.

Treatments that require ovarian stimulation (IVF, Embryo Banking, etc) require a minimum of one resting cycle before another cycle of treatment can begin. Other treatments (e.g., Frozen Embryo Transfer) do not require a resting cycle.

The number of treatment cycles you should plan for is ultimately a personal choice, but we will help you with your decision.

The lower the probability of a successful outcome per treatment cycle, the more treatment cycles you should plan for. Most patients can increase their cumulative pregnancy probability by having more than one cycle of treatment.

Yes. We’ve partnered with Future Family to offer low-interest and even 0% APR options to make fertility care more accessible. Pre-qualifying is easy and does not affect your credit score.

OHSS is a potential risk in cycles with ovarian stimulation. Symptoms can range from mild (abdominal discomfort, bloating) to more pronounced. We carefully monitor and choose stimulation protocols to minimize risk.

Extra embryos can be safely vitrified and stored. Survival rates after freezing/thawing are excellent, and implantation rates of thawed embryos are no different from “fresh” embryo transfers.

Extensive studies have found no meaningful increase in birth defects for children conceived via IVF or donor-egg IVF compared to naturally conceived children. These are healthy babies, with all the joy and challenges of parenthood. They will kick, spit up, scream, and keep you up all night just like any other baby.

“Unexplained” means we couldn’t find a clear cause after standard testing—this affects up to 25% of infertility cases. IVF is often the most appropriate next step in these scenarios.

Yes—especially when moderate to severe. Endometriosis may cause scarring, adhesions, or ovarian/tubal involvement. We evaluate it carefully in your treatment plan.

It is estimated that perhaps 5% to 15% of all women are born with some degree of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Most of these women will never know since they will be able to conceive. These women have a mild degree of PCOS.

Women with more severe PCOS will, at least temporarily, lose the regularity of their menstruation (become anovulatory). This lack of ovulation is accompanied by a hormonal imbalance, which, in some women, involves abnormal insulin production and glucose metabolism.

While direct measurement of egg quality isn’t possible, we evaluate ovarian reserve using ultrasound (antral follicle count) and hormone levels such as AMH and FSH. These tests help us estimate your chances and tailor the treatment protocol.

“Premature ovarian failure refers to a loss of normal function of the ovaries before age 40. The ovaries can no longer produce normal-quality eggs or the female hormones estrogen and progesterone.

There is no known cure for premature ovarian failure, and most patients will need Donor Egg IVF treatment to conceive successfully.”

Uterine lining receptivity does not have a profound effect on the success of infertility treatments. There is evidence suggesting that the role of uterine lining receptivity as a decisive factor in human conception is limited.

Assisted embryo hatching is a laboratory procedure that creates a “weak spot” in the eggshell of an embryo. For frozen embryos, this increases the likelihood that the embryo will hatch, implant, and result in a baby.

All future parents should consider genetic screening for the 100 most common genetic diseases. Please let us know at your initial appointment at Bay IVF if you wish to have your blood sample sent for genetic screening.

Typically, carriers are healthy individuals, but when two parents are carriers of the same genetic disease, they can have a child affected with it. Unfortunately, most people do not know they are carriers until they have a child born with the disease.

Two recent studies found an increase in the conception rate among women undergoing acupuncture. A third study found no statistically significant improvement. Acupuncture is safe for women undergoing advanced reproductive treatments.

You can take Tylenol, Sudafed (regular), and Robitussin DM. Please contact our office if you need to take any other medications.

Yes, you can take the flu vaccine in the injectable form.

Once pregnancy is achieved, we recommend that you do not eat uncooked fish (e.g., sushi) or undercooked shellfish, eggs, or meat.

Once your embryos have been transferred, we recommend that you do not dye your hair through the first trimester.

Once your ovarian stimulation starts, we recommend that you do not soak in a hot tub or use a sauna, due to the possible detrimental effect of high temperature.

You could, but it is not required. Most patients will be able to continue their daily lives during treatment.

You may want to take the afternoon off on your egg retrieval day, and that should be all the time off you need.

Insurance plans vary widely. To determine if you have coverage for infertility treatments, we can call your insurance provider to confirm what benefits are available. You may also consider getting a loan for your fertility treatment.

Yes, you do. You may need to call on your OB/GYN for procedures related to your IVF treatment that are not part of your IVF treatment. An example might be endometrial polyp removal if polyps are found during your IVF prerequisites. You will also be referred to your obstetrician for your OB care once your IVF treatment has been successful.