To start IVF treatment, you first need approval for reimbursement from your health insurance . To obtain this approval, the doctor will give you a document to submit to your health insurance. After approval, we can order the necessary medication. This treatment involves hormonal stimulation that causes several oocytes and follicles to mature. For this, you usually take a contraceptive pill, which you should start on the first or second day of your period. On average, you will be taking this pill for around 12 days before starting the stimulation.

You should inform your doctor or the secretary of the day on which you start this pill so that a date can be arranged to collect your medication. You will then also receive a protocol indicating the pill stop date. When you come to collect your medication, a midwife will go over the treatment schedule with you. You will then be explained how to use the medication and informed about the next steps.

Before starting the treatment, a blood sampling for determination of hepatitis B, hepatitis C, HIV and syphilis should also be done on both partners. Finally, consent forms for the treatment should be signed.

After a few days of stimulation, a monitoring ultrasound and blood sampling are necessary. This cycle monitoring can take place in the hospital or in a private practice. It is best to check whether you still have enough medication for the next few days. If necessary, you can be given more medication at this checkup.

If the blood sampling shows abnormal results, you will be kept informed. It may then be necessary to change scheduled appointments. If you are not contacted, upcoming appointments will be kept. A hormone stimulation lasts 12 days on average.

In this phase, oocyte aspiration or pick-up takes place, in which mature oocytes are retrieved. This takes place in our hospital. You do not need to be sober and can therefore have a light breakfast.  When you come to your appointment, come to the hospital 30 minutes early and bring the original document for reimbursement from the health insurance. First register at the main reception and then come to our department via route 50.

Every IVF of ICSI treatment starts with a sperm sample. If you use your own partner’s sperm sample, this can be produced at the hospital or at home. In the second case, you need to keep the sample at body temperature during transport to the hospital. The time between the production of the sperm sample and its transfer to the hospital should be a maximum of 90 minutes.

After you submit the sample to the hospital, there will be a puncture under sedation. This is a mild anaesthetic in which painkillers are administered through the blood vessels so that the pick-up is not painful for the woman. The oocytes are then extracted from the follicles. The pick-up can only be performed with an empty bladder. It is therefore best to urinate beforehand.

After the puncture, we recommend you lay down for about 20 minutes. You are not allowed to drive a car afterwards. We also recommend resting after the treatment. Both partners can get a sick note for their employer, (for the patient 3 days and for the partner 1 day, including the day of the puncture).

It is normal to experience some discomfort after the puncture. You may take a painkiller for this. A little blood loss is also normal. The evening after the retrieval you should start taking progesterone tablets and continue to do so until the pregnancy test. The tablets will cause a thick white vaginal discharge so it is best to use panty liners.

The day after the pick-up, a laboratory staff member will contact you to discuss the result of the fertilisation.

On the day of the embryo transfer, the embryologist will once more discuss the fertilisation, the quality of the embryos and the number of embryos to be frozen, if any. Afterwards, you will be guided to a room to change clothes before leaving to transfer room. The embryo is inserted into the uterus using a very fine catheter. This is not painful. After the transfer, you do not have to remain lying down and can go about your normal activities.

The period between the oocyte retrieval and the pregnancy test is 14 days. This can be an emotionally difficult and long period. You may continue your normal activities including lifting or physical exercise at a normal heart rate. We advise against smoking, drinking alcohol and taking medication that is not necessary. We recommend taking folic acid and continuing to take the prescribed medication correctly. Those medications can sometimes cause side effects similar to pregnancy symptoms. If you experience blood loss during this period, a blood sample for determination of HCG level should be taken.

If you are pregnant, there will be a thorough follow-up with blood tests and an ultrasound during the first few weeks. If the IVF attempt is not successful, you can book a consultation with your fertility doctor to go over the next steps.

We keep our fingers crossed for a positive result!