What to know about in vitro fertilization in Texas
Wise County couple Camille and Derrick Bryan say Fort Worth Fertility used the wrong sperm twice during in vitro fertilization, according to a lawsuit filed Feb. 8.
Here’s what to know about the IVF process, including what it is, how it works and how much it costs.
What is in vitro fertilization or IVF?
In vitro fertilization is a procedure used to join an egg and sperm outside a woman’s body, according to the Texas Children’s Hospital. When an egg is fertilized, it divides and becomes an embryo, which can then be implanted in the woman’s uterus.
IVF is a type of assisted reproductive technology performed with eggs and sperm from the patient and her spouse or partner, or from a donor, per Texas Health. After a battery of diagnostic testing, IVF can be considered when a woman has been unable to become pregnant using less costly options, or for the following reasons:
Blocked, damaged or missing fallopian tubes
Endometriosis
Scar tissue that causes pelvic organs to adhere to each other
Malformed uterus
Reduced capacity of ovaries to provide viable eggs
Male infertility
A desire for genetic testing of embryos prior to implantation
History of a genetic disorder that is preventing pregnancy or causing recurrent pregnancy loss
Unexplained infertility
How does IVF work?
These are the five steps required in the IVF process, according to Texas Health:
Ovarian stimulation: For one to two weeks, medications are used to help the patient produce multiple eggs.
Egg retrieval: Eggs are removed and incubated.
Sperm retrieval: On the same day as egg retrieval, a semen sample is collected.
Fertilization: The eggs are fertilized by either incubation or injection.
Embryo development and transfer: After the eggs are fertilized and divide into embryos, they are genetically tested for the selection of a single healthy embryo with the greatest potential for pregnancy, which is transferred via catheter to the woman’s uterus.
The greatest percentage of IVF success occurs in six cycles, according to the Reproductive Resource Center. While it can be performed on women in their 40s and 50s, success rates decrease and complication risks increase with age.
There are risks and side effects associated with the multi-step procedure, including an increased likelihood of becoming pregnant with multiple children and an increased chance of premature delivery and low birth weight.
How much does IVF cost?
A single IVF cycle costs around $10,000 to $15,000 in Texas, but it can cost as much as $20,000 to $30,000 in some cases. Insurance providers like Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna, United Healthcare and Tricare offer fertility benefits including IVF treatment, but your employer has to purchase these features in order for you to be covered, per IVFMD. Because IVF isn’t covered in many plans, couples often have to pay for IVF out-of-pocket, according to Consider IVF. Payment plans are offered by some private clinics.
Here are six IVF grants you can apply for in Texas, per Grants for Medical:
The National Infertility Association has a network of peer-led support groups and resources for those who need it. To find the closest support group near you, call 866-668-2566.
How to select a fertility doctor
Before choosing a fertility doctor, Texas Health suggests having an appointment to meet with them and ask questions. It’s important to ask about:
Success rates or pregnancy rates
The program’s philosophy
The type of diagnostics used to find the cause of the infertility before treatment
Whether the program does fresh versus frozen embryo transfer
Whether the program offers preimplantation screening
Whether a diverse treatment approach is offered
How they formulate treatment plans for each couple
