A guide for preparing for fertility treatments including IVF, covering initial testing, choosing a clinic, understanding your options, emotional preparation, and financial planning.
Male factor contributes to infertility in about 40% of cases. A basic fertility workup takes 1-2 menstrual cycles to complete. Schedule both partners' appointments within the same week to avoid delays.
Female: hormone blood tests on cycle day 3
Male: semen analysis
Complete an ovarian reserve assessment
AMH (Anti-Mullerian Hormone) blood test and antral follicle count (AFC) via ultrasound measure your egg supply. AMH can be drawn on any cycle day. An AMH above 1.0 ng/mL is generally considered normal for most age groups.
Get an HSG or saline sonogram to check fallopian tubes
An HSG (hysterosalpingogram) takes 15-30 minutes and is done between cycle days 6-12. It checks if the fallopian tubes are open. About 30% of female infertility involves tubal issues. Take ibuprofen 1 hour before to reduce cramping.
Review all test results with your reproductive endocrinologist
Request a 30-minute consultation specifically to review results and discuss treatment options. Ask for a printed summary of your diagnosis. About 30% of infertility cases are unexplained even after full testing.
Choose Your Clinic and Treatment Path
Research clinic success rates on the CDC website
The CDC publishes annual success rates for every IVF clinic in the US. Compare live birth rates per transfer for your age group, not just pregnancy rates. National average for women under 35 is roughly 40-50% per transfer.
Understand the treatment options available to you
Common paths: medicated timed intercourse (cheapest, $500-1,500/cycle), IUI ($800-2,500/cycle), and IVF ($12,000-25,000/cycle). Most doctors try 3-4 IUI cycles before recommending IVF. Ask about your specific success odds for each option.
Ask about IUI (intrauterine insemination)
Ask about IVF (in vitro fertilization)
Ask about genetic testing of embryos (PGT)
Meet the team who will manage your treatment
You will work with your reproductive endocrinologist, nurses, an embryologist, and a financial coordinator. Ask who your day-to-day contact is for questions. Response time should be within 24 hours on business days.
Ask about the clinic's lab and embryology capabilities
A high-quality lab has a blastocyst development rate above 50% and a thaw survival rate above 95%. Ask directly for these numbers. The lab quality is often more important than the individual doctor.
Financial Planning
Check your insurance coverage for fertility treatments
Only 20 states mandate some fertility insurance coverage. Call your insurance and ask specifically about diagnostic testing, medication coverage, and procedure coverage. Get the answers in writing or note the reference number.
Get a detailed cost estimate from your clinic
Ask for an itemized estimate that includes monitoring appointments ($200-500 each), medications ($3,000-7,000 for IVF), the procedure itself, anesthesia, and embryo freezing ($500-1,000/year storage). Medications are often the surprise cost.
Research financing and grant options
Many clinics offer payment plans with 0% interest for 6-12 months. Fertility-specific lenders offer loans at 5-15% APR. Grants from organizations can cover $5,000-15,000 but applications often have deadlines 3-6 months in advance.
Ask about multi-cycle discount programs
Some clinics offer packages where 2-3 IVF cycles cost 20-30% less than paying per cycle. Shared risk or refund programs guarantee a partial refund if treatment does not succeed, but they cost 30-50% more upfront.
Budget for medications separately
IVF medications cost $3,000-7,000 per cycle. Compare prices at specialty pharmacies, which are often 20-40% cheaper than retail pharmacies. Some manufacturers offer compassionate use programs for patients without coverage.
Physical Preparation
Start a prenatal vitamin at least 3 months before treatment
Choose a prenatal with at least 400mcg of folate (ideally methylfolate), 200mg DHA, and iron. Egg quality improvements from supplements take about 90 days to take effect since the egg maturation cycle is 3 months.
Reduce alcohol and caffeine intake
Studies show more than 2 alcoholic drinks per week reduces IVF success rates by 18%. Limit caffeine to under 200mg daily (one cup of coffee). Make these changes at least 1 month before starting treatment.
Maintain a regular exercise routine at moderate intensity
150 minutes of moderate exercise per week improves fertility outcomes. Avoid high-intensity exercise during stimulation cycles, as ovaries enlarge to 3-5 times their normal size. Walking and swimming are safest during treatment.
Get any dental work done before treatment begins
Dental infections during pregnancy can cause complications. Schedule a cleaning and address any needed fillings or extractions at least 2 weeks before starting fertility medications.
Emotional Preparation and Support
Discuss the emotional impact with your partner
Fertility treatment causes significant stress in 60% of couples. Set aside 30 minutes weekly to talk about feelings without trying to fix anything. Agree on how you will support each other through difficult results.
Consider working with a fertility counselor
Many clinics have a counselor on staff at no extra cost. External therapists who specialize in fertility charge $100-200 per session. Even 3-4 sessions before treatment starts helps build coping strategies.
Set boundaries around sharing your journey
Decide in advance who you will tell and how much detail you will share. Well-meaning questions from family add stress. Having a pre-planned response like "we will share updates when we are ready" protects your privacy.
Prepare for the time commitment of treatment
An IVF cycle requires 5-8 monitoring appointments over 10-14 days, each lasting 30-60 minutes. Most appointments are early morning (7-9 AM). Coordinate with your employer or arrange flexible scheduling in advance.
Connect with a fertility support community
Online forums and local support groups reduce isolation during treatment. Research shows that women in support groups have 42% higher pregnancy rates, likely because reduced stress improves treatment outcomes.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does IVF cost in the United States?
A single IVF cycle costs $15,000-$25,000 on average, including medications ($3,000-$7,000), monitoring ($1,500-$3,000), egg retrieval ($5,000-$8,000), and embryo transfer ($3,000-$5,000). Additional costs include genetic testing ($3,000-$6,000 per cycle) and frozen embryo storage ($500-$1,000 per year). Most patients need 2-3 cycles, bringing total costs to $40,000-$60,000.
Does health insurance cover fertility treatments?
As of 2025, 21 states mandate some level of fertility insurance coverage, but policies vary widely. Some plans cover diagnostic testing but not IVF itself. Call your insurance company and ask specifically about diagnostic coverage, IUI, IVF, and medication coverage. Many employers now offer fertility benefits through programs like Progyny or Carrot, covering 1-3 IVF cycles.
What is the success rate of IVF by age?
Per-cycle live birth rates using the patient own eggs are approximately 50-55% for women under 35, 40-45% at ages 35-37, 25-30% at ages 38-40, and 10-15% at ages 41-42. Cumulative success after 3 cycles is significantly higher. Using donor eggs, success rates are 50-55% regardless of the recipient age. Consult your doctor for advice specific to your situation.
How long does one IVF cycle take from start to finish?
One full IVF cycle takes 4-6 weeks: 1-2 weeks of ovarian stimulation with daily hormone injections, egg retrieval on day 14-16, 3-5 days of embryo development in the lab, and embryo transfer 3-5 days after retrieval (or frozen for a later transfer cycle). If doing genetic testing, add 1-2 weeks for results before a frozen transfer.
What lifestyle changes should I make before starting fertility treatment?
Stop smoking (smoking reduces IVF success by 34%), limit alcohol to zero if possible, reduce caffeine to under 200 mg daily, and aim for a BMI between 19-30 (fertility clinics may require this range). Start a prenatal vitamin with folic acid 3 months before treatment. Both partners should make these changes. Consult your doctor for advice specific to your situation.