©2003 Fertility Institute of VA
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| Is ART considered experimental
therapy? |
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ART
is not considered "experimental" medicine. IVF,
donor oocytes, embryo cryopreservation and the use of ICSI
for male infertility are considered nonexperimental by the
American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM). ASRM is
an organization devoted to advancing knowledge and expertise
in reproductive medicine and biology. Formerly known as the
American Fertility Society, it was established in 1944 and
has grown to include more than 10,000 healthcare
professionals from all states and more than 100 countries.
Most of the major ART treatments like In Vetro
Fertilization or IVF, are qualified, established medical
treatments and are no longer considered investigational or
experimental. The increasing success rates of ART have
dispelled any evidence of an experimental procedure. As
nothing in life is guaranteed, there will be issues beyond
your control or ours that prevent this successful procedure
from instigating. FIV plans your health care program for the
ultimate success in a productive pregnancy.
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| How expensive is ART? |
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 The
cost of a single ART procedure is equal to or less than the
cost of many surgical procedures designed to overcome
infertility and generally far less than the cost of
adoption. The availability of cryopreserved embryos also
enables couples to save time and costs while adding
additional cycles to the overall treatment plan.
We have kept our costs low in order to offer more
affordable IVF. We consider everything about you and your
partner in your health care plan. Each practice is different
regarding the cost of ART. There are several factors that
must be addressed before beginning and each person’s
situation is uniquely different. For this reason you most
likely will not find a price for ART or IVF anywhere on the
Internet. However, we do welcome you to call our office and
select a scheduled time for us to hear your concerns and
allow us the time to evaluate your situation and provide the
best health care plan we can offer.
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| Will ART be covered by my health
insurance plan? |
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Many insurance plans carry some type of infertility
benefits. Thirteen states now mandate some sort of
infertility insurance coverage. Assisted reproductive
technologies may not be as inaccessible as you may think.
Our office manager, Carolyn Bagent, will review your
insurance policy with you and discuss any questions you may
have about coverage options.
 Did
you know along with coverage options some employers offer
assistants and medical leave very similar to pregnancy
leave. More and more the fact of Infertility has become an
increased concern in many states. As you will learn by
reviewing our web site many factors of environment, disease
and immunological causes are key players in the discovery of
Infertility. Some of these causes may have been or are
beyond your control. In the House of Representatives on
February 13, 2001, Mr. Andrews introduced the following
bill; Equity in Fertility Coverage Act of 2001. This bill
was recommended to assure equitable treatment of fertility
and impotence in health care coverage under group health
plans, health insurance coverage, and health plans under the
Federal Employees' Health Benefits Program. In general - a
group health plan, and a health insurance issuer offering
group health insurance coverage, that provides for coverage
of impotency medications such as Viagra shall also provide
coverage of fertility treatments. You should contact your
local representative to find out if there is coverage
available to you in addition to your health insurance
coverage.
The International Council on Infertility Information
Dissemination can be viewed here.
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| Does ART increase the chance of
having multiple births? |
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 The
likelihood of having a single baby as a result of ART ranges
from 60% to 80%. Most multiple births are twins. Multiple
births can be minimized by reducing the number of embryos
transferred in a given cycle. Be sure to discuss this issue
carefully with Drs. Steingold and Edelstein.
Careful planning and discussions with your doctor can
alleviate some of your worries concerning multiple births.
Only you and your partner can set your priorities and goals
to achieve a successful pregnancy and life beyond pregnancy.
Being realistic and approaching the subject of multiple
births can prepare you in the event it should occur. To
better prepare yourselves, ask your insurance provider about
coverage after pregnancy. Know that it is possible you will
need 2 of everything and there is only one of you. Knowing
the statistical rates are higher for multiple births when
receiving the ART or IVF program should let you know that
our Doctors will give every possible concern to your health
care plan and see you through to your quest for pregnancy.
More percents, charts and information can be found on the
National Center For Chronic Disease summary pages: CDC
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| What happens if the woman doesn't
conceive on the first try with IVF? Does this mean that we
have to try another method? |
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Not
necessarily. Failure to conceive on the first try with IVF
does not mean that particular method will not eventually
prove successful. As is true among fertile couples, it may
take more than one attempt (or IVF cycle) before pregnancy
is achieved.
Each and every case is uniquely different - there is no
comparison to other's infertility treatments and responses.
Your first IVF will begin on a fresh cycle of ovulation.
This offers the best means to accept the embryo and finalize
your IVF treatment. If it should fail, and there may be
other issues surrounding it's failure you may elect to
perform IVF again using previously frozen eggs not used in
the first procedure and remain available for a second IVF.
Due to the expense and the delicate nature of this procedure
an additional cost is unavoidable and you may elect to
"take a break" until you and your partner have
reached an agreement for ongoing treatment.
It is important to educate yourselves on the issues
surrounding Infertility and the available procedures to
correct it. Sometimes it helps to discuss your issues with
family and friends, but always keep in mind that your doctor
has years of experience in diagnosing and treating your
specific problem. You need to work with and trust your
doctor to treat the problem. Fertility Institute's doctors
know more about the causes and solutions that surround your
health care program than your friends and family do.
Infertility is a complicated problem to diagnose, you should
offer your doctor all required information so he can help
you expand on options and treatments during your health care
program.
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