Prerequisites for Soft-IVF®

We require the following prerequisites for Soft-IVF. You should be able to complete them within a short period of time. Please see Soft-IVF Fee for the cost of required prerequisites.

• Since pregnancy complications increase significantly with age and could compromise the mother's and baby's health, and since the probability of a successful outcome becomes exceedingly low by the age of 43, you must be 44 or younger at the time your treatment begins. Patients over the age of 43 should strongly consider Egg Donation as the most meaningful treatment to achieve a successful outcome. To be a candidate for our Three Cycle with Money-Back Guarantee Plan, you must be 40 years or younger at the time your treatment begins.

   

• If you live outside of the San Francisco Bay Area and would not be able to commute to your treatment visits, please see the Out of Area Patients page for additional important information.

   

• For your safety during the egg retrieval procedure, your weight must be no greater than the following maximum:

   

  Height	4ft 10in	4ft 11in	5ft 0in	5ft 1in	5ft 2in	5ft 3in	5ft 4in	5ft 5in	5ft 6in	5ft 7in	5ft 8in	5ft 9in	5ft 10in	5ft 11in	6ft 0in	6ft 1in
  Max. Weight (lb)	134	138	143	148	153	158	163	168	173	178	184	189	195	200	206	212

   

• Reproductive Health

   

  Environmental factors have a significant impact on reproductive health. It is essential that both partners (if applicable) adhere to the following recommendations. You should start following the reproductive health recommendations immediately, as it may take several weeks before there is an improvement in your fertility potential.

   

  Please see Environmental Impact on Fertility Potential page for a complete list of environmental reproductive health requirements and for sources of dietary supplements. To help you follow the reproductive health recommendations, each partner should print out and use the Reproductive Health Calendar.
  1. The following three items are a required part of your treatment at Bay IVF Center (both partners if applicable):
     1. ProOmega®-D Xtra Omega-3 supplement
     2. Alive!® Multi Max Potency multivitamins
     3. If you don’t already exercise regularly (several times a week), start walking outdoors for a minimum of 45 minutes each day.

         

  2. Both partners (if applicable) should consume an abundance of:
     1. Fresh fruits and vegetables, coconut oil and coconut milk
     2. Deep-sea fish from non-polluted sources

         

  3. Both partners (if applicable) must eliminate or minimize the intake of:
     1. All grains and foods made out of flour: breads, pastas, pastry, cereal, dumplings, tortillas, chips, cupcakes, cakes, cookies, pancakes, puddings, muffins, crackers, tacos, pretzels, bagels, doughnuts, etc.
     2. Processed meat (salami, sausages, hotdogs, canned meat)
     3. Soybean, canola, sunflower, safflower, cottonseed, grapeseed, walnut, sesame, peanut, and vegetable oils
     4. Hydrogenated or partially hydrogenated fats (vegetable shortening, margarine)
     5. Fried foods
     6. Potatoes and potato products
     7. Corn and all foods made out of corn, including high fructose corn syrup, must be eliminated from your diet.
     8. All soy products (including soybean oil) must be eliminated from your diet.
     9. Use only organic cane sugar in strict moderation.

         

  4. Drink only filtered water or water sold in glass or metal containers.
• Pathogen Testing

   

  This testing is required by the State of California. You and your partner must be tested for Hepatitis B-Surface Antigen, Hepatitis C-Antibody, HIV I&II, HTLV I&II, and RPR.

   

  The blood for these tests should be drawn as soon as possible and no later than the Ovarian Reserve Assay appointment. You can go to a laboratory of your choice, or we can draw your blood at our Center.

   

  If you have had any of these tests done within the last 12 months, they do not need to be repeated.

   

• Ovarian Reserve Assay

   

  Ovarian Reserve Assay (ORA) can assess the likelihood that normal quality eggs will be produced. Your IVF treatment should begin during a cycle when there is an acceptable probability of a successful pregnancy.

   

  This test involves two blood draws and a small under the skin (subcutaneous) injection of Lupron. To schedule the test, please call Bay IVF Center at 650-322-0500 on the first day of your menstrual period in the cycle that you want your treatment to begin.

   

  Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH) and estrogen blood levels are measured during the ORA. FSH stimulates the ovaries to produce eggs. If the ovaries cannot produce normal quality eggs, the FSH level is increased. Estrogen (E2) production by the ovaries influences FSH secretion and is also related to the egg quality. The estrogen level must increase sufficiently after the Lupron injection.

   

  Interpretation of results:

   

  In the following table, the acceptable values are shown in green. The required minimum overnight increase of estrogen (50 or 100 units) is listed.

   

  Ovarian Reserve Assay

  Female Age	FSH 11.9 or Lower	FSH 12.0 or Higher
  39 or Younger	50
  40 to 44	100

   

  Your treatment can start this cycle if:

   

  1. You are 39 years or younger, and your FSH level is 11.9 or lower, and after the Lupron injection, your estrogen level increases by a minimum of 50.

      

  2. You are 40 to 44 years, and your FSH level is 11.9 or lower, and after the Lupron injection, your estrogen level increases by a minimum of 100.

   

  Most women will have normal Ovarian Reserve Assay results. An abnormal result does not necessarily mean that you cannot get pregnant with your own eggs. We typically recommend repeating the test up to three times.

   

  Out-of-area patients: If your Ovarian Reserve Assay shows an overnight increase of estrogen of more than 250, or your initial visit ovarian ultrasound shows more than a total of 24 follicles within both ovaries, the risk of severe ovarian hyperstimulation is too great for you to be treated in an out of your area fertility clinic. Since the symptoms of ovarian hyperstimulation peak one to three weeks after egg retrieval, over which period of time you may require several immediate visits to our clinic, it would be unsafe for you to become a patient at Bay IVF Center.

   

• Measurement of the Uterus

   

  It is important to place embryo(s) at the top of the endometrial cavity. To measure the length of the endometrial cavity, a thin embryo transfer catheter is passed through the cervical canal to the top of the uterus.

   

• Sonohysterogram

   

  We perform a Sonohysterogram (saline ultrasound) to assess the endometrial cavity of your uterus. A thin, soft catheter is passed through the cervix inside the uterus, and a small amount of sterile saline solution is instilled. A transvaginal ultrasound is used to visualize contours of the endometrial cavity.

   

  The presence of polyps, fibroids, or scaring inside the uterus can significantly reduce the probability of implantation. If any polyps, fibroids, or scaring are found, their removal would require a simple outpatient procedure by your OB/GYN or a specialist.

   

  The ultrasound image below shows a normal endometrial cavity. Polyps and fibroids (myomas) would show as lighter shade "filling defects" within the dark saline filled endometrial cavity.

   

  

   

   

• Semen Evaluation

   

  The male partner will have a semen test done at Bay IVF Center to determine the best laboratory method for fertilization. This test should be done prior to or at your initial Bay IVF Center visit and must be scheduled no later than the Ovarian Reserve Assay.

   

  Patients should abstain from sexual activity for approximately 48-72 hours prior to collection.  The specimen must be obtained by masturbation.

   

  If you plan to collect outside of Bay IVF Center, the specimen must be delivered to Bay IVF Center Laboratory within one hour of collection.  Please make sure you have a Bay IVF Center Laboratory sterile semen container.

   

  Please note that to be a candidate for Soft-IVF, your "total motile sperm count" per ejaculate must be 4 million or more. This also applies to any previous Semen Analysis you may have had.

   

• Genetic Testing (Optional)

   

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

   

• Psychological Counseling (Optional)

   

  "The majority of the research thus far does support the theory that the more distressed one is before an IVF cycle, the less likely one is to conceive."

  — Alice Domar, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Obstetrics, Gynecology,
  and Reproductive Biology, Harvard Medical School

   

  The psychological impact of not being able to conceive can be profound. It is not uncommon to experience all the stages of loss: refusal to believe, anger, bargaining, despair, and acceptance. The inability to conceive can also put tremendous stress on a couple's intimate relationship. For many partners, experiencing long-term infertility can be a real "trial-by-fire".

   

  You may wish to consider counseling by a Marriage & Family therapist, a psychologist, or a psychiatrist. This could be as short as a single session or could take place throughout your treatment and beyond. If you do not have a counselor, please see a list of therapists that specialize in infertility, and most of whom have previously worked with Bay IVF Center patients.

   

• Instruction Booklet

   

  You will receive an Instruction Booklet with your treatment schedule, treatment instructions, and instructions on mixing and administration of your medications. Please use the Instructional Videos to review how to use the various medications.

If you have any questions regarding these prerequisites, please contact us by phone at 650-322-0500 or via email at care@BayIVF.com. To request an appointment, please go to the Request an Appointment page.