ivf classes

[Anonymous]

I'm curious to find out people's experiences with IVF classes. DH and I were planning to start IVF in the new year so that we could get all our ART expenses in one year for tax reasons, but the waiting is killing me so I just made a follow up appt for next week with my RE (Dr. Frankfurter at GW) to start IVF asap. On the GW website they mention an IVF class but when I called about it I was told that the next class isn't until December 16th and ideally I would be in the middle of an IVF cycle by then. When I went for my last appt, we went over all out test results and the RE said we should just make a decision about what to do (IVF vs IUI) and then call them back. Also our nurse said that we should just call on day 1 of my cycle the month we want to start IVF. SO I'm confused about whether I'm going to have to wait another cycle so that I can take the IVF class. Has anyone taken these classes? What did you think? Were they mandatory or optional? Were they worth taking (GW charges $120 for the class plus it's another 1/2 day off work). Rationally, I know that worst case I just take the class and wait until January to start IVF, but in my mind over the past week I've been getting myself mentally prepared to do IVF in December and now I'm really upset at the prospect of waiting another month. Of course, I've already been TTC for 1.5 years so I guess another month won't kill me. Anyhow, any thoughts/experiences on IVF classes would be much appreciated.

[Anonymous]

Maybe you should schedule another appointment with your RE to talk about the IVF process? Then call your nurse and talk with her, too. I've never done a class, although am only doing IUI at this point. I think Shady Grove has lots of video classes on its website, and I'm sure other clinics do, too. It seems silly to me to pay to take a class . . .

[Anonymous]

I did my first IVF cycle in July, but I did not have to go through a class. Instead I had a nurse come to my home and instruct me on how to do the injections. I also met with a nurse at the RE's office who went through the IVF cycle with me. I agree with the other poster and would call your RE to schedule a time to review the IVF process. Good Luck!!!

[Anonymous]

Are you sure you would be in the middle of an IVF class on Dec. 16 if you haven't already started some of the drugs? When I did IVF with SG, I had to be on the birth control pill for about 1 month, when I got AF I then was on lupron for about 2 weeks and then started my stims, so it was a good 6 weeks before I was taking the serious drugs.

I don't know what the IVF class would be, but I only took a injection workshop at SG that they had every week where you practice doing the shots on oranges and things like that. And honestly, even though my DH and I both went, when we had to do the shots, we forgot. The drugs I had came with a CD that actually showed a person giving themselves the drugs and I found that to be very helpful. After one day of shots, I was able to do all the shots myself (except for Progesterone).

If you have your heart set on doing the cycle now, don't let the class stop you! Good luck!