# IVF Cycles: What is realistic?

[Anonymous]

I'm trying to decide whether or not to pick the "shared risk" program at SGF (= 6 cycles), or stick with my current health insurance, which will cover 3 cycles at 50% cost. I'm very attracted to the idea that with shared risk, we would more easily be able to open the door to adoption by getting our investment back if IVF didn't result in a baby. But, from what i've read, every cycle is a challenge, and 6 seems almost insane. I've already had 4 miscarriages and don't know whether that makes me steeled to handle unsuccessful cycles, or emotionally exhausted. So, what is emotionally realistic? And how many cycles would anyone generally expect to do in a year?

[Anonymous]

I never did the shared risk, but I thought that it did not cover the cost of the meds. If uncovered, the costs of the meds is extremely high, almost equal to the cost of the cycle if you don't get a discount. Even if your insurance only pays 50% of the cost of the drugs, you will only pay 50% of their negotiated rate which is lower than the retail price. Just something to think about . . .

Good Luck!

[Anonymous]

other things to consider:
the SG shared risk includes the cost of freezing any embryos, and also any frozen cycles should you have frozen embryos.
-does your insurance cover the FET's, and the cost of storage?
-also, does your insurance cover the meds? sg has a shared risk "rider" for the meds, which i think may be a fee of $7500 and would cover drugs for all 6 cycles (this starts in october, i think). i don't know your situation but i spend about $3K on meds myself for 1 fresh cycle (i go up to 4 vials of menopur per day).
-another thing to consider is the fact that you can drop out at anytime of the sg shared risk program and get your money back...i would triple check this before signing your life away just to be sure, but my dh asked her this during our meeting.
-does insurance cover icsi or assisted hatching? i *think* the shared risk covers this, but i actually need to check on this to be sure.

all in all i don't know the best option for you as I do not have any insurance coverage for any treatments, but thought of these things to also consider.

[Anonymous]

Also, what are your odds of success? What are your odds of getting a lot of eggs, so that you may have some good ones to freeze? If you are young (under 32 or so), you're more likely to have more eggs and more good quality eggs, so more likely to have some to freeze. Will you want to do IVF in the future for a sibling? If so, are your insurance company's 3 cycles a lifetime limit?

But to directly answer your question - I agree that 6 cycles sounds brutal. I did 3 IUIs and 3 IVFs and will not do any more. But, of course, the vast majority of couples only need 1-2 cycles.

[Anonymous]

I think your decision depends greatly on your age and odds of success. If you are less than 35 and have normal blood work results, etc. the odds are overwhelming that 3 or less cycles will work. If you're older than 40 then you're in an entirely different situation.

[Anonymous]

We didn't do shared risk, and I'm comfortable with that decision. You have to pay for meds out of pocket every time (and for me it was more than $6000/cycle b/c I'm a poor responder.)...and in addition I had 4 IVFs total...the last two that didn't go to retrieval b/c not enough eggs...and now I'm done. I can't imagine going through another 2 with the same poor results. I was happy to have my insurance cover the 50%.

Now I'm moving on to donor eggs...with no insurance coverage for that...so we're doing shared risk for that.

[Anonymous]

I agree that the decision depends upon your age and fertility issues. If you have had 4 miscarriages in the past I would lean towards the shared risk personally. Also, make sure you would actually qualify for the program. That may make the decision much easier! I've known people who think they will qualify and then they don't...

[Anonymous]

Just a quick note to say that you can withdraw from shared risk at any time -- you do not have to complete all 6 cycles. Another thing to check w/your insurance -- how do they define a cycle? Some consider you to have used up a cycle if you took even one injection (so if a cycle got cancelled that would still count as one of your three). Also, would your insurance cover the drugs if you did shared risk? And if IVF didn't work, would you adopt or do donor egg? DH and I chose shared risk not b/c we wanted to do 6 cycles, but so that if the first three cycles didn't work we'd have money back to do donor egg/adopt.

[Anonymous]

check w/ the financial dpt at sgfc b/c i think they are going to offer a shared risk "rider" for $7500 that would cover drugs for all 6 cycles. this fee is nonrefundable however. and yes i believe you can drop out at anytime and get your $20K fee back.

i forget tho does the sr cover icsi and ah?

[Anonymous]

I just went through my first IVF cycle at SGFC. Exactly as poster 08:28 said, SGFC charges a lower rate if you have insurance that covers any part of the procedure. Our insurance also covers 50% so the procedure (IVF with ICSI) plus all ultrasounds, mock embryo, etc wound up being about $3,400. That doesn't include medications which was another $1000 (my insurance also pays for half). So ask the financial coordinator for an itemized cost of procdures for you with your insurance. If we did shared risk, it would have been the full cost of both the procedures plus medications (insurance doesn't recognize shared risk so wouldn't pay half of the medication costs).

I REALLY hated the IVF cycle. Between the shots and all the appointments and daily phone calls I had a hard time carrying on my regular daily responsibilities (was NOT a model mother or employee over that month+) I wanted to crawl into the fetal position by the end of every day (and I didn't even have bad side effects from the hormones). It was just so intrusive, clinical, and an emotional rollercoaster. If the first cycle doesn't work, I don't think I would go through it again. That being said, I probably don't have as strong of a drive for a biological child -- we adopted our first child last year internationally and it has been the most wonderful and fulfilling experience.
Without the adoption experience, I don't think emotionally or physically I could handle more than 3 IVF cycles.