FAQ’s
How do I start an IVF cycle?
Your first step is to contact
us though the contact us section of this website.
You will be scheduled to speak with one of our Fertility
Specialists. You do not need a referral letter for
this appointment. It is advisable that you fax or
bring a copy of any previous medical records, which
are pertinent to this appointment.
After your consultation with the Consultant
if an IVF cycle has been decided as the treatment
most suitable for you, you will have a consultation
with a Clinical Nurse Coordinator. At this consultation
our nurse will give you a full overview and orientation
of the details and procedures involved in an IVF cycle.
Our nurse will give you a step-by-step outline of
what to expect during your treatment and any additional
tests required.
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What routine testing is required prior to
IVF at Barbados Fertility Centre?
All couples undergoing IVF at BFC require pre-cycle
testing. A general list of these tests are available
on our website but they do vary slightly depending
on what treatment a couple is having. The list appropriate
to you will be available after your initial consultation
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What are the side effects of medications used in IVF?
In general, the IVF medications used to prepare the
uterus and to stimulate the ovaries only have temporary
symptoms such as abdominal bloating, low-grade headaches,
hot flushes, mood swings but are not known to carry
any long-term risks of cancer of the ovary, unless
there is a family history of ovarian cancer. The most
serious side effect would be ovarian hyperstimulation
syndrome (OHSS) – see more detail under risks.
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How many eggs should I expect to get?
Your in-cycle monitoring ultrasound scans will be
able to give you an accurate count of how many follicles
are developing. However, not every follicle always
contains an egg. Usually about 80% of follicles yield
an egg. The number of eggs collected is dependant
upon each patient’s response but at Barbados
Fertility Centre our average egg number is 10 per
retrieval.
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Are the procedures involved in IVF painful?
The pre IVF cycle lab-work tests includes the drawing
of blood for various tests and an evaluation of the
cavity of the uterus called the saline infusions sonogram
(SIS) which can be done in your gynaecologist’s
office and you should experience minimal discomfort.
You will also have injectable fertility medications,
which are administered subcutaneously with a short
needle and discomfort should be tolerable.
The egg retrieval is performed through the vagina
with ultrasound and a fine needle. Patients at Barbados
Fertility Centre are asleep during this procedure.
The procedure is known as conscious sedation. This
is not a general anesthetic but patients are not awake
and they have no pain. They wake up very quickly after
the egg retrieval, which usually lasts 15-30 minutes.
The embryo transfer procedure is similar to a Pap
smear or IUI procedure and is generally performed
with minimal discomfort.
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If my cycle is unsuccessful when can I have
another one?
We recommend you take one month’s break between
fresh IVF cycles to allow the ovaries resume to normal
before being re-stimulated. If you do have frozen
embryos remaining from your fresh cycle however, you
can choose to proceed with a frozen embryo transfer
cycle without a break.
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How long can my embryos remain frozen?
The HFEA in the UK, whose guidelines we follow at
Barbados Fertility Centre, states that embryos can
safely remain frozen for up to 5 years.
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What happens if I want to use my frozen embryos
elsewhere?
Embryos are being continuously shipped between IVF
clinics worldwide for many reasons. At Barbados Fertility
Centre we have very stringent protocols, which we
follow to prevent any damage to your embryos in transit,
to the clinic of your choice.
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What activity restrictions should I follow after my
embryo transfer?
Once you are discharged we recommend our patients
rest the day of the embryo transfer procedure. Normal
activities can be resumed the day afterwards. We do
not recommend any high impact activities or over-exertion
until the pregnancy test. We advise patients to avoid
any hot-tubs/Jacuzzis or hot baths during this time
also. Sexual intercourse can resume at any time depending
on the female patients level of comfort after the
egg retrieval.
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I am on the birth control pill (BCP) and spotting
– is this normal?
Yes, breakthrough bleeding is one of the most common
side-effects of the pill. If you are having any bleeding
or spotting and are concerned, phone your nurse coordinator.
However, it is nothing to be worried about as the
medication is still having the desired effect. You
still need to continue the pill every day until directed
by your clinic to discontinue.
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Can my endometriosis affect my fertility or IVF cycle?
Endometriosis is a medical condition where cells that
usually remain confined to the cavity of the uterus,
grow outside of the uterus usually on or in the ovaries
and also on the surface of the pelvic cavity between
the uterus and the rectum. Endometriosis can cause
pelvic pain and may also decrease the chances of natural
conception, as it can affect tubal function and ovulation.
Patients who require IVF and who have endometriosis
should still have the same chances of a successful
outcome as patients of the same age without endometriosis.
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What about alternative treatments like acupuncture?
Acupuncture and Reflexology, administered by an experienced
practitioner who is aware of your medical diagnoses
and treatment plan, can facilitate relaxation as well
as optimise ovarian response and implantation. We
encourage our patients to seek assistance in these
areas. Herbal medicines can be helpful but also potentially
dangerous. We ask our couples to review any herbal
medication with us prior to starting a course. They
need to be dispensed under the guidance of an experienced
practitioner.
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