Nashville Fertility

IVF Cycle Requirements

Learn more about our IVF cycle requirements before you start treatment

Our Tennessee fertility doctors have IVF cycle requirements they recommend that patients complete before moving forward with in vitro fertilization (IVF). These requirements help ensure that the cycle is as successful as possible. The experienced staff at our clinic walk patients through each step, helping to make the path to in vitro fertilization as simple as possible.

Important IVF cycle requirements for women

Many of our IVF cycle requirements relate to evaluating a woman’s fertility and health. These evaluations can help the doctor determine the chance of the IVF cycle being successful.

Copy of records. The doctor reviews records from the woman’s previous fertility treatment cycles before they begin in vitro fertilization.

Gynecological exam. If the woman has not had a gynecological exam within the last year, the doctor will recommend she has one.

Documentation of a healthy uterus. Fertility specialists sometimes recommend a fertility evaluation such as a hysterosalpingogram (HSG), saline infusion sonohysterogram or hysteroscopy to confirm the health of the woman’s uterus.

Bloodwork. Women receive bloodwork to test for HIV, hepatitis C, anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH), vitamin D and antisperm antibodies.

EKG and mammogram. Many women over 40 years of age receive an EKG and mammogram before beginning IVF.

After the woman completes these evaluations, one of our Tennessee fertility doctors discusses the results with her. Together, they decide if she should move forward with IVF.

Requirements for men before an IVF cycle

IVF cycle requirements for men allow the doctor to evaluate sperm health, which is an important component of the success of the IVF cycle.

Semen analysis and semen culture. This evaluation enables a fertility specialist to assess the quantity, quality and movement of sperm. We recommend men refrain from ejaculating for two to five days before their appointment in order for the analysis to provide the most accurate result.

Bloodwork. Men receive bloodwork that tests for blood type and Rh, hepatitis B and C and antisperm antibodies.

Sperm cryopreservation. We suggest men provide an additional sperm sample for freezing. They can then use this sample if they require a back-up during the IVF cycle.

In addition to these standard cycle requirements, our doctors often recommend preconception genetic screening for women and men. This testing helps determine whether the patients have genetic conditions their children could inherit.

Most of these results need to be current within six months to a year before the start of the IVF cycle. Because specific requirements vary, depending on the patient’s unique fertility needs, an IVF nurse at our clinic provides patients with a customized list of requirements.

With the expert support of our Tennessee fertility doctors, this process often results in a healthy pregnancy. Contact us for more information about in vitro fertilization.

(615) 321-4740