When you are sitting in the Fertility Clinic waiting to see the Doctor, they might have a book of photographs for you view.  These are of families and babies that have been born thanks to the assistance of the clinic.  And when I say babies, I mean babies:  Twins, Triplets, and possibly higher multiples.  I think that this made my husband sweat a little bit, especially as our journey led us closer and closer to Intrauterine Insemination and then on to a successful IVF procedure.  You know that it is a possibility any time you consider In Vitro Fertilization or any other type of Fertility Treatment, yet it really is something you need to discuss before starting the procedure.

Most clinics will put in a certain amount embryos based on your age, embryo quality and the amount of eggs that fertilize.  For instance, as a general rule, they will put in two embryos if you are under 35 years old and three if you are over 35 years old.  If your embryo quality is not great, they might put in three embryos even if you are under 35 years of age.

Embryo quality is based on a number of factors, specifically at what rate the cells are splitting and what the embryo looks like as it grows.  Many clinics grade them as A, B, C, etc. and will not put in embryos that are less than a C as they have a very low chance of taking.  However, the clinic might give you an option of putting in poorer quality embryos, especially if you don’t have any embryos that are above a D grade.  In the end, the choice is up to you, but most clinics will give you their personal recommendation based on past success experience.  If you don’t have any embryos graded A or B, they might put in up to four embryos.

The amount of eggs you have that fertilize and that are a good quality also influences the amount of embryos that they place in you during In Vitro fertilization.  If you have only four good, quality embryos, there is no point in freezing just one as they might or might not make it when they are thawed.  At that point, you will have to decide how many embryos you want to use.

Keep in mind; this is all a general rule.  Some clinics put in four, five, six and even seven embryos no matter what.  This puts a greater risk for the mother and for the babies, as the higher the multiples the higher risk the pregnancy is.  It is a personal choice and you really have to weigh the pros and cons and decide what is best for your family.

It is recommended that you take all of this into consideration and discuss it with your spouse before beginning any procedure.  It is a highly emotionally charged time and the more you discuss up front, the more answers you will have as you are faced with various questions.  Everyone’s In Vitro Fertilization procedure is different and, if you have to do more than one round, chances are each round that you do will be different, so the more you discuss ahead of time, the less pressure you will feel when the time comes to make these decisions.

Chances are, if you are about to go through Artificial Insemination (AI), you have already been through a number of tests and treatments by your doctor to prepare you for this procedure.  If you have not had any testing done by your doctor and he moved straight to AI (also known as Intrauterine Insemination or IUI), then we suggest that you read this article before proceeding.  There are a few tests that should have been done by now to ensure that this procedure could have success.

Because AI involves placing the sperm in the uterine cavity during ovulation, the sperm and egg still have to meet inside in order for conception to take place.  The first test that needs to be done is called a hysterosalpingogram, which is a procedure that shows whether or not a woman’s fallopian tubes are blocked.  If there is a blockage in the tube, then an egg can not get through and AI will not be successful.  Many times a tube can be unblocked through laparoscopic surgery.  After the surgery, if the man’s sperm is healthy and has a good count, then AI might not even have to be used in order to get pregnant.

Testing a woman’s ovulation cycle might rule out the need for Artificial Insemination.  If a woman is not having a regular cycle or is not ovulating all together, they might be able to take medicine such as clomid to regulate ovulation, possibly allowing for conception to happen without doing AI.

Another thing that needs to be done is to have the man’s sperm tested.  If a man has very low to no sperm count or extremely poor mobility and motility, then chances are very slim that AI would work.  At that point you would have to either find out if there is a way to improve the sperm quality or count or consider using a sperm donor.

Before you start an Artificial Insemination cycle, we suggest that you discuss this testing with your Doctor.  If he/she does not think it is necessary, you are encouraged to get a second opinion.  AI is an emotional and financial decision.  Before you make the final decision to do it, you need to be sure that you have the highest possibility of success and have ruled out any factors that could work against you.

Experiencing fertility problem or having troubles conceiving can be a lonely and worrisome time.  You have all sorts of questions, such as the “Why” and the “What is going on” yet you don’t have anyone to turn to.  When you have fertility questions there are various resources where you can share your questions and begin to get answers

The first, and most obvious, place is to go to a Doctor to ask questions or perhaps begin to start some testing to find answers.  We recommend that you go to a clinic or Doctor that specializes in fertility issues.  Although your OB/GYN will probably be able to answer some basic questions and might even be able to do some testing, they will more than likely have to send you to a specialist if things begin to get complicated.  It can be time and money wasted if you start one place and then have to start over again somewhere else.  You have probably already at least spent plenty of time at this point trying to get pregnant and you are ready to move forward not hurry up and wait

Another good place to find answers to your fertility questions is through online chat groups that focus on women and men who have been where you are or are currently going through the same thing.  You can compare notes on what you have tried or what the Doctor’s have tested or tried.  Thy might know of an experimental treatment or have had success with such things as acupuncture and IVF.  When you are talking to someone who knows what you are going through, you don’t feel so alone and you begin to feel empowered.  Control is something you lose when you are going through fertility treatments, so feeling even a little bit of control can help you make it through.  Plus, you can go back to your doctor armed with questions that you might not have even thought of before.

Check your area to see if there is fertility support group.  Much the same as a chat room regarding fertility, you have a safe place to get your questions answered and share the comfort of knowing that you are not the only one experiencing the feelings, worries and sadness, you are not alone.  Many times people in support groups will exchange phone numbers or meet for coffee outside of the group.  You can have a person to call whenever you need them.  If you can’t find a local support group, consider starting your own.  You can advertise through local churches, fertility clinics and the newspaper.  You would be surprised at how many people are going through the same thing.  A friends and I started a local support group by contacting fertility clinics, OB/GYNs, adoption agencies and running ads in the paper.  We have become each other’s biggest supporters to share joys and sorrows as they come.

The most important thing for you to realize when you have fertility questions is that no question is stupid question.  Your Doctor should never make you feel as though you can’t ask fifty questions every time you go see them.  This is about your body, your family, your child that you are trying to conceive.  So ask away at any of these places and be on your way to gaining the answers to the questions that are so important to you.