IVF Process

Over decades of experience, MCRM Fertility has optimized the IVF process so it’s streamlined and efficiently organized. We minimize the timeframes, the number of injections, and stress on the patient, while optimizing the outcomes.

No two patients have exactly the same treatment plan. But your IVF process may include:

• Controlled Ovarian Hyperstimulation (COH) – A synthetic form of the follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) is used to stimulate your ovaries to produce mature eggs and encourage dual follicle growth.
• Ultrasound Monitoring – We monitor your cycle from the beginning with ultrasound, and track egg production and maturation.
• Bloodwork Monitoring – We monitor your hormone levels to make sure to keep them in the optimal range for IVF success,
• Egg Retrieval (ER) – Your eggs are harvested through a minimally invasive surgical procedure done at our St. Louis fertility clinic. You have light anesthesia, and go home same-day.
• Advanced Sperm Selection (utilized on a case-by-case basis) – We utilize multiple, advanced sperm selection techniques to provide our patients with the highest probability of success. One of these techniques is our exclusive Nanobead Sperm selection procedure. 
  

• Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI) – We inject one selected sperm into the cytoplasm of an individual oocyte (egg) to enhance fertilization. This is done for each egg retrieved, creating multiple embryos.
•  EmbryoScope ® Embryo Selection  – We are one of only a few fertility centers in the country to offer EmbryoScope ® technology, proven to improve implantation rates. It’s a combined incubator and camera system allows our embryologists to analyze and select the highest quality embryos for your IVF. 
• Preimplantation Genetic Testing for Aneuploidy (PGT-A) – We determine which embryos are genetically normal (euploid) and use only those for your IVF. 
• Assisted Hatching – Before implanting the embryo, we help it “hatch” from its “shell” ( zona pellucida) with a small crack that can help it implant in the uterus. 
• Embryo Freezing – Any number of healthy embryos developed in the lab can be cryopreserved for use in a subsequent frozen embryo transfer procedure, at some time in the future.
• Embryo Transfer – Embryo transfers may be either Fresh or Frozen. A fresh embryo transfer is typically completed 5-days post egg retrieval. Doing so allows the embryo to develop to a blastocyst which yields higher success rates. A frozen embryo transfer can occur anytime in the future. A frozen embryo transfer is required when utilizing PGT-A testing. In both cases, the embryo(s) to be transferred are uploaded into a catheter. The catheter is inserted through the vagina and cervix and the embryo is deposited into the uterus. 
  

How Much Does IVF Cost?

IVF is considered the most cost-efficient method of assisted reproductive technology. However, it’s not inexpensive. 

Because each patient’s insurance coverage is different, and each IVF procedure may vary in which technologies are needed, it’s impossible to give a general answer to the question of what IVF costs. When you meet with your financial counselor, they can give you the answers you need in an individualized, specific analysis of your coverage and out of pocket expenses.

You will find that our fertility clinic is extremely sensitive to our patients’ concerns over budget. From our fertility specialists to our financial counselors and patient support coordinators, we support you thoroughly through even difficult budget decisions that impact your fertility treatments. Our goal is always to help make pregnancy and building a family possible for you.