First IVF is an all-inclusive single cycle of IVF for people who have not had any previous IVF cycles or natural pregnancy.
First IVF Package - 1 cycle
This package is for 1 cycle of fresh IVF including: virology testing, medication up to pregnancy testing (except Lubion), HFEA fee, monitoring scans and bloods tests during treatment, egg collection, embryo transfer, embryo glue, embryoscope, blastocyst culture, 2 counselling sessions and a review consultation or early pregnancy scan at the end of the cycle. ICSI is also included if it is required.
The criteria for First IVF is: no previous cycles of IVF treatment (NHS or self-funded) or natural pregnancy, 37 years old or below, AMH between 6 and 35, BMI below 35, no severe uterine abnormalities (consultant discretion) and 1 million/ml motile sperm.
Before you start
You will need an initial assessment consultation with a fertility specialist who will review your medical history and ensure that First IVF is right for you before you commit to treatment. If you have any medical problems, this may exclude you from First IVF and a doctor will review your notes on a case by case basis.
You will also need to have some diagnostic tests. The results of these tests will enable our consultants to choose the optimum treatment pathway for you. The cost of any pre-treatment diagnostics are not included in the First IVF package.
You will need to have a diagnostic 3D scan, an AMH blood test to determine your egg reserve and diagnostic blood tests (LH, FSH, TSH, FBC and Vitamin D) to determine your hormone and vitamin levels. You will also need chlamydia screening and you and your partner if you have one will need viral screening. The chlamydia and viral screening are included in the First IVF package.
Male partners will need to have a semen analysis. This test is widely available on the NHS (via your GP who will provide you with a referral form). If you are unable to access this via the NHS, we can carry this out for a cost.
You can also enquire if your GP is able to perform some or all of the blood tests for you, although it is vital that these are the same tests as we would carry out as incomplete testing can lead to delays in treatment. If you have had some or all of these tests performed recently, please email the results to us before your consultation. This will help us to avoid repeat tests and keep costs as low as possible.
When you have the results of all of the above tests, you will need an initial assessment with one of our fertility specialists who will review your case history and ensure that First IVF is right for you before you commit to treatment.
How the First IVF Package works
Once we confirm First IVF is right for you, the next step is to have a booking consultation with one of our Fertility Nurse Specialists. There is no charge for this.
During this booking consultation you will have the opportunity to discuss with your nurse any queries you may have relating to your treatment. Your medication and how to take this will be explained to you and full training on self-injection of medication will be given.
As soon as your treatment package has been agreed and paid for, your medication will be ordered for delivery to your home on a date and time to suit you (excluding weekends).
You will need approximately three monitoring ultrasound scans prior to your egg collection.
Egg Collection
The egg collection procedure takes place at Cambridge IVF and is carried out by a specialist fertility doctor. It lasts for approximately 30 minutes and is performed under conscious sedation administered by a CUH consultant anaesthetist. You should be ready to go home within two hours.
On the day of egg collection, the eggs are mixed with sperm from your partner or chosen donor in our dedicated IVF laboratory, where we will grow your embryos for up to six days. The embryos grow in special incubators and we return one embryo to you usually five days later in an embryo transfer procedure.
In many cases more than one embryo of good quality is available for transfer and any surplus embryos (called blastocysts at this stage) can be vitrified (frozen). This freezing process is extremely successful and the pregnancy rates from frozen blastocyst transfers at Cambridge IVF are very good.
Embryo transfer
The embryo transfer will be carried out by a fertility specialist using ultrasound guidance. EmbryoGlue® is a specific culture liquid designed for the transfer of embryos during IVF treatment and is used for all of our patients at no extra cost.
You will be given a personalised information sheet advising you on the next steps together with any contact information you may need. You will also be given a prescription, should you wish to purchase further medication which may assist early pregnancy (as this medication, post pregnancy test is not included in the First IVF package).
After embryo transfer
You should carry out a urine pregnancy test 16 days after egg collection.
If the pregnancy test is positive, then you will be booked for an early pregnancy scan either at the Rosie Hospital or at Cambridge IVF and early pregnancy advice will be given.
Ours is a transparent service. Even at a leading clinic like Cambridge IVF, it often takes more than one embryo transfer to conceive. There is no charge for the review appointment and two counselling sessions are included in the cost of the First IVF package.
If your pregnancy test is negative, you will be offered counselling by our dedicated counsellor and a review appointment will be arranged with a fertility specialist to discuss the next steps. There is no charge for these services.
What if First IVF if not right for me?
Cambridge IVF have a number of other treatments which may be more suitable to your particular circumstances. These include Pure IVF, IVF Plus and Multicycle IVF.
In addition, Cambridge University Hospitals has some of the UK’s leading specialists to help patients with more complex needs, such as endocrine conditions, severe endometriosis, Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome, a low ovarian reserve or a high BMI. If First IVF is not right for you we can arrange an appointment with one of our consultants who will advise on the best options for you.
Please contact us at add-tr.cambridgeivf@nhs.net or on 01223 349010 for an appointment.