Fertility Care
The skilled specialists at Wisconsin Fertility Institute provide comprehensive medical and surgical treatment of infertility.
We offer a wide range of in-vitro fertilization options. Our in-vitro fertilization techniques are state-of-the-art but designed to maximize conception rates and additional future attempts at conception within the context of realistic economic considerations. To this end we offer routine in-vitro fertilization, micro IVF (a low cost alternative), and aggressive stimulation methods for optimizing chances for embryo cryopreservation. In addition, we offer preimplantation genetic diagnosis and aneuploidy screening, family balancing, fertility preservation techniques including oocyte or embryo cryopreservation, and all available forms of third-party reproduction.
Our philosophy at Wisconsin Fertility Institute is to provide patient-desired services regardless of the effects upon published statistics. As such, we often provide IVF services to those turned away at other centers. We strongly believe that paternalistic care is not in your best interest: when provided with the facts, every couple is capable of making the decisions which are best for them.
For an overview, you can download:
IVF Page Topics
In-Vitro FAQs
If your testing was completed at the Wisconsin Fertility Institute, we will contact you when the results are in and have you set up an appointment with one of the providers to discuss your specific treatment plan. If your testing was done through your own health care provider, call us if you need our help getting the results sent or faxed to our office. Once we have received all of the records, we will contact you to set up your treatment plan visit.
This can be difficult to know for some people, if they are spotting or bleeding stops and starts. Day one is considered the first day you see flow. Spotting does not count as flow. If you are not using a pad or tampon, then it is not day one yet. If you are unsure about what day counts as day one, call us!
When we call in your original prescription, we also call in several refills. Simply contact the pharmacy from where you received your original prescription and they will mail out more medications. Some pharmacies do not deliver on the weekends, so if you will need more medication on Saturday or Sunday, you should have it delivered by Friday. If you need help, feel free to call us.
When looking on the patient portal Flow Sheet tab, you will notice the medications are listed for each day you are to take them. You can look at the Patient Instructions tab to see when your next ultrasound and estrogen appointment should be scheduled. If you are still having trouble, call us!
- Follistim/Gonal-f/Stimulation drugs: We usually prefer you take these in the afternoon/early evening.
- Novarel: This is usually taken in the evening with the Follistim or Gonal F.
- Omnitrope: This is also taken in the evening with the evening drugs.
- Cetrotide/Ganirelix: This medication is taken in the mornings, make sure you take it within 30 minutes of your scheduled time each morning. You will still take this medication the day that you trigger with Lupron or Ovidrel in preparation for the egg retrieval.
- Lupron/Ovidrel AS A TRIGGER: These medications should be taken at the precise time that we tell you. Your egg retrieval time is based on when you took the Lupron or Ovidrel, so taking it on time is important. If you take your Lupron or Ovidrel at another time than we indicated (by more than 15 minutes) please call us right away.
- Progesterone: Should be at the same time each day, twice daily, based on the time of day that works for you.
- Doxycycline: Every 12 hours/twice daily with food.
- Estrogen/Estrace: This drug can cause nausea, so it is best to spread it out during the day. You can take it with meals or at bedtime. It will be taken four times daily.
Please see the Medication Storage Fact Sheet in your IVF folder for a complete listing of medications and instructions.
Any medications besides the ones we are prescribing should be cleared by one of our staff. Please review all medications you take with us. Tylenol and Benadryl products are ok to use during the cycle. Ephedrine based medications should be avoided.
There is no evidence to suggest that restricting intercourse is helpful.
Micro In-Vitro Fertilization (Micro IVF)
Minimal stimulation IVF (also known as Mini IVF or Micro IVF) offers infertile couples an alternative to traditional IVF. Micro IVF differs from standard IVF by:
- Fewer and less expensive medications
- Lower costs due to less laboratory work
- Less time commitment
Pregnancy rates may be lower with Micro IVF, but some couples still choose this method due to its other benefits.
The best candidates are young couples with no fertility issues aside from damaged or absent fallopian tubes (for example, women who have had a tubal ligation). Other good candidates include couples who conceive easily but have had multiple ectopic pregnancies.
On day two of your menstrual cycle, you will begin stimulation of the ovaries and oral medication for a few days, then add injectable medications. Approximately five ultrasounds will be performed during a 12-14 day period to ensure you are growing enough eggs, and to monitor their maturity. When the eggs are mature, an egg retrieval is performed by passing a needle across the vagina and aspirating up to four eggs. The eggs are then placed in a dish, sperm added, and the next morning fertilization checked. We usually transfer up to three embryos on the third day after the retrieval, but prefer to transfer only two. Intra-cytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) where one sperm is injected into each egg and cryopreservation of the embryos is not available with Micro IVF.
In couples that fit the profile stated above, pregnancy rates are as high as 30% per attempt.
Simply ask your doctor about this when discussing treatment options for IVF. This can occur at any time prior to establishing your IVF treatment plan.
Embryo Interpretion
The information below will outline what we expect to see each day with your embryos.
Day 0: Egg retrieval day. You will learn how many eggs are retrieved, then later in the day sperm will be added to them.
Day 1: This is the day we see how many eggs are fertilized, they are called embryos now.
Day 2: We let the embryos sleep today, no call.
Day 3: If any embryo has between five and eight cells on this day, it is of good quality. It is also graded on a 1 to 4 scale, with 1 being best quality and 4 being worst. This might be the day of freezing if the embryos are not of great quality or if there aren’t more than eight embryos.
Day 4: We let the embryos sleep today, no call.
Day 5: Today the embryo consists of over a hundred cells and is called a blastocyst. There are four blastocyst stages: 1) early, 2) full, 3) expanded, and 4) hatched. On day 5 most embryos are early or full, but if they are expanded or hatched, then they are of excellent quality. Embryos that are of excellent quality (expanded and hatched) are frozen, as these are the most likely to survive a thaw and create a pregnancy.
Day 6: This is the final day of embryo growth in the plastic petri dish. Any embryos that were not frozen yesterday but have reached the expanded and hatched stage of embryo development will be frozen today.
You will receive a call on embryo day of life 1, 3, 5 and 6; usually between 1:00 pm and 3:30 pm, with updates. We will not call you on days 2 or 4 as we let the embryos rest that day.
In general, only 30% of the embryos created on day 1 make it to day 5 or 6 in the plastic petri dish.
Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis (PGD)/Preimplantation Genetic Testing for Aneuploidies (PGt-A)
Both PGD and PGt-A are genetic tests that can be performed on embryos that are created through In-Vitro Fertilization (IVF or Test Tube Babies). PGD will determine if the embryo carries a known genetic abnormality that is passed down through families. Some examples of these disorders are Cystic Fibrosis, Huntington’s Disorder, Spinal Muscular Atrophy, Tay Sach’s Disorder, Sickle Cell Anemia, and Fragile X Syndrome, just to name a few.
PGt-A can determine if there are a normal number of chromosomes; no extras but not too few. When an embryo has more, or fewer numbers of the standard 46 chromosomes, then they are more likely to result in a negative pregnancy test or a miscarriage. This is called aneuploidy. The most common example of this is the test for Down’s Syndrome, in which the baby carries an extra chromosome 21. PGt-A can also tell you gender of the embryo. This can be helpful if there is a genetic disease that is passed down only to the male or the female embryo. An example of this is Hemophilia A, in which the male child is at risk for having the disorder, not the female.
Until a few years ago, we were testing embryos that were three days old, but the results were not very accurate. Now we recommend testing embryos when they have been growing in the petri dish for five or six days. The results are much more accurate!
Wisconsin Fertility Institute was the first center in Wisconsin to primarily use this treatment to help couples achieve births of healthy babies. It is our belief that in the next few years, these genetic tests will become a standard treatment during IVF. Although live birth rates may not change, miscarriage and negative pregnancy results will be lowered.
Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome
Excessive stimulation of the ovaries is called ovarian hyperstimulation. Ovarian hyperstimulation occurs in a small percentage of patients when too many follicles develop in the ovary. The ovary then grows to a large size and leaks fluid, resulting in nausea and bloating, dehydration, and, if severe, fluid collection around the abdominal organs, or ascites. In very severe cases, fluid collects around other organs, such as the lungs and heart, and blood clots and strokes can occur. If the ovary enlarges too much, rupture of the ovary and abdominal bleeding can occur. In rare cases, hospitalization and removal of abdominal fluid may be required to regulate fluid balance.
Fortunately, serious cases of ovarian hyperstimulation are quite rare and your doctor can predict and prevent hyperstimulation by monitoring the ovaries with ultrasound and blood estrogen levels. If we believe your risk is higher than most patients, a cycle may be cancelled. Although this is a rare event, cancellation provides complete safety, in that hyperstimulation almost never occurs after a cancelled cycle. If a cycle proceeds to egg retrieval, the risk of severe hyperstimulation is reduced by freezing all embryos and transferring them in a later cycle, after the risk has subsided. You may be asked to take a drug called cabergoline around the retrieval time, or use different types of “trigger” injections before the retrieval. These steps will also decrease the risk of OHSS.
What to do:
- Drink plenty of electrolyte-rich fluids like Gatorade
- Increase protein and salt intake
- You can take Tylenol for discomfort
What happens:
- Symptoms may become worse before they get better
- Your belly may swell; sometimes a bigger pant size/elastic pants becomes necessary
- You may need to come into the clinic for a blood draw panel and/or ultrasound
- Hospitalization may be necessary if symptoms persist or become more severe
Please contact the clinic right away if you experience:
- Fullness/bloating above the belly button
- Shortness of breath
- Reduced urination or if urine becomes dark in color
- Calf pain or chest pain
- Extreme lower abdominal pain
- Vomiting or diarrhea
Pricing
Mini or Micro IVF
$6,970
- Mock Transfer
- 5 Ultrasounds
- 2 Hormone Blood Tests
- Egg Retrieval
- Minimal Sedation
- Insemination of Oocytes
- Embryo Culture
- Embryo Transfer
- Medication
- Anesthesia
- ICSI
- Cryopreservation
- Storage of Frozen Embryos
IVF Freeze All Embryos
$10,775
- 5 Ultrasounds
- 5 Hormone Blood Tests
- Egg Retrieval
- Conscious Sedation
- Insemination of Oocytes with ICSI
- Embryo Culture
- Cryopreservation (up to 8 embryos)
- Storage of Frozen Embryos (for the first year)
- Medication
Frozen Embryo Transfer
$3,545
- Mock Transfer
- 3 Ultrasounds
- 2 Hormone Blood Tests
- Embryo Thawing
- Transfer
- Medication
- Beta hCG
- OB Ultrasounds
Ovulation Induction (OI)
Wisconsin Fertility Institute uses a wide variety of medications and techniques to treat women with difficulty ovulating. The goals of such treatments are to produce regular, predictable ovulation while maximizing chances of conception, all at affordable prices. To achieve this, WFI has been at the forefront of research establishing optimal drug type and dosage, as well as appropriate monitoring techniques to improve timing of treatments.
Additionally, the physicians at WFI frequently utilize these methods to enhance the chances of conception in women who already ovulate but can benefit from multiple ovulations each month. Examples include couples with unexplained infertility, women with significant scar tissue in their pelvis, and women with only one Fallopian tube.
While many fertility centers devote most or all of their attention to the most high tech, expensive (and profitable) procedures, we believe that aggressive treatments with low-cost options used in an optimally efficient manner are most beneficial to our patients. More than 80% of the couples that present to our center choose to work with these simple, safe, and inexpensive treatment plans, with good success rates.
Intrauterine Insemination (IUI)
The technique of placing sperm into the female reproductive tract has long been used as a technique to improve fertility. Today, that technique is called intrauterine insemination, or IUI. This process increases the chance that more sperm than normal reaches the site of the egg, thereby increasing the chances of fertilization. IUI can be used as a treatment for couples where the male has a low sperm count or low motility, where there are problems with having timely or effective intercourse, or even when there is no identifiable problem but a couple still has not been able to have a child.
At Wisconsin Fertility Institute, we perform intrauterine inseminations for couples daily, seven days a week. We take extraordinary precautions to ensure that each sample is handled professionally and accurately to ensure the best outcome possible. A semen analysis is performed for each IUI sample, enabling us to determine the number and quality of the sperm provided.
Pricing
IUI with Fresh Sperm
$700
- 1 Ultrasound
- 1 Sperm Wash & Prep
- 1 Insemination
- Medication
IUI with Fresh Sperm
$450
- 1 Sperm Wash & Prep
- 1 Insemination
- Medication
IUI with Frozen Sperm
$375
- 1 Sperm Thaw
- 1 Insemination
- Medication
Insurance Coverage
We accept insurance from Dean and Group Health Cooperative. We also have a full-time insurance specialist on-staff to verify your coverage for you.
Financial Assistance
We have partnered with fertility financing organization — CapexMD — to provide financial assistance to patients looking to start or grow their family. Click below to learn more.