What Can I Expect During My IVF Evaluation?
Oct 16, 2025
IVF (or in vitro fertilization) is an excellent option for those who want to conceive and are having trouble doing so naturally. This treatment program involves fertilization outside your body, and subsequent implantation in your uterus. But what does it mean to be evaluated for this procedure, and what does evaluation entail?
At Gen 5 Fertility Center, we offer the most advanced treatments for fertility issues. Dr. Samuel Wood and Dr. Benito Villanueva will help you determine if IVF is right for you, which involves several evaluations before the procedure ever takes place.
IVF isn’t right for everyone. Often, the best candidates are those with specific conditions, such as endometriosis, blocked fallopian tubes, or PCOS. Patients of an advanced age who are attempting to get pregnant and those with male partners who have low sperm counts or other sperm-related fertility issues may also benefit.
However, this isn’t to say everyone in these situations will definitely be candidates for IVF or that those who aren’t won’t. IVF is a procedure that requires time, effort, money, and careful consideration of its risks, rewards, and potential frustrations. That’s why we evaluate before you ever begin preparation for the procedure.
When you visit Gen 5 Fertility Center with questions about IVF, the first step is an honest discussion about your goals and what the procedure involves. We can tell you about how IVF may be able to help, as well as the typical chances that your process will end in a live birth. Of course, we can’t predict this perfectly.
We want you to understand that IVF increases the likelihood that you will conceive and give birth to a child. It isn’t a guarantee, nor is it a catch-all solution for infertility. To help you understand this, we conduct a preconception evaluation.
Once this is complete, you go through several tests. One is the evaluation of your ovarian reserve, which tells us if your ovaries are producing enough healthy eggs for us to use. If not, the use of donor eggs may be necessary. Male partners also usually receive a semen analysis.
Once you have undergone these evaluations, it’s time for you to begin the preparation process for IVF.
Being evaluated before you begin IVF is paramount. First and foremost, it’s necessary to find out what may and may not be wrong before you ever start treatment. There’s a possibility that something less expensive or invasive might suit you better than this option, so you’ll want to make sure you explore all avenues available to you.
Next, we need to make sure the procedure has the highest chance of success. That means finding out if your and/or your partner’s eggs and sperm will be less successful than a donor’s when undergoing IVF.
Finally, patients who have unrealistic expectations for the procedure often suffer from frustration, depression, and other issues, as well as seeing their relationships affected by this helpful but complex process. To avoid this, we require our patients to discuss IVF with our team before proceeding with treatment.
These evaluations help us determine your candidacy for the procedure and make sure we do it in a way that suits you. However, it also prepares you for the process. It can be long and even difficult, but with the proper evaluations and preparations, we can help set you up for a healthy journey with IVF.
Book an appointment with us online or by calling our office in San Diego, California. You’ll be glad you did.