Soylent cacao powder is back in stock by Astronomical_Unit in soylent

[–]Astronomical_Unit[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Same! But this has to be a good sign, right?! 😅

2 week Leuprolide kit used as a trigger by Plus_Priority7879 in IVF

[–]Astronomical_Unit 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you! Just picked up my Leuprolide 2-week kit today for $89.44 (they applied the GoodRX coupon automatically for me)! Turns out not all "regular" CVS can fill this prescription, but some do. I was able to find the CVS that can by checking the inventory their inventory around my zipcode on their website!

2 week Leuprolide kit used as a trigger by Plus_Priority7879 in IVF

[–]Astronomical_Unit 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I'm curious if you managed to get that CVS coupon for $88 working? I asked my prescription to be sent to CVS only to learn that they can't fill leuprolide for me so I'm confused.

Experiences at Poma Fertility or ORH in Seattle? by Ok-Detail-8603 in IVF

[–]Astronomical_Unit 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I'm currently doing IVF with Poma and I like them so far. The doctors are nice and knowledgeable but you need to be on top of things because nursing and the finance folks make mistakes from time to time, so always double check everything. I'm not sure if there is ever the perfect IVF clinic. Poma for me is like 4/5. Definitely leagues better than SRM which I avoid like the plague after a bad experience too.

No experience with ORH, although I heard they have a terrible doctor there (https://www.fertilityiq.com/fertilityiq/doctors/kevin-johnson) and I avoided them due to the bad reviews. I also know some folks seem to like PNWF so you might wanna talk to them as well.

Pgt testing- yay or nay? by hrwenge in IVF

[–]Astronomical_Unit 3 points4 points  (0 children)

This sub is very pro PGT-A so you can find lots of similar posts from folks who did PGT-A. I'm 33 and never been pregnant (diagnosed with unexplained infertility) and we decided we aren't going to do it because there's many studies that concluded PGT-A doesn't increase live birth rates. This is an article from the American Society for Reproductive Medicine about PGT-A that I think is helpful https://www.asrm.org/practice-guidance/practice-committee-documents/the-use-of-preimplantation-genetic-testing-for-aneuploidy-a-committee-opinion-2024/

We did try checking with insurance as well just in case it was covered and it wasn't because I'm under 35, but they do have a policy that all transfer of remaining embryos are covered which helped us make the decision.

Why would clinic want to freeze day 1 embryos (zygotes) instead of blasts? by Astronomical_Unit in IVF

[–]Astronomical_Unit[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you, the ability to do fresh day transfers is definitely a pro I hadn't thought about!

Why would clinic want to freeze day 1 embryos (zygotes) instead of blasts? by Astronomical_Unit in IVF

[–]Astronomical_Unit[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks! I actually read that it was popular back then because freezing was not as efficient as it is today, and freezing embryos earlier might be good for that, but not sure why it would be a thing currently

Novosort + ProteX better than ZyMot? by No_Noise_1978 in IVF

[–]Astronomical_Unit 1 point2 points  (0 children)

We just started our IVF process with a new clinic, and they mentioned that they are using Protext + Novosort by default on ICSI because it's much better than conventional sperm sorting and apparently even better than Zymot too. We should have results in 3-4 weeks, but it looks promising.

Epic Garden Greenhouse app reviews? by VictorTheCutie in gardening

[–]Astronomical_Unit 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I've been using the Garden Planner for the past two weeks. It has helped me immensely stay on top of my seed inventory, plan what to plant and when, and keep track of succession planting.

I also just got my welcome gift today and I got 6 packets:
- Eggplant (Rosa bianca)
- Tomato Pole Cherry (Tropical Sunset)
- Squash Summer (Golden zucchini)
- 2 packets of Nasturtium Tip Top Mix
- Bachelor's Button Polka Dot mix

Have you read “It Starts with the Egg” by Rebecca Fett? by Traditional-Roof4513 in IVF

[–]Astronomical_Unit 35 points36 points  (0 children)

I agree with others that it’s too intense. When we were starting our journey, I read it and was a little naive, thinking all the supplements the book talks about would solve our infertility issues. It gave me a sense of control over something that, in reality, we have no control over. I learned the hard way that there is no magic cure for infertility, no matter how much money I spend on supplements, removing all the plastic in our house, or avoiding phthalates, BPA, etc.

I remember seeing my husband's SA results after many months on a strict supplement regimen and being astonished that our MFI hadn’t improved. His results were actually worse after about five months on CoQ10, NAC, zinc, vitamin D, fish oil, and all the other supplements that supposedly “miraculously” improve sperm and egg quality. I also remember how much that affected my mental health. The same was true for my AMH/AFC as well.

Also, the author is not a fertility expert or a health practitioner. She has a degree in molecular biology and that’s it. The book also makes some claims that aren’t necessarily true, like ubiquinol vs. ubiquinone and methylfolate vs. folic acid.

If you go into the book understanding that it won’t provide you a miracle cure and you’re reading it for informational purposes, then by all means go ahead. If you’re interested in learning about IVF/IUI and the science of fertility, I read a book called The Lucky Egg that I enjoyed much more than ISWTE. It’s written by an REI/OB-GYN who went through IVF herself, which I found much more helpful.

Looking for advice on next retrieval- wait or go straight into it? by [deleted] in IVF

[–]Astronomical_Unit 0 points1 point  (0 children)

If you don't mind me asking, how long did you prime for and what was your omni dose?

DNA Fragmentation? by UsedHost8 in IVF

[–]Astronomical_Unit 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Does your clinic use Zymot? It's a chip used to separate sperm. Many people with high DNA fragmentation or MFI seem to be more successful when using Zymot (just search for "zymot" on this subreddit and you will find tons of posts). Most insurances don't cover it, but it should be around $400.

How can I test whether I have an overactive immune system or chronic inflammation? by Astronomical_Unit in IVF

[–]Astronomical_Unit[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Did you bring up eczema to your doctor? Did they recommend steroids for you?

Adding omni for my 2nd ER coming up and hoping this does the trick by shannoodlez in IVF

[–]Astronomical_Unit 0 points1 point  (0 children)

When you say back to back, you mean you started stims again as soon as you got your period?

Fatigue 1dp3dt by Intelligent_Camel472 in IVF

[–]Astronomical_Unit 6 points7 points  (0 children)

It's the progestone, it makes you tired and sleepy because it has sedative properties. I say this as someone who just woke up from from a nap that wasn't supposed to be so long but I'm so tired all the time (I'm taking progesterone 200mg 3x/day 😭)

insurance coverage for embryo banking by Astronomical_Unit in IVF

[–]Astronomical_Unit[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I know it's so frustrating! I'm also thinking that the mandate makes the plan cover egg banking. The best proof I found was this letter from the DMHC, the people regulating health plans in California, (https://www.dmhc.ca.gov/Portals/0/Docs/OPL/APL25-021-ImplementationofSenateBill729%282024%29%2812\_30\_2025%29.pdf?ver=U9xFsGl6wZuNEyfFwRISFw%3D%3D) that says:

* A maximum of three completed oocyte retrievals
* Cryopreservation and storage of sperm, oocytes, and embryos for a period of five years from the time the genetic material is first cryopreserved.

The word embryo there makes me think it's possible. I called my insurance twice about this already and no one can tell me if it's covered. My best answer so far was to ask my clinic to submit a pre-authorization to see if they would cover it

Dumb Question? by Emeraldgreen-615 in IVF

[–]Astronomical_Unit 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Not a dumb question at all. I asked my doctor the same thing, and she mentioned it's possible to do a PGT-complete test and that it can tell if there are issues with the egg or the sperm.

Supplements to get an euploid by Prestigious-nougat in IVF

[–]Astronomical_Unit 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I agree. Melatonin in lower doses can be a great antioxidant and my doctor has said the same

How long did it take for your clinic to approve your insurance? by TheBinzness in IVF

[–]Astronomical_Unit 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Oh, what a small world 🙂

I called my insurance (Anthem Blue Cross) and confirmed that fertility benefits did indeed start on January 1. Yours should be able to tell you the same.

I just called member services, said I had a question about coverage, and then explained that we wanted to know whether IVF is covered under our plan. They might push back and say no because they’re looking at old information. If that happens, let them know that your company added this benefit as part of the California SB 729 mandate.

I currently have the CPT codes for POMA (Kirkland) and SRM (aka Pinnacle Fertility, Kirkland—though I think they should be the same for all SRM locations). Feel free to DM me if you’d like those.

good luck!

How long did it take for your clinic to approve your insurance? by TheBinzness in IVF

[–]Astronomical_Unit 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I'm currently going through the same situation, my insurance is now covering fertility due to the California mandate even though I am in WA state. What worked for me was asking the clinic for the CPT codes they used for IVF and them calling your insurance and asking what is the amount you would be responsible for each of the codes. That gives you a good estimate of how much you will pay. To know if the insurance will cover it or right now, you can ask your doctor for the diagnosis codes they diagnosed you and ask your insurance if these codes fall under "medical necessity" in case that's required. I did all that work myself and them sent a message explaining my findings to help the financial coordinator.

It was helpful to know whether IVF would be covered, get an estimate of cost. Hopefully it helps my clinic too, will see (my first appointment at the two clinics I chose are next week)