General Instructions for IVF Patients

  1. Take one baby aspirin daily on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday. On Tuesday and Friday take two. Begin when you start your stimulating medication such as Repronex, Bravelle, Gonal-F, Follistim or Menopur. You will continue this until the day of your pregnancy test; if you are pregnant the aspirin continues, if you are not pregnant you may stop.

  2. Have your partner begin his Cipro antibiotic (1 pill 2 times a day for 7 days) on the day that you begin your stimulating medication. You begin your Cipro on day of oocyte retrieval.

  3. All stimulating medications such as Repronex, Bravelle, Gonal-F, Follistim or Menopur should be taken at the same time daily (you have a two hour window if you need the time of your dose to change at any given time). If your stimulating medication is a split dose, take between 7 - 9 AM., and 7 - 9 PM. If your stimulating medication is not a split dose take it between 7 - 9 PM.

  4. Non-stimulating medications such as Lupron, Antagon or Cetrotide should be taken at the same time daily between 7 - 9 PM. If you are on Microdose Lupron this is a split dose and should be taken between 7 - 9 AM. and 7 - 9 PM.

  5. The evening you are called and told to take your hCG (also called Pregnyl or Novarel, Ovidrel), you will NOT be taking any more stimulating medications such as Follistim, Gonal-F, Repronex, Bravelle or Menopur. Your last dose of non-stimulating medications (Lupron, Antagon or Cetrotide) will be on the same night you are told to take the hCG.

  6. The day after hCG administration you do not take any medications other than baby aspirin and the prenatal vitamin.

  7. You will begin your Cipro antibiotic, Methylprednisolone (Medrol) and the Progesterone the evening on the day of your oocyte retrieval.

  8. The last dose of Cipro and of methylprednisolone will be on the day of embryo transfer (ET), which will be either 3 or 5 days after your retrieval (transvaginal aspiration) procedure. If you have a d3 ET you will have ‘extra’ pills; you may discard these.

Instructions for Transvaginal Egg Retrieval (TVA)


  1. Nothing to eat or drink after midnight the night before the procedure! You may brush your teeth or rinse your mouth, but do not swallow any water. Do not smoke or have smoke exposure for 24 hours before the TVA.

  2. DO NOT WEAR PERFUME, COLOGNE, BODY LOTION, BODY TALC, MAKEUP, NAIL POLISH OR AFTER SHAVE ON THE DAY OF THE TVA OR THE EMBRYO TRANSFER (ET). REMOVE NAIL POLISH 2 DAYS PRIOR TO THE TVA AND DO NOT REAPPLY.

  3. You will have a vial of medication known as Phenergan/Promethazine that you will need to bring with you to the office on the morning of the TVA.

  4. Both patient and partner (if providing a specimen) should take a shower or bath with anti- bacterial soap (such as Dial or Safeguard) the night before or the morning of the TVA. It is ideal to wear clean, loose-fitting clothing on the day of the TVA and of the ET.

  5. If arriving before 7:30 AM., please ring doorbell located next to front door, unless you have made other arrangements with our staff. Report to the 3rd floor (upstairs) waiting room upon arrival to the office. There is no need to check in.

  6. We would like your bladder it moderately empty, please urinate prior to leaving home the morning of your Transvaginal Egg Aspiration (TVA).

  7. You must have someone available to drive you home after the TVA.