Questions & Answers

We strongly advise couples to discuss questions and concerns openly with their physicians. We understand fertility therapy generates a wide range of emotions. Waiting, uncertainty and the time and monetary demands of treatment can lead to feelings of frustration and confusion.

We believe that the more you know about the test, treatment and procedure, the less anxiety and concerns you will feel about your condition. The IVF process will require your time and energy, and we make the commitment to provide you with personal and compassionate care in order to make this difficult time as comfortable and manageable as possible. When you meet with the doctors at the Institute, they will take time to answer your questions and discuss your concerns.

Following are answers to some frequently asked questions that we've heard over the years. Click for a glossary and explanation of in vitro terms.

What is infertility?

Infertility is defined as the inability to conceive after one year or more of regular sexual relations without the use of contraceptives. Fertility can be questioned earlier if there is a history of pelvic infections, infrequent periods, previous miscarriages, STD's or undescended testicle(s).

One couple in six who wants a child is not able to conceive after a year of trying. Pacific In Vitro Fertilization Institute offers specialized medical services that can help infertile couples.

You may want to attend one of our free seminars for an excellent overview of infertility and how modern technology can help.

What causes infertility?

Sometimes infertility is simply a matter of age; sometimes it is caused by medication, drugs, various diseases or injuries, surgical procedures, antibodies or a condition present at birth and sometimes there is no apparent cause.

How important is age to infertility?

No one is surprised that a 45-year old woman is likely to have trouble conceiving. But it never occurs to us that a 34-year old may have age-related problems as well. Fertility, an unpredictable thing, generally begins its decline much earlier than we think. There are no tests that can guarantee someone who is fertile today will be fertile in a year, or two or ten.

One in seven women of childbearing age delays first-time parenthood until after 30. People are not more infertile than they were 30 or 40 years ago, instead the increase in infertility is largely a function of people just waiting longer to begin their families.

It seems like all our friends are having babies, are we the only ones with this problem?

Infertility is far more common that most people think. According to the American Society of Reproductive Medicine, approximately 6.1 million couples in the U.S. experience fertility problems. For these couples, becoming pregnant is far from easy.

In the United States, approximately 14-16 percent of all couples attempting to get pregnant have difficulty conceiving and are defined by fertility therapists as being infertile.

Why are we infertile?

Ovulation and sperm deficiencies are the most common infertility problems, accounting for two-thirds of all cases. Infertility is a problem that affects the male and female reproductive system with almost equal frequency and 25% of infertile couples have more than one factor that contributes to their infertility.

Infertility can be due to male factors as often as female factors or a combination of both, in approximately 40% of infertile couples, the male partner is either the sole cause or a contributing cause of infertility.

Approximately 30 percent of couples who have a complete assessment are diagnosed with unexplained infertility because no specific cause is defined.

What options do we have?

Read our IVF Overview for information on the various in vitro fertilization procedures that are available.

What is our chance for success?

The initial hope of achieving a pregnancy with IVF is often deflated by the answer to this question. The best answer is that it depends on each individual couple.

National Average Data shows that IVF is successful:

• 33% of the time for women under 30 years of age
• 29% for women in their mid 30s
• 5% to 15% for women 40 and over

While some clinics do better, only up to roughly double these chances. These numbers represent typical national success rates.

What are Pacific In Vitro Fertilization Institute's success rates?

The success rate of the Institute ranks in the top 10% of clinics in America.

How can Pacific In Vitro Fertilization Institute help us?

It is important to understand that infertility does not equal sterility. The Institute has helped many infertile couples over the last 19 years acheive their dream of having a baby. In fact, we have been a part of more than 1,500 successful births.

At the Institute, you will start with an initial consultation visit at our Honolulu clinic located in the Kapi‘olani Medical Center office building. During this visit, each partner's medical records are reviewed, the woman is given a physical examination, the man will have a semen analysis. Using this information, we will access your situation and recommend the best treatment plan for you.

Will we have more than one doctor?

Infertility treatment can be complex, requiring a large amount of time and effort by many professionals. At Pacific In Vitro Fertilization Institute we employ the "team approach". Physicians, biologists, technicians, nurses and front office staff work together to provide couples with the highest level of care.

Patients have the benefit of the wealth of knowledge from all three physicians. All our physicians will work together on a patient's case to provide the highest level of patient care. All the physicians rotate call days and handle all the cases for the day they are on.

You will be seen by each of the physicians during the course of your IVF cycle. Our internal charting and communication protocol ensures that at any time any professional within the clinic is fully apprized of your case.

Our family and friends don't understand what we are going through, who can we turn to for support?

Couples with infertility can experience emotions that are not understood by peers, co-workers, friends or immediate family. We encourage you to find a support group while going through any kind of infertility evaluation or treatment.

Groups like Resolve of Hawaii can offer support and friendship with others who are or have gone through similar experiences. Resolve is a national non-profit organization serving the unique needs of couple struggling to have a child and professionals working with infertile patients. Resolve of Hawaii, 808-528-8559, offers monthly meetings, support network of members with common problems and a forum for the exchange of personal experiences, quarterly newsletters, 24-hour telephone HelpLine Service and referrals.

The more information you have, the better your decisions can be. Refer to our useful links section for other sources of support.

Is IVF covered by medical insurance?

In 1987 the Legislature of the State of Hawaii passed a bill which requires all individual and group health insurance policies which provide pregnancy-related benefits to include a one-time only benefit for all outpatient expenses arising from in vitro fertilization procedures performed, provided that:

• The patient is the insured or a covered dependent of the insured;
• The patient's oocytes (eggs) are fertilized with her spouse's sperm (the term "spouse" means a person who is lawfully married to the patient under the laws of the State);
• The patient and her spouse have a history of infertility of at least five years duration; or
• Infertility is associated with one or more of the following medical conditions:
  • Endometriosis;
  • Exposure in utero diethylstilbestrol, commonly known as DES; or
  • Blockage of, or surgical removal of, one or both fallopian tubes (lateral or bilateral salpingectomy); or
  • Abnormal male factors contributing to the infertility.

Exceptions:

• Mainland insurance companies are not bound by Hawaii state mandate.
• Insurance companies can deny in vitro coverage if infertility is a result of voluntary sterilization (such as tubal ligation or vasectomy). You may file an appeal, but there is no guarantee you will be granted coverage.
• State mandate does not apply to self-funded plans. Self-funded plans are plans where benefits are paid by the employer, who pays a third party administrator to process claims.
• AFL Hotel or Teamsters union members are self-funded plans and are not bound by the State mandate, however they will cover in vitro up to $5000.

After your consultation visit, we will assist you in processing an authorization and notification of level of covered benefits.

We know that we need help, what do we do next?

Call the friendly staff at Pacific In Vitro Fertilization Institute at 808-946-2226. We will schedule an initial consultation visit for you and your partner at our Honolulu clinic located in the Kapi'olani Medical Center office building.

With us, your care will be in the hands of the most experienced in vitro clinic in the Islands.

© Copyright 2005 PIVF | Telephone: 808-946-2226 | Toll Free: 866-944-0440