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At Pollin, we specialize in IVF and high-intervention treatments. Our commitment is to provide you with outstanding care and the best possible chances of achieving a successful and healthy pregnancy.
Our innovative technology and state-of-the-art equipment—thoughtfully designed by industry leading experts—are orchestrated to provide you with the highest chances of success.
From the moment you walk through our doors, you’ll experience our welcoming staff and serene, spa-like environment, ensuring you feel supported and cared for every step of the way.
Begin your journey with us by booking a consultation today.
Pollin is voluntarily submitting our lab for CAP (American Accreditation Standards) which are considered the best in the world.
The goal of an IVF cycle is to stimulate the ovaries to retrieve the optimal number of eggs required to obtain enough healthy embryos to result in at least one pregnancy.
Step One
Every IVF journey begins with an in-depth consultation with one of our fertility doctors to review your personal and family medical history and discuss your family building goals.
Step two
Your doctor will order a series of blood tests, ultrasounds and a sperm analysis for your partner (if applicable). Your doctor will review the results with you and present personalized treatment options based on the diagnostic findings, your unique fertility profile and your family building goals.
Step three
A typical IVF cycle begins with letting us know the first day of your menstrual period.
Prior to Day 1, you may be prescribed fertility medications (birth control pill or estrogen +/- progesterone) to optimize your ovaries prior to your IVF cycle. This step, called priming, can help optimize your ovaries for the timing of your IVF stimulation.
Step four
You will take injectable fertility medications for 10-14 days to help the follicles in your ovaries grow.
In non-medicated cycles, ovaries grow a group of follicles, but only one ovulates while the others regress.
“Stimulation” drugs (FSH, LH, hMG) override this process and “stimulate” the other follicles to grow and mature as well.
Step five
It is natural for your ovaries to want to ovulate, or release the eggs from the growing follicles.
“LH inhibitor” drugs are used to suppress the LH (luteinizing hormone) surge that naturally triggers ovulation, keeping the eggs in the follicles so they can be retrieved.
The “trigger” shot (HCG, Lupron) is a carefully timed, final injection taken when your follicle size and estradiol levels are optimal, maturing and preparing the eggs for retrieval.
Step six
A minor surgical procedure where eggs are retrieved from the ovaries using an ultrasound-guided needle and combined with sperm collected from you, your partner, or a donor .
Step seven
The retrieved eggs are fertilized with sperm in the laboratory and any resulting embryos are monitored for5 days by the embryologist. The embryos are then frozen and if elected, sent for genetic testing.
Step eight
The embryo of the highest quality is selected and thawed, and then transferred back into the uterus.
Step nine
A waiting period of 9-11 days post transfer to allow for the implantation of the embryo
Step ten
A blood test will be conducted to confirm pregnancy.
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At Pollin, you experience expert advice, personal attention, and peace of mind, all in one place.
IVF Cycle Cost
Inclusions:
✓ Consultations
✓ Fertility assessment & analysis
✓ Dedicated care team
✓ Cycle monitoring
✓ Egg retrieval
✓ Standard IVF fertilization of ICSI
✓ Embryo culture
✓ 1st year of embryo storage
Exclusions:
✗ Medication, which can range between $3,000 - $5,000+ depending on your protocol
✗ Reciprocal IVF donor + medication costs, which can range between $3,500 - $7,000+ depending on protocols for each partner
✗ Extra testing such as Pre-implantation Genetic Testing (PGT)
✗ Annual storage fee after 1st year: $900/year
Cost: $13,250
Frozen Embryo Transfer (FET) Cost
Inclusions:
✓ Consultation
✓ Dedicated care team
✓ Cycle monitoring
✓ Embryo transfer
Exclusions:
✗ Medication, which can range between $200-$2,000+ depending on your protocol
✗ Pre/Post transfer acupuncture
Cost: $2,950
Did you know?
Many employer benefit plans include fertility treatments as part of their annual coverage. Consult with your HR department or insurance provider to explore what may be available to you.
IVF can be complicated and overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be. At Pollin, we have reimagined the experience with our patients in mind to make it simpler, more comfortable and more effective.
We built Pollin because we believe that patients deserve better care. Achieving optimal IVF cycle outcomes start with great fertility doctors who have access to the best technology, and state of the art facilities. This is what Pollin is and it’s what we represent.
We invite you to experience the Pollin difference.
In vitro Fertilization (IVF)
In vitro fertilization (IVF), is the most effective fertility treatment available today and most often the fastest route to a healthy pregnancy.
IVF involves stimulating the ovaries with hormonal medications to develop multiple eggs, retrieving mature eggs from the ovaries, and fertilizing them with sperm in a controlled laboratory setting. The fertilized eggs, now embryos, can then be transferred back into the uterus, aiming for a successful implantation and pregnancy. Alternatively, these embryos can be genetically tested and frozen, or simply frozen for future use.
At Pollin, we offer a wide range of IVF plans to meet the unique needs of the LGBTQIA2S+ and Single Parent by Choice communities, as well as those requiring the use of donor eggs to build their families. To learn more about these options, click the links above.
IVF is most beneficial to those for which other fertility treatments have failed, if there are no known causes of infertility (unexplained infertility), or when there are many causes of infertility at play, such as:
Advanced female reproductive age when egg quantity, and/or quality, has declined
Damaged or blocked fallopian tubes
Endometriosis
Present Genetic Disorders
Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) or Premature Ovarian Insufficiency (POI)
Decreased sperm count, blockage or other male factors
IVF is also an option when an individual or couple:
Requires fertility preservation options due to a medical issue or surgery that could compromise future fertility health
Wishes to preserve fertility for personal or social reasons
Requires the use of donor sperm, egg or surrogacy to complete their family
Many factors can affect the success rate of IVF including:
Age - Egg quality and quantity, both predictors of IVF success rates, decline with age.
Ovarian Reserve - The quantity of an individual’s eggs, known as ovarian reserve, can impact an IVF cycle. Tests such as antral follicle count (AFC) and anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) levels can assess ovarian reserve.
Underlying cause of infertility - Certain pre-existing conditions such as endometriosis, PCOS or POI, or endometrial receptivity issues, may affect IVF outcomes.
Sperm health - Sperm health (count, motility, morphology and DNA integrity) directly affect fertilization rates.
Lifestyle - Factors such as smoking, body weight, alcohol use, diet, and stress can all negatively impact IVF success.
Stimulation protocols and lab factors - The experience and expertise of the fertility clinic and medical team can influence success rates.
Embryo quality - The quality of the embryo transferred directly impacts success. Quality is assessed based on factors such as cell division rate, embryo morphology and genetic integrity.
Your Pollin Fertility specialist will be able to give you guidance on optimizing your chances for IVF treatment success which may include diet and lifestyle changes, a supplement plan and in some cases, additional diagnostic testing and procedures prior to starting your cycle.
Reciprocal IVF, also known as partner-assisted reproduction, shared motherhood, partner IVF or co-IVF, is an option for same-sex female and/or transgender male partners in which one partner wishes to carry the pregnancy while the other partner wishes to use their eggs to create an embryo. The partner providing eggs undergoes an IVF cycle and their eggs are combined with donor sperm to create embryos. An embryo is then transferred into the uterus of the partner wishing to carry the pregnancy.
The use of fertility hormones during treatment are generally considered safe when used under the supervision of a qualified medical professional. However, like any medical intervention, they do carry some potential risks. A primary concern, which is closely monitored throughout your treatment cycle, is the potential for Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome (OHSS) which is usually temporary and resolves on its own.
It’s essential for individuals undergoing fertility treatments to discuss any concerns about potential short and long-term risks with their fertility specialist. In many cases, the benefits of achieving a successful pregnancy often outweigh the potential risks.
OHSS, or Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome, is a medical condition where the ovaries become enlarged and painful due to the increased fluid retention and enlargement of the ovarian follicles. OHSS can occur in a small percentage of individuals who undergo fertility treatments where injectable hormones are used to stimulate the ovaries to produce multiple eggs.
Common symptoms include abdominal bloating or pain, nausea, vomiting, and difficulty breathing. While rare, in severe cases, OHSS can cause fluid build up in the abdomen or chest, dehydration, electrolyte imbalances, and even blood clots. Severe cases may require medical intervention, such as draining fluid from the abdomen.
Pollin practices preventative measures, such as careful monitoring of hormone levels and adjusting medication dosages and protocols during the treatment cycle to help reduce the risk of OHSS.
The egg retrieval procedure is fairly quick, with the length of time being dependent on how many follicles are present. A typical retrieval will take approximately 20-30 min not including pre and post procedure time spent in the clinic.
The experience can vary from person to person, but it’s typically not described as painful due to the administration of sedation and comfort medications given prior to the procedure. While mild discomfort during or after the egg retrieval is possible, it’s generally manageable and temporary. Your care team will ensure you are well informed and as comfortable as possible throughout and after your procedure.
Damage to the ovaries during an egg retrieval is extremely rare. It is important, like with any medical procedure, that the retrieval is performed by an experienced fertility specialist who follows established protocols and guidelines to minimize risk and maximize outcomes.
All embryos need to “hatch” prior to implantation. Frozen embryos can often have difficulty hatching due to thickening of their outer cell layer called the zona pellucida. Assisted hatching is a laboratory procedure performed by a highly skilled embryologist whereby a small hole is made in the zona pellucida using a laser to facilitate hatching prior to a frozen embryo transfer. Assisted hatching is associated with an increase in implantation and pregnancy rates.
Preimplantation genetic testing for aneuploidy (PGT-A) is a screening test that can be performed on embryos created via IVF to evaluate their number of chromosomes prior to embryo transfer. Embryos with the correct number of chromosomes are more likely to result in a healthy pregnancy.
After eggs are retrieved and fertilized in the lab, the embryologist will perform assisted hatching on the embryos to help obtain cells for testing. When the embryo reaches the blastocyst stage, a few of the cells on the outside of the embryo are biopsied and sent for genetic analysis.
PGT-A benefits:
Reduced miscarriage rates
Higher IVF success rates per transfer
Fewer cycles of IVF treatment needed saving both time and finances
Greater chance of having a healthy child
Fewer wasted transfers due to implantation failure
Following your embryo transfer it’s essential to take care of yourself both physically and emotionally to optimize the chances of a successful outcome.
We advise all of our patients to:
Follow your post-transfer instructions provided by your care team: including any restrictions on activities, medications to take, and appointments to attend.
Take it easy: Relax and avoid strenuous and stressful activities for a few days after the transfer. Now is the time to partake in some self care and focus on activities that bring you joy and a sense of calm if you are able.
Stay hydrated: Drink plenty of water, which can help support overall health and potentially improve blood flow to the uterus.
Avoid alcohol, smoking, and recreational drugs: Consumption of these substances are known to potentially harm embryo implantation and development.
Eat a healthy diet and continue supplements as directed: A balanced diet rich in whole foods such as fruits, vegetables, lean proteins and whole grains will potentially improve fertility outcomes. Continue to take any supplements prescribed to you by your specialist or naturopath.
Avoid intense heat: Excessive heat exposure can potentially harm embryo implantation. Avoid hot baths, saunas or hot tubs especially during the 2-week wait.
Have a support system in place: Going through the 2-week wait after a transfer can be an emotionally challenging time for some individuals. Ensuring you have a support system around to provide encouragement and emotional support will make a world of difference. If you would like resources for support groups, please ask your care team.
The timing of a pregnancy test after embryo transfer (“The two-week wait”) varies depending on your specific protocol, however it is typically conducted 9-11 days post transfer to allow for the implantation of the embryo.
If you choose to take a home pregnancy test during the two-week wait, it’s essential to understand that the results may not be conclusive, and it’s still advisable to confirm with a blood test in the clinic.
Although it is often safe to attempt to try another treatment cycle shortly after an unsuccessful cycle, it is advisable that you speak to your fertility specialist about reasons why the cycle was unsuccessful and strategies to improve outcomes in a subsequent cycle. Some strategies may simply involve a protocol change and minimal delay to trying again, while others may require further investigations and lifestyle modifications that may warrant a longer interval.