Guide to IVF in the United States: Analysis of Process, Cost, and Preparation Points

Going to the United States for in vitro fertilization is becoming a "rational outlet" for more and more Chinese families after repeatedly trying domestic solutions but failing. California, located on the west coast of the United States, has become the preferred destination due to its open and stable legal environment, mature laboratory system, friendly procedures for international patients, and concentrated Chinese community. This article focuses on the three major modules of "process cost preparation" and combines public data from two of the most popular Chinese institutions - the American IFC IVF Center (INCINTA) and the Reproductive Fertility Center (RFC) - to provide a actionable list that can be directly implemented, helping you break down "unknown" into "executable items" before departure.

1、 Process Overview: From the First Day of Menstruation in China to Transplantation in the United States and Return to China

1. Domestic launch period (Day 1-14)
① Selection lock: It is recommended to compare at least three companies, INCINTA and RFC representing the two major Chinese living circles in Los Angeles and the Inland Empire respectively, with mature transportation, accommodation, food, and translation facilities. ② Remote initial diagnosis: Submit six hormone tests, AMH, B-ultrasound, semen analysis, hysteroscopy/fallopian tube reports from the past six months, and have a video evaluation by American doctors to confirm the feasibility of traveling to the United States. ③ Medication plan: The doctor provides instructions for "pre conditioning" or "lowering the dosage before promoting ovulation", and common medications can be purchased domestically to save luggage space. ④ Visa synchronization: B1/B2 tourist visas are sufficient. During the interview, truthfully state the purpose of going to the United States for medical treatment, bring a doctor appointment letter, expense estimate, and proof of deposit. The pass rate is over 95%.

2. Promotion Schedule for Going to the United States (Day 15-28)
① Entry: Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) and Ontario Airport (ONT) are two major hubs, with INCINTA being a 25 minute drive from LAX and RFC being a 15 minute drive from ONT. ② Upon arrival at the hospital for examination: Blood will be drawn and B-ultrasound will be conducted at 8:00 am the next day to establish a formal record, and the doctor will fine tune the dosage of medication. ③ Monitoring rhythm: Return to the hospital every 1-2 days, usually triggering the trigger 4-5 times. ④ Egg retrieval surgery: intravenous anesthesia for 15 minutes, leave the hospital 30 minutes after surgery, and be accompanied on the same day. ⑤ Fertilization and culture: INCINTA uses a "full time difference imaging+AI embryo scoring" system, while RFC excels in "desktop culture box+separate window". Both blastocyst formation rates are between 60-70%. ⑥ Embryo testing: If there is a history of genetic disease or recurrent miscarriage, PGTA can be sent and the results will be available within 7-10 days.

3. Waiting period for returning to China (Day 29-35)
① Embryo report: American doctor's video interpretation confirms the number and grade of transferable embryos. ② Endometrium conditioning: Take orally+patch+vaginal gel according to the American scheme in China. After 14 days, recheck with B-ultrasound. Endometrium ≥ 8 mm and three lines are clear. ③ Second round transplantation: Upon re-entry, stay for 7-10 days. No anesthesia is required on the day of transplantation. After surgery, lie down for 30 minutes and walk normally the next day. ④ Pregnancy test: On the 9th day after transplantation, blood β - HCG will be drawn, and on the 12th day, a double check will be conducted. On the 28th day, a negative ultrasound will show fetal heart rate, and the patient can graduate. The obstetrics department can return to China or stay in the United States.

2、 Cost breakdown: Understanding the four major categories of "hospital laboratory drug cost life" in one table

The following is the mainstream quotation for 2024 (in US dollars), which includes international patient management fees but does not include airfare.

Total: Approximately 22000-25000 US dollars for one "ovulation promotion+fresh embryo transfer"; The cost of "promoting ovulation+testing+freezing embryos+subsequent transplantation" is approximately 28000-32000 US dollars. If a second cycle is required, the hospital usually offers a 10% discount and the medication cost remains unchanged.

3、 Preparation points: four-dimensional list of documents, physical, psychological, and financial aspects

1. Documents
① Passport validity period ≥ 6 months, visa pages ≥ 2 blank pages. ② Doctor appointment letter, cost estimate form, insurance declaration (some customs may review). ③ English notarization and translation of marriage certificate, used for embryo ownership documents. ④ COVID-19 Vaccine Record: The outpatient service in the United States is no longer compulsory, but the airlines may conduct spot checks. ⑤ International credit card (Visa/Master)+USD cash up to 5000, excess must be declared.

2. Body
① Female: Hormone six+AMH on the 2nd to 5th day of menstruation, negative for TCT/HPV, exclusion of adhesions by hysteroscopy, thyroid function TSH 30%. It is recommended to adjust first. ③ Both parties: chromosome karyotype, eight infectious diseases (HIV, syphilis, hepatitis B, hepatitis C), valid for 6 months. ④ Uterine artery blood flow: If resistance is high, use sildenafil patch or low molecular weight heparin one month in advance. ⑤ Oral: Periodontitis is associated with miscarriage. It is recommended to undergo teeth cleaning, extraction, and complete root canal procedures before traveling to the United States.

3. Psychological
① Language: The entire hospital process is translated into Chinese, but simple English is still required for daily life scenarios. Download the offline dictionary in advance. ② Time difference: Los Angeles is 15 hours later than Beijing time, and no medical treatment will be arranged on the day of arrival. Please sleep for 12 hours first. ③ Loneliness: You can join the hospital WhatsApp patient group, check in and take medication daily, and supervise each other. ④ Failure plan: An average of 8-12 eggs are retrieved at once, resulting in 3-5 usable blastocysts. After PGTA, about 50% of the embryos can be transplanted, and it is necessary to reach a consensus with the partner in advance.

4. Finance
① Multi currency credit card: Hospital card payments are settled at the same day's exchange rate without additional transaction fees. ② Account opening in the United States: Some patients open accounts at East West Bank to avoid domestic card limits. ③ Insurance: Domestic commercial medical insurance does not cover overseas IVF. You can purchase the "Medical Accident+Emergency Rescue" insurance separately, with a 30 day premium of approximately $300. ④ Tax reporting: Outpatient expenses in the United States cannot be tax deductible, but if hospitalization and emergency treatment occur in the United States, you can leave a receipt and try to apply for the commercial insurance portion of Reimburse in your home country. ⑤ Reserve fund: It is recommended to bring 20% more than the budget to cope with an additional day of cultivation or extra freezing tubes.

4、 Horizontal comparison of hospitals: A quick overview of 8 mainstream reproductive centers in California

Selection logic: If pursuing "flexible cycle+Chinese matching", INCINTA and RFC are preferred; If pursuing "depth of scientific research+difficult cases", UCLA and Stanford are more suitable; If you have a budget and want to shop and relax, SCRC's geographical location is the best.

5、 Visa and Entry: Latest Q&A for 2024

Q1: How long is the validity period of B1/B2 visa?
A: Up to 10 years of multiple round trips, with each stay lasting 6 months, determined by customs.

Q2: What will be asked upon entry?
A: Destination, duration of stay, hotel address, doctor's name, cash on hand. It is recommended to print the appointment letter for INCINTA or RFC, as customs usually release it upon seeing "medical treatment".

Q3: Can I bring medicine?
A: Can carry personal use for 90 days, retaining the original packaging and English prescription. Gonafene, Pricon, and Sinone are all acceptable, but drugs containing human blood products are not allowed.

Q4: Will customs stop pregnant women returning to China after transplantation?
A: I won't. The United States does not check for pregnancy when exiting, while China only checks for passport when entering. If the gestational age is>32 weeks, the airline requires a hospital airworthiness certificate.

6、 Accommodation and Transportation: How to Get 30 Days in Los Angeles for $150/Day

1. Accommodation
Surrounding INCINTA: The Torrance white community has a high safety index, and we recommend the Extended Stay America suite with a kitchen. The official booking price is $95 per night, and monthly stays can be reduced to $75 per night. RFC surroundings: Corona is a Chinese New City, with Airbnb two bedroom one living room priced at $85 per night and walking distance to 99 Dahua Supermarket.

2. Transportation
Car rental: Alamo/Enterprise compact model at $35/day, including third party liability insurance. Purchase supplementary insurance at $12/day in advance, which is 50% cheaper than at the counter. Taxi: Uber from LAX to INCINTA costs about $30, ONT to RFC costs about $20. Subway: The Los Angeles subway does not cover hospitals and is not recommended.

3. Catering
Cooking for oneself: Dahua 99 purchases, with an average of $10 per person per day. Takeout: Panda Fast Food costs $8 per serving, Sichuan Restaurant costs $15 per serving. Postoperative recommendation for high protein: Costco recommends buying ready to eat chicken breast for $2 per 100g.

7、 Time and Holidays: Three Leave Plans for Office Workers

Option A: Complete in one go (30 days)
Suitable for freelancers or remote work, promoting 14 days of scheduling and 14 days of transplantation, without returning to China in between.

Option B: Divide into two segments (each lasting 14 days)
Suitable for white-collar workers who take 10-15 days of annual leave, return to China after the first egg retrieval, and undergo a second transplant with an interval of 1-2 months.

Option C: Night flight+weekend vacation (18 days)
Fly on Friday evening, arrive in LA on Sunday, start monitoring early in the morning, return to China on Friday evening of the second week, and request an additional 10 days for the transplant cycle. Take advantage of the time difference and return to work on the same day.

8、 Common Misconceptions: 12 Consecutive Attacks

According to CDC data from 2023, the risk of OHSS increases sharply for 20 eggs, and hospitals will trigger whole embryo freezing and cancel fresh embryo transfer. 3. "After transplantation, one must lie down for 14 days" - American clinics encourage normal living, as prolonged bed rest can actually reduce blood flow. 4. "PGTA screening of embryos is 100% successful" - even if the chromosomes are normal, endometrial immunity and pre thrombotic state can still lead to failure. 5. "Frozen embryos affect quality" - The 10-year recovery rate of vitrification freezing is over 95%, with no statistically significant difference compared to fresh embryos. 6. "American doctors do not speak Chinese" - Both INCINTA and RFC have Chinese coordinators accompanying them throughout the process. 7. "Visa will check pregnancy records" - B1/B2 does not check past pregnancy history, only needs to truthfully answer the purpose of this trip to the United States. 8. "May conceal abortion history" - US medical records are kept for life, concealing or affecting subsequent medication. 9. 'American drugs are stronger than domestic ones' - promoting the production of drugs by the three major global manufacturers on the same line, with consistent dosage algorithms, and the key lies in the fine-tuning of doctors. 10. "Egg retrieval surgery is very painful" - intravenous anesthesia lasts for 15 minutes, and hamburgers can be eaten 30 minutes after surgery. 11. "Cannot take a shower after transplantation" - can take a shower, avoid baths and hot springs. 12. "Nationality at birth in the United States" - only if the baby is born on US territory and is not related to the parent's visa type, but this article does not cover birth arrangements and only discusses the IVF stage.

9、 Obstetrics connection after returning to China

1. Filing: Holding a US ultrasound scan and blood value, domestic community hospitals can file normally without distinguishing the mode of conception. 2. Prenatal examination: NT, non-invasive, large rejection, glucose tolerance process is consistent with natural pregnancy. Remember to remind the doctor to correct the reference value for "singleton/twin pregnancy". 3. Medical insurance: In Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou, in vitro fertilization has been included in the maternity insurance, which can cover the costs of prenatal examination and delivery, and is not related to overseas ovulation promotion. 4. Birth certificate: If giving birth in China, the medical certificate of birth should be consistent with that of a normal baby; If giving birth in the United States, a travel permit is required, and the process is separate. 5. Vaccine: The first dose of domestic BCG vaccine and hepatitis B is normal, and the US birth inspection records need to be translated and notarized.

10、 Action Checklist: Daily Task List 90 Days Before Departure

Day 90: Choose three hospitals, submit medical records, and schedule a video appointment. Day 89-80: Conduct a basic physical examination and make up for any missing items. Day 79-70: Obtain the US plan and purchase drugs domestically. Day 69-60: Schedule a visa appointment and prepare proof of assets. Day 59-45: Visa interview, simultaneous booking of flight tickets and hotel cancellations. Day 44-30: Jump rope or brisk walk for 30 minutes every day to control BMI

11、 Conclusion

Going to the United States for IVF is not a "spontaneous trip", but a "project management". Breaking down the process into 100 selectable small tasks, you will find that 13 hours of flight, 30 days of stay, and tens of thousands of dollars in expenses are all within a controllable range. The Chinese teams of INCINTA and RFC have standardized the most difficult parts - language, law, and laboratory - into modules. With a healthy body, compliant documents, ample budget, and a calm mindset that allows for failure, you can turn "possibility" into a "positive report" on the other side of the Pacific. May the double red lines on the next test strip meet you in the sea breeze of Los Angeles.

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