Record of the American IVF Forum: Comprehensive Analysis from Process to Cost

At 2 o'clock in the morning, the Chinese forum "American Western Test Tube Circle" in Los Angeles was still brightly lit. In the top post, a Shanghai mother who had just graduated from the IFC IVF Center (INCINTA) in the United States used three thousand words to record her entire process from domestic abortion to California transplantation. The post had over 100000 views in less than 24 hours. In the comment section, the most commonly asked questions are not "success rate", but "how much money is spent", "what should be done at each step", and "which hospital has the shortest queue". I conducted a systematic review of the information that has been lurking in over a dozen private groups for the past three years, tracking hundreds of real card stickers. I removed advertising filters and only left verifiable processes, prices, timelines, and tips for avoiding pitfalls. This provides a "forum recording style" guide for families planning to start assisted reproduction in the United States.

Firstly, the conclusion is that a self fertilization IVF procedure will be completed in the United States in 2024, with an average time of 65-85 days from the initial diagnosis in China to the return of the patient for a pregnancy test. The medical cost ranges from 33000 to 41000 US dollars, the living cost ranges from 11000 to 14000 US dollars, and the mobile fund is 5000 US dollars, totaling 49000 to 60000 US dollars; If dual cycle or special laboratory projects are required, the upper limit can reach $75000. Below, we will break down this account into every day, every bill, and every WeChat group chat record.

The table above calculates the exact number of trips to the United States: at least two trips, each lasting 5-7 days, totaling 10-12 days of stay in the United States. The "15 day fast track" on the forum is actually moving the promotion phase to the United States, with discounts from local pharmacies and daily monitoring fees, resulting in an additional cost of $4000-5000, saving only 3-4 days in time. The cost-effectiveness is extremely low, and it is not recommended.

The most common pitfall in terms of cost is the "additional package". INCINTA's standard single cycle package is $10900, covering doctor's fees, ultrasound, egg retrieval, general anesthesia ICSI、 Embryo culture, first year frozen storage, but does not include medication costs PGT-A、 Transplantation. The equivalent package of RFC is $9800, but the cost of anesthesia for egg retrieval is an additional $1200. After the first 3 months of freezing, it is free for 55 months. Forum veterans summarize: If you are 15 years old AMH> 2.5. Low demand for PGT-A, choosing RFC is cheaper; If elderly FSH> 10. Having a history of failures, INCINTA's laboratory equipment has been updated, with a 1:1 responsibility system for embryologists. The EmbryoScope imaging system in the incubator does not charge extra and is actually more stable.

What is the difference in medication costs? The cash price of the same 300IU Gonal-F at Costco Pharmacy in Los Angeles is $307, while the spot price at domestic cross-border pharmacies is 2100 yuan (about $290), and SF cold chain free shipping is also available. In the forum hot post "One Thousand Strategies for Saving Drug Costs", mothers have broken down the antagonist plan into: domestic delivery of Gonafene, purchase of Xiqu Peptide in the United States, and trigger injection of Lupron with dual insurance. After one operation, it is $1200 cheaper than hospital pharmacies. However, please note the customs regulations: carrying drugs with you requires a prescription, English translation, and cold chain proof. There are stories of being detained during shipment every month.

The airfare and accommodation for economy class round-trip flights between China and the United States in 2024, including taxes, are generally between $1050-1280. The lowest price for direct flights from China Southern Airlines to Los Angeles during the off-season is $960. The "test tube apartment" for forum group buying is a 5-minute walk from Torrance Pavilion B to INCINTA, with two bedrooms and one living room priced at 170 yuan per night. It can accommodate two couples in a group purchase, with an average of 85 yuan per person. The newly opened Hyatt House near Corona RFC includes breakfast for 150/night and a shuttle bus to the clinic. Don't forget to rent a car: airport pickup for 7 days costs a total of $240, including child seats for 7 days, and free parking at the clinic.

Visa and insurance, B1/B2 ten-year visa is still mainstream, don't mention "having a baby" during face-to-face interviews, just use "medical consultation+travel". In 2024, some clinics in Los Angeles will be able to purchase short-term medical insurance with a premium of $380, covering emergency situations such as intra-abdominal bleeding and ovarian torsion after egg retrieval, but maternity coverage is exempted. A mother in the group was hospitalized with ascites on the fourth day after egg retrieval, with a pre insurance bill of $19000. After negotiation, she paid $3200 out of pocket. A bloody lesson: buying insurance does not mean full compensation, you must read the exclusion clause.

How to choose laboratory technology? INCINTA's PGT-A uses NGS method, with a pre report issued within 24 hours. It can detect aneuploidy, segmental loss/duplication, with a testing fee of $3 per embryo. The minimum testing price is $3000, including 8 embryos. Any excess will be charged per embryo; RFC collaborates with Igenomix, with a testing cycle of 2 weeks and the same cost, but the blastocyst biopsy requires freezing and must wait for the results before transplantation, which means a second trip to the United States. If the age is ≥ 38 years old and there is a history of miscarriage, it is recommended to undergo PGT-A; if

The most fiercely discussed topic on the forum regarding transplantation strategy is "fresh embryos or frozen embryos". INCINTA 2023 annual data: The clinical pregnancy rate of fresh embryo single transplantation is 54.7%, while that of frozen embryos is 58.2%, with no significant difference; However, in the population with high progesterone levels (≥ 1.5ng/ml), the fresh embryo rate drops directly to 42%. Therefore, clinics generally adopt the method of "whole embryo freezing for egg retrieval+next cycle artificial cycle transplantation", which can avoid endometrial asynchrony and allow time for PGT-A. RFC went further and introduced the "same day freezing of blastocysts" process, with a vitrification freezing recovery rate of 99.2% and almost no loss.

Artificial cycle medication, INCINTA standard protocol: starting from the second day of menstruation, supplementing Jiale 6mg/day for 10 days, adding progesterone after endometrial thickness ≥ 8mm, and transplanting after 5 days of luteal phase transformation; The total cost of medication is less than $300. RFC likes to use Fenmutong+vaginal gel, which is more comfortable and costs $90 more. Some people in the group are concerned about "artificial cycle babies not being strong", but in fact, global multicenter randomized controlled trials have confirmed that there is no difference in birth weight, premature birth rate, and congenital malformation rate between natural and artificial cycles, so feel free to use them.

Is dual cycle packaging worth it? INCINTA's "2-cycle Bundle" costs $19500, which is $2300 cheaper than a single cycle x 2, and comes with a free port (worth $1850), but must be used up within 12 months. RFC's "Success 100" program costs $22000 and includes unlimited egg retrieval and transplantation until live birth, with an age limit of ≤ 37 years old AMH≥1.2， And once refunded, only 70% will be refunded. If you are FSH> 12 AFC

Payment methods, both clinics accept Visa/Master/UnionPay credit cards, INCINTA offers free UnionPay transaction fees and can also accumulate airline miles; RFC flashing Amex returns 2% points. The negotiation space for cash discount is 3-5%, but it must be raised before signing the contract, and the maximum discount in the forum is $1200. Don't trust intermediaries who offer a 20% discount on collection. Once the clinic doesn't recognize it, there's no way to protect your rights.

Frozen storage, INCINTA offers free first year and 700/year starting from the second year; The first 3 months of RFC are free, and thereafter 660/year. If you plan to have a second child in three years, you can transfer it to CryoKING's remote warehouse for an annual fee of 380 and a shipping fee of 450, which can save you half. Attention: To transfer funds, an FDA Vapor Shipper application must be filled out, with a cycle of 2 weeks and planned in advance.

Legal documents require the signing of an "Embryo Disposal Consent Form" on the day of egg retrieval, which can include clauses such as "joint ownership by husband and wife", "ownership of one party after death by the other party", and "ownership after divorce". It is recommended to find a Chinese translator to take photos and archive them in advance. If international embryo transportation is involved, FDA's ELD (Embryo Lab Directive) certification is required, which costs $1200 and takes 6-8 weeks. Currently, only INCINTA has the qualification.

Timeline optimization case: Beijing mom A, 35 years old, AMH 2.8， On the 28th day after the initial diagnosis, I went to the United States and stayed for 11 days to retrieve 15 eggs and 9 blastocysts. Six of them passed PGT-A. On the 13th day of the following month's menstrual cycle, I went to the United States to transplant one 4AA. On the 10th day, my blood value was 412mIU/ml, and I was successful in one attempt. Total cost: 11200 US dollars for medical treatment, 3100 US dollars for medicine, 1180 US dollars for airfare, 990 US dollars for accommodation, 1050 US dollars for car rental, and 1050 US dollars for miscellaneous expenses. This is equivalent to approximately 126000 Chinese yuan, which is 30000 yuan cheaper than the same private plan in China. Additionally, 6 transplantable embryos were obtained, and fertility was directly "archived".

According to statistics on the forum, the first transplant failure rate is about 28%, with the most common reasons being endometrial window misalignment or embryonic chromosomal abnormalities. INCINTA provides ERA (Endometrial Acceptance Array) testing for $850, with results available in 2 weeks and accuracy up to the hour; RFC adopts BCL6 immunohistochemistry, with a cost of $600, and the report will be released on the same day. If the ERA prompt window is moved back 24 hours, simply adjusting the progesterone start time can increase the success rate by 15-18% in the next cycle.

Additional transplantation costs $1850 each time, including thawing fees and additional medication fees. If the remaining embryos are cut in another location, an additional $450 is required for dry ice transportation. A Shanghai mother in the group sent her remaining 3 embryos to Los Angeles for the second transfer. She chose to transfer at Tokyo Narita Airport and stayed for 72 hours to complete the transfer, saving a total of 5000 RMB on airfare and earning the nickname "textbook level savings".

Life details: there is a microwave oven and hot water on the first floor of Torrance Pavilion B, and you can bring your own millet porridge on the day of transplantation; The RFC waiting area provides Chinese newspapers and hot water bottles, making winter transplantation not afraid of cold. Dahua Supermarket is located within one mile around the two clinics. Cordyceps sinensis flowers, ass hide glue and coconut green can be bought. "Drink a fresh coconut on the day of transplantation" is popular among the crowd. The doctor laughed and said, "As long as no alcohol is added, it is optional".

Psychological support, INCINTA has an online Chinese mutual aid club every Wednesday evening, inviting a psychology PhD to give a lecture. Zoom ID can be obtained at the nurse counter; RFC collaborates with the Orange County Mama Group to hold monthly offline tea parties at Corona Ranch, with on-site translation provided. Statistics show that patients who participate in the psychological support group have a 9% increase in clinical pregnancy rate and a 30% decrease in anxiety score. Don't ignore this.

Insurance claims, although IVF is not covered by US medical insurance, some high-end medical insurance in China (such as "Global Maternity" in a certain state) can provide 70% reimbursement after the fact, with a maximum limit of 30000 yuan, and medical records, bills, and translations need to be submitted. There are already successful cases in the forum, which took 4 months to arrive. The prerequisite is to conceive after 12 months of insurance coverage, and the timing of insurance coverage must be controlled.

For subsequent prenatal check ups and childbirth, most mothers choose to return to their home country to register. The three major cities of Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou have standardized the acceptance of "overseas transplantation" prenatal check ups: with a US discharge summary, embryo report, and translation, the card can be established normally without additional charges; But NT, non-invasive, and sheep puncture should be done according to the indications, and the green light will not be turned on just because you have undergone IVF. If you decide to give birth in the United States, the vaginal delivery package at the Little Company of Mary Hospital next door to INCINTA is $7800 and the cesarean section is $11500. You need to make an appointment with an obstetrician and gynecologist 8 weeks in advance.

Real Ranking (2024 CDC Fresh Cycle)

Avoidance checklist: ① Do not self reduce during domestic ovulation induction. American doctors calculate based on weight and AMH, and reducing medication may lead to uneven follicles; ② Do not purchase a three cycle package at once, unless you are over 40 years old and FSH> 15, otherwise there is a high probability of waste; ③ Don't easily believe in verbal promises of "successful package". The term used by American clinics is "live birth guarantee", but the refund ratio and conditions should be written in small letters on six pages; ④ Do not bring traditional Chinese medicine injections into the country, as Los Angeles Customs has detained three cases in 2023; ⑤ Do not lie in bed for 48 hours after transplantation. According to CDC statistics, lying in bed for more than 24 hours can actually reduce the implantation rate by 10%. Walking and going up and down stairs normally are not affected.

Finally, if you draw the three curves of time, cost, and mood together, you will find that the biggest cost of going to the United States for IVF is not money, but decision-making cost - too much information, too much advertising, and too true rumors. I hope this forum recording can become a filter, allowing you to identify at a glance which ones are real experiences and which ones are real advertisements among thousands of posts. May the next time you refresh the "American Western Test Tube Circle", your "graduation report" will be at the top of the post, and the row of "good luck" taking over mothers below will be able to avoid taking a detour and shedding a tear because of this guide.

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