What To Expect?
Compassionate Medical Staff Devoted to Your Care
Our fertility clinic’s sole purpose is to help you fulfill your dreams of bringing a new baby into your life
We provide highly successful holistic care that is comforting and relaxing, you feel like visiting a friend instead of a medical facility
Treatment Flow
On your initial call to Bay IVF, Erica will go through a series of screening questions about your reproductive history
You will then be scheduled for your initial consultation with Dr. Polansky
After scheduling your consultation, you will receive a confirmation email
Two to three days before your scheduled appointment, another email will go out to you with final instructions for your visit to the Clinic
Once you receive the email, please confirm your appointment by email, text, or phone call to us
The day before your appointment, Dr. Polansky will review all available information, including your past medical records
After you have arrived at the Clinic, you will fill out a Registration Form, and one of the IVF nurses will take your vital signs and your weight and height
The nurse will then give Dr. Polansky a brief report and any updates
After that, Dr. Polansky will meet you in the waiting area, welcome you, and walk you to his office
Your entire consultation will take approximately 60 minutes. First, Dr. Polansky will review the causes of your infertility, and then he will propose the most appropriate treatment(s) for you
You will then be brought into one of the exam rooms. Dr. Polansky will listen to your lungs and heart and will do a pelvic ultrasound to count the number of antral follicles within the ovaries
Dr. Polansky will accurately estimate your personalized live-birth probability of success for your proposed treatment. You will receive a hard copy document of your likelihood of success
After your brief exam, you will walk back to the receptionist area and have a discussion with Erica about your next steps and the cost of your proposed treatment
As you proceed with your treatment, in the next step, you will complete the required treatment prerequisites. These are quick, easy, and straightforward
Your treatment will start with the onset of your menstrual periods. We will develop your treatment calendar and email it to you
A cycle of reproductive treatment takes approximately six to eight weeks to complete and only requires a few brief visits to the Clinic
The pregnancy test is done ten days after the treatment completion. If the test is positive, a pregnancy heartbeat ultrasound is scheduled two weeks later
If the ultrasound findings are normal, your care at Bay IVF will conclude, and you will return to your regular OB/GYN for routine OB care
Prerequisites for IVF, Embryo Banking, and Gender Selection
Only a few treatment prerequisites are needed before the start of your treatment. They assess the egg and sperm quality and ensure that embryos can be accurately placed in a healthy uterus.
Female partner’s age
The likelihood of a successful IVF treatment significantly decreases by the age of 44. To be eligible for IVF treatment, you must be 43 years and 11 months or younger when your treatment begins. Patients who are 44 and older should strongly consider Donor Egg IVF as the most effective treatment option for achieving a successful pregnancy.
Female partner’s weight
For an optimal ovarian response and your safety during the egg retrieval procedure, it is important that your BMI is no greater than 29. If your BMI is higher, we recommend following the IVF Diet and Lifestyle (PDF) recommendations as closely as possible. By doing so, you can achieve weight loss at an appropriate rate, which may significantly enhance your chances of a successful pregnancy.
Pathogen testing
This testing is required by the State of California. You and your partner (if applicable) must be tested for Hepatitis B-Surface Antigen, Hepatitis C-Antibody, HIV I&II, HTLV I&II, and RPR.
Ovarian Reserve Assay (ORA)
ORA assesses the likelihood of producing normal-quality eggs. It involves measuring the levels of Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH), estradiol (estrogen, E2), and Anti-Mullerian Hormone (AMH) in the blood.
These test results provide insights into the quality of eggs and are utilized to optimize your ovarian stimulation.
Uterine measurement and saline ultrasound
Knowing the length of the uterus is essential for precise embryo placement. Saline ultrasound is performed to eliminate the presence of intrauterine polyps and fibroids.
Semen evaluation
The male partner’s semen will be assessed at the Bay IVF laboratory to determine the optimal method of semen preparation for IVF egg insemination.
Parents’ genetic testing (optional)
All prospective parents should consider genetic screening for hundreds of the most prevalent genetic diseases. Please inform us during your initial appointment at Bay IVF if you would like to have your blood sample sent for genetic screening.
IVF diet and lifestyle
Environmental factors can greatly influence reproductive health. We encourage you to review the IVF Diet and Lifestyle document (PDF) for a comprehensive list of requirements regarding reproductive health and a recommended source for dietary supplements.
Purchasing Frozen Donor Eggs
Finding an Egg Donor
You choose your frozen donor eggs from a donor egg bank catalog, and the egg bank will ship your selected frozen eggs to our Clinic.
The egg banks our embryologists recommend are Fairfax Egg Bank, Donor Egg Bank USA at California Cryobank, and Cryos International-USA.
Alternatively, you may be able to find an egg donor who is blood-related to you (the female partner) to preserve the genetic link, or you could choose an anonymous pre-screened egg donor from an egg donor agency. The donor will then become a patient at our Clinic.
Whether you use frozen donor eggs or an egg donor, once your Donor Egg IVF treatment is completed, your pregnancy will be indistinguishable from conception through intercourse.
Out of San Francisco Bay Area Patients
Out-of-area patients/egg donors will need to go through the following steps first:
- Before your initial visit, you need to have a preliminary ultrasound examination of your uterus and ovaries.
- Have your FSH, estrogen, and AMH levels measured on one of the first four days of your menstrual period.
- If the results of these tests are normal, we will schedule your initial visit with us.
- Your treatment can begin as early as your first menstrual period after your initial consultation at Bay IVF.
- The ovarian stimulation will take approximately one to two weeks to complete. You must be available for regular visits to our Clinic during this time.
- Once you have had your embryo transfer (or the day after egg retrieval for egg donors), you can travel out of the area.
FAQ — Find Answers to Your Queries
Here are some of the most commonly asked fertility-related questions. A more comprehensive FAQ selection is available on the FAQ page.
Do medications used in the IVF treatment have any side effects?
Most patients should expect minimal, if any, side effects from the medications used in In Vitro Fertilization. You should be able to continue with your everyday activities during the treatment.
How long does it take to complete a cycle of IVF?
It typically takes approximately 6 to 8 weeks from the start of your treatment to the egg retrieval and embryo transfer.
Is the egg retrieval procedure painful?
Your egg retrieval should be a very comfortable experience as we use effective pain and relaxation medications. Most patients will sleep through the 5-10 minute egg retrieval procedure. Some may experience mild menstrual-like cramping.
What is ICSI, and how does it affect my embryos?
n the Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI) procedure, a single sperm is directly inserted into the center of an egg. ICSI has been widely used since 1993, and approximately 2 million babies have been born worldwide without significant side effects through the use of ICSI.
I am over 40. Should I plan to do PGT?
You may consider adding Preimplantation Genetic Testing (PGT) to your In Vitro Fertilization or Donor Egg IVF treatment. If you choose to do so, it eliminates the need for amniocentesis. While adding PGT to these treatments has not been proven to improve the chances of a successful outcome consistently, it can help reduce the risk of miscarriage.
How many embryos should we transfer?
We adhere to the recommendation of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine that most patients should consider transferring only one or two embryos. While we will always provide guidance, the ultimate decision of whether to transfer one or two embryos will be up to you.
Is bed rest recommended after an embryo transfer?
From a conception standpoint, it is not recommended to rest immediately after embryo transfer. Recent studies have shown that remaining active and moving around after the transfer can increase the probability of implantation. Therefore, it is advised to start moving around immediately after your transfer.
I am from the LGBTQ+ community. Can I have my treatment at Bay IVF?
Yes! We take pride in being one of the first fertility clinics in Northern California to offer In Vitro Fertilization services for lesbian partners. Our clinic is LGBTQ+ friendly and experienced in both lesbian IVF and Reciprocal IVF.
We look forward to meeting you at Bay IVF and, when your treatment is successful, celebrating your new pregnancy!
Years of Experience
Babies Born
Compassionate Care
Hear from Our Patients’ Journey to Parenthood at Bay IVF!
I would highly recommend Bay IVF for those wanting to build their family and needing IVF support! Dr. Polansky and the whole Bay IVF team were so supportive and welcoming while also honest and realistic. Our girl is our dream come true!
Jennifer C.-F.This clinic has been amazing to work with. All the nurses and staff made sure I was always comfortable and were there to answer questions any time I needed. We are incredibly grateful to Dr. Polansky and the team for everything they did for us.
Harpreet K.Words could never express the gratitude my husband and I will always have for Bay IVF! We did our research and decided to check out Bay IVF. We scheduled a consultation and felt an instant connection… love at first sight!
Chelsea L.Bay IVF Early Pregnancy Heartbeat
Meet Your Doctor
- Dr. Polansky received his medical diploma from Charles University in Prague, the Czech Republic, in 1978.
- After completing his OB/GYN residency at Jewish Hospital in Saint Louis, MO, he graduated from the Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility (REI) fellowship at Stanford University in 1985.
- In the same year, he co-founded the Stanford IVF Clinic.
- Dr. Polansky obtained board certification in Obstetrics and Gynecology in 1986 and became REI subspecialty board certified in 1988.
- In 1987, he left Stanford University and established Nova IVF.
- In 2011, he founded Bay IVF, where he provides advanced fertility treatments with a holistic approach, utilizing state-of-the-art techniques.
- Dr. Polansky personally performs ultrasound examinations, egg retrievals, embryo transfers, and ovarian and endometrial stimulations for his patients.
- He is deeply committed to his patients and freely shares his cell phone number, ensuring accessibility and availability 24/7.
Frank Polansky, M.D.
Dr. Polansky’s Communication With Patients
Real texts, anonymous patient names
Initial Appointment Questions
When you call to schedule your consultation, Erica will ask you a short series of questions regarding your reproductive history.
Patients’ Thank You Cards
Your Initial Visit at Bay IVF
Attending a new patient appointment at a fertility clinic can be stressful. Our primary objective is to ensure that your initial visit is friendly and relaxing. We encourage you to ask questions at every step of the process.
1 — When You Arrive
You will be welcomed by one of the clinic receptionists. One of our nurses will measure your height and weight and take your blood pressure
2 — Meet Your Doctor
Dr. Polansky will ask you a series of clarifying questions and then provide you with a summary of the factors contributing to your infertility
4 — Exam Room
One of the nurses will escort you to an examination room. Your examination will begin with listening to your lungs and heart
3 — Ask Your Questions
You will then have a discussion with him about the most suitable reproductive treatment(s) for you. During this time, you will have the opportunity to ask any questions you may have
5 — Ultrasound of the Ovaries
The next step is a pelvic ultrasound to examine the uterus and ovaries. This ultrasound will help determine the number of antral follicles present within the ovaries
6 — Financial Part
Following that, you will have a discussion with one of the financial advisors regarding the financial aspects of your treatment, including potential treatment financing options
8 — Support 24/7
If you have any questions after leaving the clinic, please feel free to reach out to us via phone call, text, or email. Open and discreet communication is an integral part of the care we provide at Bay IVF
7 — What About Time?
Your entire visit is expected to last approximately one hour
Schedule Your Initial Consultation With Dr. Polansky
Online or In-Person
You can also complete the form below to request your initial consultationStill Have Questions?
We know this is a big decision. It is important for us that you feel really comfortable.