IVF Treatment
Infertility to Conception

IVF treatment (in vitro fertilization) was intended as an infertility treatment for women with blocked or damaged fallopian tube. This procedure takes credit for many couples having successfully achieved not only conception, but also the sustaining of a healthy pregnancy.

Due to its success rates, the reasons doctors recommend this treatment has increased substantially, and it is now recognized as a leading treatment in overcoming infertility.

In vitro fertilization provides the numerous conditions under which this technique is prescribed by fertility specialists.

IVF Treatment process

The process of invitro fertilization will require perseverance when going through all the steps or stages required. There are quite a few steps that both partners will have to go through in order to achieve a pregnancy.

The female will have to visit the clinic a number of times during this time, so that the various stages are carefully monitored. The expected steps in the process are as follows:

Step 1 - Ovarian stimulation

• The female partner will be required to take hormone medication, as discussed on types of drugs to stimulate the ovaries and increase the number of eggs produced for fertilization.
• The fertility drugs prescribed, to stimulate the ovaries to develop as many ovarian follicles as possible, will be similar to the follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH). Ovarian stimulation involves taking FSH in the form of Metrodin, as an injection which is classified in the drug range - gonadotropins.  It's is given to stimulate development of multiple follicles in females under going assisted reproductive technology (ART).
• Metrodin is a daily injection, with results known within 5 to 7 days. Your doctor will monitor the ovarian response in order to prescribe the second medication, normally Profasi - which is a chorionic gonadotropin injection. This drug comprises of a hormone called human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), which is similar to a woman's luteinizing hormone (LH), responsible for stimulating ovulation (release of the eggs).
• Profasi is given in an effort to control the LH surge and stimulate ovulation for the egg retrieval process. A premature LH surge could result in a cancelled ART cycle, as the embryologist will be unable to retrieve the eggs to continue the procedure.

Step 2 - Monitoring the ovarian stimulation

• There are two tests required for monitoring the ovarian stimulation, namely:
  • Ultrasound -  monitors the follicle growth taking place. On about day 8 of the cycle, your doctor will begin to observe the follicle growth, as they become larger. Ultra sound allows the physician to monitor the maturity of the follicle, to prepare for the administering of Profasi.
    • Ultrasound scanning translates sound waves into pictures, and is perfectly safe. Ultrasound observation can be abdominally or vaginally.
  • Blood tests - the developing follicles secrete increasing amounts of the estrogen hormone, estradiol (E2). E2 levels are used to determine the optimal timing for the administration of Profasi, to trigger ovulation and subsequently egg recovery. Blood tests will be taken and monitored - usually from day 8 of the cycle.

Step 3 - IVF egg retrieval

• Eggs are normally recovered by a gynecologist. As many mature eggs as possible are retrieved from the female partner. Two procedures can be used for egg retrieval:
  • Laparoscopy - this process requires general anesthesia. Using a laparoscopy, a tube with a tiny camera, is inserted, to view the ovaries and fallopian tubes. An aspiration system - using light suction - is guided to the ovarian follicles, the contents removed and is placed in a sterile test tube. Using a special microscope, the physician verifies that it contains an egg, else the process is repeated until all the mature eggs have been aspirated.
  • Ultrasound - guided aspiration - this procedure can be performed under local anesthesia. The physician will guide a needle into each follicle, guided by the ultrasound image and withdraw its contents.  Once the eggs are retrieved, they are transferred to a sterile container for fertilization.

Step 4 - Semen sample

• The male partner will provide a semen sample which will be processed in a laboratory using a technique called sperm washing. This is normally collected 2 hours or so, before the eggs are retrieved.
• The intention is to separate and recover only the strongest, most active of sperm, to be used in the fertilization process.

Step 5 - Fertilization

• The mature egg and sperm are placed together in the laboratory and incubated.  The incubation temperature will be the same as that of the female's body.
• After approximately 48 hours - if the eggs have been fertilized, and growing normally, they are then ready for transfer to the uterus.
• Not all the eggs will fertilize, but the ones that do will be assessed for transfer.
• An embryologist is responsibility for and will deploy very strict protocols around the monitoring of eggs and sperm before the transfer.

Step 6 - Embryo transfer

• The embryo transfer can be performed without anesthesia as it is not a complicated process. The embryos are placed in a catheter and inserted through the cervix into the uterus.
• Some of the eggs may be frozen (cryopreserved) and stored for future usage.
• Only one, possibly two embryos are transferred.  A risk of multiple pregnancies is possible, so the decision of transferring more than one embryo will be determined by your physician.

IVF Treatment - Pregnancy

After the treatment has been completed, the woman is considered to be in a "pregnant state" until 10 to 12 days later, when a pregnancy test can be taken to ascertain if in fact this is the case. Your physician will warn you about not taking any medications or products which may have a harmful effect on a developing fetus.

For many, this dream may be a reality come true with a pregnancy resulting from the treatment. Bear in mind that while high success rates are recorded, it may take a few attempts of IVF treatments before pregnancy is achieved.

An IVF treatment and process may result in a successful pregnancy.

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