IVF Treatment

In-Vitro Fertilization (IVF) is an advanced fertility treatment where eggs are retrieved from a woman's ovaries and fertilized with sperm in a specialized lab. The fertilized egg (embryo) is then allowed to mature for a few days before being transferred into the woman’s uterus to increase the chances of pregnancy.

When is IVF used?

IVF is recommended for various reasons, including:

Endometriosis
Low sperm count or sperm issues
Blocked or damaged fallopian tubes
Uterine problems
Ovarian issues such as Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)
Risk of passing on genetic disorders
Use of a gestational surrogate or egg donor

Steps Involved in IVF Treatment

Pre-Treatment Preparation: Birth Control Pills or Estrogen help regulate the menstrual cycle and prepare the ovaries for optimal egg production.
Ovarian Stimulation: Fertility Medications - Hormone injections stimulate the ovaries to produce multiple eggs in one cycle, Monitoring - Regular ultrasounds and blood tests track egg development.
Egg Retrieval: Performed 36 hours after hormone injections, eggs are retrieved using a needle guided by ultrasound, usually under sedation.
Sperm Collection: Fresh Sample - a fresh semen sample is typically collected on the same day as egg retrieval, Frozen Sample - a previously frozen sample can also be used.
Fertilization: Traditional IVF or ICSI - Eggs are fertilized in the lab. In some cases, Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI) is used to inject a single sperm directly into an egg.
Embryo Transfer: The best-quality embryos are transferred to the uterus 2-5 days after fertilization using a thin catheter.
Pregnancy Test: A blood test is conducted two weeks after the embryo transfer to check for pregnancy.

Advantages of IVF

Suitable for a broad range of fertility concerns
Enables preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) or screening (PGS)
Allows freezing of embryos for future use
Inclusive of different family-building paths