IVF is the acronym for in vitro fertilization which literally means fertilization in glass. The products of IVF are referred to as test tube babies. This is an option made available to couples who are having fertility problems although most of the time this is the last option when other lesser expensive artificial reproductive methods have failed. Couples undergo screening in order to foresee if the couple is eligible for the program. The program is an IVF cycle which needs a number of weeks to see the success of the treatment.
One of the reasons couples undertake the process of in vitro fertilization is because of female infertility. The woman may be have been diagnosed with damaged fallopian tubes or poor quality of eggs. It could also be that the male is infertile with problems in sperm quality. Couples trying to conceive for more than three years often choose the IVF treatment in order to have a successful pregnancy.
Process of IVF Cycle
There are about 5 steps involved in the IVF cycle.
1. The first step done is to let the female patient take fertility medications to control the regular menstrual flow in order to increase the possibility of retrieving multiple matured eggs from the ovaries. This process is oftentimes referred as ovulation induction. Multiple eggs are needed because there are some eggs that will not fertilize after the retrieval. The development of the eggs is monitored through ultrasound coupled with monitoring of blood or urine tests to check out the levels of the hormones.
2. The second step in the IVF cycle is the retrieval of the eggs from the ovaries of the patient by minor surgical process. It uses a hollow needle guided by ultrasound imaging into the pelvic cavity. Local anesthesia and sedation are applied to the female patient to avoid discomfort during this step. The hollow needle is used to remove the matured eggs, also called as follicular aspiration. Some female patients may feel cramping within the day of retrieving the eggs which normally disappears on the next day. There are other sensations that will remain which may last for a couple of weeks after the procedure.
3. Spermatozoa are provided by either the male partner or by a sperm donor. The sperm is then combined with the matured eggs.
4. The fourth step of the IVF cycle is the process of insemination where the sperm and egg cells are placed in the incubators situated inside the laboratory that enables the fertilization to happen. ICSI or intracytoplasmic sperm injection is used in cases where the success rate of fertilization is low. In this process the sperm is directly injected into the matured egg in order to attain fertilization. These eggs are monitored constantly to confirm that cell division and fertilization are in progress. The eggs turn into embryos when the process is successful.
5. The last step is transferring of the embryos to the uterus of the female patient.
These steps of the IVF cycle are followed by plenty of rest and steady monitoring of symptoms of early pregnancy. Ultrasound and blood testing are used to determine if the implantation and the pregnancy are happening.