IVF means in vitro fertilization. It is a kind of artificial reproductive treatment recommended to couples who have fertility problems and have already tried other fertility methods but failed. Generally, this treatment is the last resort and the couple's only hope of having a baby is through IVF pregnancy.
When is IVF pregnancy recommended to patients?
The IVF treatment is recommended to patients if:
- The patient is diagnosed with problems pertaining fertility
- The fallopian tubes of the patient are blocked
- The patient has never produced positive results with other treatments such as the IUI or intrauterine insemination or fertility drugs
- There is a mild degree of sub-fertility with the male partner. More acute problems are treated with ICSI or intra-cytoplasmic sperm injection.
How is IVF pregnancy achieved?
The details of the IVF process are different based the circumstances of each patient and the techniques applied in each clinic. But however different they may be, they all work for the same objective, to have a successful IVF pregnancy. The following is the basic procedure of IVF treatment.
With women:
- Suppressing the regular monthly menstrual cycle – The female patient is given a certain drug to control the menstrual cycle as the first step. The treatment is either done through nasal spray or daily injection. This is continued for two weeks.
- Boosting the supply of mature eggs – After controlling the regular menstrual cycle of the female patient, she is given a Follicle Stimulating Hormone or FSH. This is a fertility hormone which is taken as daily injections for about twelve days. This stimulates the production of eggs which also means more eggs are going to be fertilized. This also gives the clinic a greater number of embryos to use during the treatment.
- Monitoring the progress – The matured eggs are retrieved through guidance of ultrasound, during which the female patient is under sedation.
- Fertilizing the eggs – The eggs retrieved is then combined with the sperm of the male partner or from a sperm donor . They are then cultured in the laboratory for about 16 to 20 hours. After which, they are checked to see if the eggs have fertilized or not. The embryos which are the fertilized eggs are developed in an incubator for another 1 to 2 days before being checked again. The best embryos are then chosen for the transfer. When the egg collection is over, the patient is given medication to aid in preparing the lining of the womb for the transfer of the embryos.
With Men:
The collection of sample sperm from the male partner or male donor is done at the same time of the retrieval of the eggs. Either way, they are first stored for a little amount of time before they are washed and spun at great speed. This process is needed to get the most active and healthiest sperm cells. The donated spermatozoa prepared in the same way after they are taken out from frozen storage and thawed.
The success rate of the IVF treatment differs on the age of the woman. The older the woman gets, the slimmer the chances are for a successful IVF pregnancy.