OVERVIEW
In-vitro fertilization is the most common treatment for infertility. In this process, the doctor removes an egg with the help of a needle from the ovary and fertilizes them with sperm in a laboratory. The embryo is formed in the laboratory by controlling the fertilization conditions. After 3 to 5 days, the doctor transfers a qualified and developing embryo into the uterus.
WHICH CONDITIONS MAY NEED IVF SUPPORT?
- • Impaired sperm production or function: Some factors such as abnormal shape and size of sperm, weak movement of sperm and below-average sperm count cause difficulties in fertilization.
- • Fertility preservation for cancer: If you have cancer and you are undergoing any cancer treatment such as chemotherapy and radiation, it may lead to infertility.
- • Uterine fibroid: Uterine fibroid is a type of tumour which occurs on the wall of the uterus. This condition commonly occurs in women at 30 to 40 years of age. Uterine fibroid may result to infertility.
- • Endometriosis: In this condition, uterine implants and tissue grow outside of the uterus which affect the functions of ovaries, fallopian tube and uterus.
- • Previous tubal sterilization: In this procedure, your fallopian tube is cut and blocked permanently for the prevention of pregnancy. After a tubal ligation, if you want to get pregnant, IVF can be done.
HOW IT IS PERFORMED?
Steps of IVF treatment are:
- • Controlled ovarian hyperstimulation: In this process, different types of ovarian stimulating drugs are used. GnRH antagonists are the most widely used drugs used to stimulate secretion of gonadotropins hormones.
- • Egg retrieval: It is a surgical process wherein the doctor inserts a needle under guidance of transvaginal ultrasonography to the aspirated ovarian follicle. The doctor then scans follicular fluid to see all available eggs and transfer them in a special medium.
- • Fertilization and embryo culture: Eggs are transferred in a dish and fertilized through an ICSI technique. After 16-18 hours of fertilization, eggs convert in zygotes and again are transferred in a culture media.
- • Embryo quality: To qualify a good embryo to be transferred, the doctor scans all embryos based on their rate of development and appearance. The doctor then selects embryo to transfer it into the woman’s body.
- • Embryo transfer: The embryo is transferred at the 3rd day when the egg is in cleavage-stage or the 5th day when the egg in the blastocyst stage. In this procedure, there is no need for any type of anesthesia. The doctor transfers embryo on a soft catheter and delivers it into the uterus through the cervix.
