In vitro fertilization (IVF)
In vitro fertilization (IVF) makes it possible for people with infertility to experience the joy of having a child. It is the process of collecting eggs and fertilizing them in the laboratory.
IVF works by using a combination of medicines and surgical procedures to help sperm fertilize an egg, and help the fertilized egg implant in your uterus.
The first step in IVF is taking a combination of tablets and injections for several days to help the ovaries produce several eggs that are mature and ready for fertilization. The response to injections is monitored by ultrasound scan and blood tests on a regular basis during this step in the IVF process to check on your ovaries and monitor your hormone levels.
Egg Retrieval
A little more than a day before your eggs are scheduled to be retrieved from your body, you’ll receive a hormone injection that will help your eggs mature quickly. Then, you’ll have a minor surgical procedure — called follicular aspiration — to remove the eggs. You’ll get medicine to help you be relaxed and comfortable during the procedure. Using an ultrasound to see inside your body, the doctor puts a thin, hollow tube through your vagina and into the ovary and follicles that hold your eggs. The needle is connected to a suction device that gently pulls the eggs out of each follicle.
Insemination
The male partner will now need to give a semen sample. Embroyologist will mix the sperm with the eggs in a petri dish. The sperm are then put through a high-speed wash and spin cycle in order to find the healthiest ones. The egg and sperm are then combined in a lab through varying technologies of fertilization, such as intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI).
Embryo Culture
Your doctor will monitor the fertilized eggs to ensure that they’re dividing and developing. The embryos may undergo testing for genetic conditions at this time.
Embryo Implantation
When the embryos are big enough, they can be implanted. This normally occurs three to five days after fertilization. Implantation involves inserting a thin tube called a catheter which is loaded with embryos and inserted past your cervix, and into the uterus. Your doctor then releases the embryo into your uterus.
Pregnancy Test
After 2 weeks of embryo transfer, blood test is done to check if embryos have implanted.