Journey of IVF

The Journey of IVF Explained

Infertility can be a difficult path for many couples, but continuous advancements in medical science and technology have allowed many to achieve their goal of parenting. In vitro fertilization (IVF) is one of the most advance popular and successful therapies available.

In Vitro Fertilization

In vitro fertilization, often known as IVF, is a complex series of procedures designed to assist with fertility, prevent genetic abnormalities, and aid in child conception. During IVF, mature eggs are extracted from the ovaries and fertilized with sperm in a laboratory. The fertilized egg (embryo) / embryos or eggs are then placed into the uterus. 1 cycle of IVF takes.

Why It’s Done

it is done for factor either in male and female part number on both

Female

  • Fallopian tube damage or blockage
  • Ovulation disorders: Infrequent or absent ovulation and fewer eggs.
  • Endometriosis: A condition in which tissue identical to the uterine lining implants and develops outside of the uterus, impairing the function of the ovaries, uterus, and fallopian tubes.
  • Uterine fibroids: Fibroids are benign tumors in the uterine wall that are frequent in women in their thirties and forties. They may interfere with the fertilized egg’s implantation.
  • Previous tubal sterilization or removal: If you’ve undergone tubal ligation (a kind of sterilization in which your fallopian tubes are cut or blocked to permanently prevent conception) and wish to conceive, IVF may be a better option than tubal ligation reversal.

Male

  • Oligospermia (low Sperm cereal)
  • Asthenozoospermia (whole sperm)
  • Teratozoospermia (abnormal Sperm)

Couple

  • Advance age
  • Failed IUI

Possible Risks Associated

  • Multiple pregnancies: Transferring numerous embryos to the uterus may raise the likelihood of multiple births. Pregnancy with multiple fetuses increases the risk of early labor and low birth weight.
  • Ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome: The use of injectable fertility drugs can cause your ovaries to become swollen and painful.
  • Miscarriage: The rate of miscarriage among women who use IVF is comparable to that of those who conceive naturally.
  • Egg-retrieval procedure complications: Using an aspirating needle to extract eggs may result in bleeding, infection, or injury to the colon, bladder, or blood vessel.
  • Ectopic pregnancy: About 2% to 5% of women who implement IVF will have an ectopic pregnancy, which occurs when the fertilized egg implants outside of the uterus, typically in a fallopian tube.

How You Prepare for IVF

  • Initial Consultation: Meet with a fertility specialist to discuss your medical history and undergo preliminary testing.
  • Ovarian Reserve Testing: This test measures the levels of hormones such as follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), estradiol, and anti-Mullerian hormone to anticipate how your ovaries will react to fertility drugs.
  • Semen Analysis: If not already done, your doctor will do a semen analysis to assess the quantity and quality of your sperm.
  • Infectious Disease Screening: Both partners will be screened for infectious diseases, including HIV.
  • Mock Embryo Transfer: Your doctor may perform a mock embryo transfer to establish the depth of your uterine cavity and the procedure that will most likely result in successful embryo implantation.
  • Uterine Exam: TVS / 3D USG To assess uterine and ovary

Advantages of IVF

  • High success rate compared to other fertility treatments.
  • Allows more control over when to have children.
  • IVF can use eggs, sperm, or embryos from donors, enabling a wide range of people to become parents.
  • Genetic testing can be performed to ensure embryos used in IVF are free of certain genetic disorders.
  • Extra embryos can be frozen for future use, reducing the need for future IVF cycles.

How Long is the IVF Process – Time Duration

  • The full procedure typically takes about 3 weeks. However, sometimes these steps are split into different parts and the process can take longer.
  • Ovarian Stimulation: 8-14 days of hormone injections to stimulate the ovaries to produce multiple eggs.
  • Egg Retrieval: A minor surgical procedure to collect eggs from the ovaries.
  • Fertilization and Embryo Culture: Eggs are fertilized with sperm in a lab and cultured for 3-6 days.
  • Embryo Transfer: 1-5 days after retrieval, embryos are transferred into the uterus.

Pregnancy Test: About 9-14 days after embryo transfer, a blood test will determine if pregnancy has occurred.

The Difference Between IVF and IUI

  • IVF involves stimulating the ovaries to create many eggs, extracting the eggs, fertilizing them in a lab, and then transferring the embryo(s) to the uterus.
  • IUI involves inserting sperm directly into the uterus around the time of ovulation. It is less intrusive and less costly than IVF, but the success rate is lower.