IVF or in vitro fertilization (in glass fertilization) is a process where medicines and surgical procedures are combined to help the sperm fertilize the egg outside the body and then re-implant the fertilized egg back in the uterus.
IVF is suggested for:
- Women aged more than 35 years
- Women with damaged fallopian tubes
- Women having ovulation disorders like uterine fibroids or premature ovarian failure
- Women with endometriosis
- Women having recurrent miscarriages
- Male Factor Infertility
- Idiopathic or unexplained infertility
If eligible, the physician selects a treatment plan. The assigned treatment protocol takes into consideration the unique circumstances and the method that has the best outcome.
Conventional IVF Process
A conventional IVF process undergoes the following procedureOvarian stimulation
The woman is given injections for 10 to 12 days to stimulate the ovaries for producing multiple eggs.Egg retrieval
When it's determined that the eggs have matured and are ready, an ultrasound-guided procedure to retrieve the egg is undertaken by the physician.Sperm collection
Corresponding to the egg retrieval, the male partner collects a fresh sperm sample that undergoes analysis and preparation for insemination.Fertilization
Once the analysis and preparation of the eggs and sperm are completed, the eggs are inseminated and about 16-18 hours later, fertilization is determined. There are two different types of insemination:- Conventional insemination
- Intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI)
Embryo culture
Once fertilization is determined, the embryos are put in special media to allow for optimal growth.Embryo transfer
Depending on the number and quality of embryos, 1-3 embryos are transferred to uterus a few days after egg retrieval (3-5).Embryo cryopreservation
If any embryos of acceptable quality are left after the transfer, the couple is given the option of freezing and storing it for future use.Minimal Stimulation IVF
Advancements in technology have not left IVF treatment untouched.With advancements in technology, new, much better, and more holistic IVF protocols are being developed to treating the infertility process. One of the alternatives is Minimal Stimulation IVF.
Minimal Stimulation IVF (mini-IVF) uses smaller medication doses for ovary stimulation to develop high-quality eggs.
Eligibility
Women eligible for mini-IVF include those:- Who doesn’t want to undergo conventional IVF
- Deterred by high costs of traditional IVF
- Who want to retrieve multiple superior eggs to store
- Are undergoing cancer treatment and want inseminated egg cells frozen
- Who had previously unsuccessful hormonal stimulation
- With the high risk for OHSS (Ovarian Hyper Stimulation Syndrome)
- Who has a reduced ovarian reserve of inadequate response to hormonal stimulation
- Older women, who end up producing 1 – 3 eggs despite hormonal stimulation
- With “Implantation failures.”