Treatments

In Vitro Fertilization (IVF)

In vitro fertilization (IVF) is a type of assistive reproductive technology (ART). It involves retrieving eggs from a woman’s ovaries and fertilizing them with sperm outside the body. This fertilized egg is known as an embryo. The embryo can then be frozen for storage or transferred to a woman’s uterus.

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How the IVF Treatment Process Works ?

Step 1 : Ovarian Stimulation

You will be given fertility medications to stimulate your ovaries to produce mature eggs. Additional hormones may also be prescribed, such as progesterone, estrogen and/or DHEA.

Step 2 : Patient Monitoring

A transvaginal ultrasound will be used to examine your ovaries, while blood samples are taken to check your hormone levels.

Step 3 : Maturing Eggs

A hormone injection of HCG is given two days prior to your egg collection to trigger your eggs to mature.

Step 4 : Egg Retrieval

A minor surgical procedure is used to retrieve your eggs. This takes approximately 30-minutes and involves drawing the eggs from the follicles using the help of ultrasound imaging and a special needle.

Step 5 : Sperm Collection

Sperm from the male partner, or a pre-arranged sperm donor, is collected and prepared.

Step 6 : Egg Fertilization

In a process called insemination, the sperm and extracted eggs are combined to encourage fertilization. In some cases, intracytoplasmic  sperm injection (ICSI) may be used. This is the process of injecting a single sperm directly into the egg to assist with fertilization. The eggs are carefully observed to ensure that fertilization and cell division occurs until they become embryos.

Step 7 : Embryo Transfer

Three to five days after fertilization, one or two embryos are ready to be transferred to your uterus (or that of a pre-arranged surrogate) for implantation.

Step 8 : Pregnancy Test

Approximately two-weeks after the embryo transfer, you will have a blood test to determine if you are pregnant. If your pregnancy test is positive, then you will have an ultrasound two weeks later. If your test is negative, then you can discuss options with your medical team you may consider trying IVF again since repeat tries increase the chance of success.

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Are there any side effects or risks with IVF ?

Like most medical procedures, there is a potential risk — although this is quite small. The vast majority of side
effects are minor and pass shortly after the procedure is done and additional hormone medications are
stopped. Here’s an overview the most common possible side effects:

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Right After the Procedure

  • In most cases, there is minimal discomfort with IVF, except for mild cramping. Other side effects may include:
  • Passing a small amount of fluid
  • Mild bloating
  • Mild cramping
  • Breast tenderness
  • Constipation
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Common side effects from fertility medication

  • Mood swings
  • Hot flashes
  • Headaches
  • Abdominal bloating
  • Abdominal pain

Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection

 ICSI is an advanced form of IVF, wherein, a single sperm is injected directly into the cytoplasm of a single egg. There are several differences within the classic IVF and ICSI. However, the steps to be followed before and after insemination are the same. ICSI needs only one sperm per oocyte, meanwhile IVF needs between 50 and 100 thousands.

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Embryo TransferSperm Injection

Embryo transfer refers to a step in the process of assisted reproduction in which embryos are placed into the uterus of a female with the intent to establish a pregnancy.

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Ovum pick up

Ovum pick up is a technique used in in vitro fertilization (IVF) in order to remove oocytes from the ovary of the female, enabling fertilization outside the body.

Egg Donation & Surrogacy

These are 3rd party reproduction options. Egg donation represents a remarkable advance in fertility treatment for women who cannot conceive a child with their own eggs. Surrogacy is referred to woman who accepts to bear (or be pregnant with) the child of another woman who is incapable of becoming pregnant using her own uterus.

Male Infertility

Male infertility can be caused by low sperm production, erectile dysfunction or ejaculatory problems, abnormal sperm function or blockages that prevent the delivery of sperm. Illnesses, injuries, chronic health problems, lifestyle choices and other factors. The inability to conceive a child can be stressful and frustrating, but a number of treatments are available for male infertility.

Evaluation of Male Partner

Evaluation of the male in infertility has evolved into an organized, logical process beginning with a thorough reproductive and medical history, physical examination, and semen analysis. Several aspects of a reproductive history are important in assessing a man’s fertility potential. Initially, a the distinction between primary infertility (a lifelong inability to effect a pregnancy despite regular, unprotected intercourse) and secondary infertility (initiation of a pregnancy in the past but
presently unable to conceive for unknown reason) is made. 

Components of a medical history that are addressed are medical illnesses that affect infertility secondarily, such as diabetes mellitus, upper respiratory tract disease, family history, injury caused due to surgery or transplantation.

A complete physical examination should be done in addition to focused examination of the male
reproductive tract.

The principle diagnostic test to determine the extent to which the male partner contributes to a
couple’s infertility is semen analysis. Semen analysis determines the volume of the ejaculate and
the sperm concentration, total number, percent motility, and the percentage of spermatozoa with
normal morphology according to strict criteria.

The principle diagnostic test to determine the extent to which the male partner contributes to a
couple’s infertility is semen analysis. Semen analysis determines the volume of the ejaculate and
the sperm concentration, total number, percent motility, and the percentage of spermatozoa with
normal morphology according to strict criteria.