In vitro fertilization (IVF), commonly known as Test tube baby treatment, is a technique where the fertilization process happens inside the laboratory instead of the female partner’s body. The woman’s eggs are surgically removed from ovaries and are combined with the husband’s sperms outside the body. After a few days, fertilized eggs (embryos), incubated and cultured under specific conditions, are placed inside the woman’s uterus, thus bypassing the fallopian tubes. The transfer is followed by implantation inside the uterus which then results in a pregnancy once successful. This is by far the most successful assisted reproductive treatment available and definitely the most logical step next to basic treatments like ovulation induction & IUI. For some scenarios like damaged tubes or diminished ovarian reserve, it can also be proposed as the first line therapy
Anmol IVF & Fertility Centre provides couples with the maximum amount of clinical, emotional, and administrative support they will need to complete their cycle successfully and help them realize their dream of parenthood.
Around one in 8 couples has difficulty conceiving and it’s not necessarily because of the woman. As a matter of fact, women and men can both be diagnosed with infertility. Many couples who are willing to have their own biological baby still struggle to become pregnant. Once all the basic forms of treatments are attempted, one needs to explore the next higher form of therapy which is IVF( In Vitro Fertilization) popularly known as Test Tube Baby treatment. It is a little complex procedure than the basic treatments, needs expertise, patience, meticulous cycle management and also incurs expense.
Beginning an IVF cycle is an exciting at the same time very anxious time for a couple. The following explanation is meant to simplify what occurs during the journey of IVF. Anmol Fertility & IVF Centre is always there to handhold you through this entire process & make it completely stress free.
What is IVF?
IVF, In Vitro Fertilization, literally means fertilization “in glass”/in test tube/ outside the body”, the term originated from the test tube experiments of biology & refers to the process where a woman’s eggs are fertilized outside of her body in the laboratory. Unlike the simpler process of artificial insemination in which sperm is placed in the uterus and conception happens otherwise normally, IVF involves combining eggs and sperm outside the body in a laboratory. Once an embryo or embryos form, they are then placed in the uterus where implantation takes place resulting in pregnancy if successful.
Who is IVF suitable for?
> IVF is specifically recommended for women with absent, blocked or damaged fallopian tubes due to disease or surgery.
> It is also often used in cases of unexplained infertility(couples in whom no obvious pathology is found), in some cases of male factor infertility( low sperm counts/motility) and can be used in combination with ICSI (intracytoplasmic sperm injection) in cases of severe male factor infertility
> Some of the causes of infertility are; problems with ovulation, severe endometriosis, antibody problems that harm sperm or eggs.
> Escalation process in case of multiple IUI failures
> It is also the fundamental technology used in case of embryo donation (donor egg IVF), and embryo adoption cycles.
Your step by step guide to IVF:
Patients may get at times intimidated by the concept of IVF, and think of it as being a very complex treatment .However, the basics of IVF are very simple !
All we are doing is helping to kick-start a pregnancy , so that we imitate in the test tube in the IVF lab what would normally happen naturally in the fallopian tube for fertile couples for 5 days . Once we put the embryo back in the uterus, you then have a completely normal pregnancy !
The possibilities choice of medications and treatment protocol, and of course success rates with an IVF treatment vary from patient to patient.
At Anmol Fertility & IVF Centre, we finalize the treatment cycle only after a thorough careful evaluation. This includes reviewing your history and prior responses to fertility medications, a thorough physical examination and drawing up a plan to prepare for your treatment, and going over the treatment plan with you including the expected outcomes and the challenges if any.
There are four general steps involved in an IVF cycle:
1. Stimulation of the ovaries to encourage development and maturation of the eggs.
2. Retrieval of the eggs
3. Fertilization of the eggs and culture of the embryos
4. Transfer of the embryos back into the uterus
Indicated in:
1. B/L Tubal block
2. Severe Endometriosis
3. Distorted Tubal Ovarian relation due to adhesions or past surgery
4. Premature Menopause
5. Failed reversal of male and female sterilization/tubectomy
6. Genetic issues
7. Surrogacy
These steps are described more fully below:
Stimulation of the ovaries to encourage development and maturation of the eggs (Controlled ovarian hyperstimulation to boost the egg supply) The first step in IVF involves injecting hormones so you produce multiple eggs each month instead of only one. Under the care of a fertility specialist, the woman is given daily fertility medications(Fertility drugs through injections), usually for 10-12 days duration, to stimulate her ovaries to produce many follicles.
Sometimes, even before these fertility injections, you may be given a drug to suppress your natural cycle , which will be in form of daily subcutaneous injection for 2 weeks.( GnRH agonists like lupride)
Follicles are the small fluid filled structures which develop on the ovaries, each of which will hopefully contain an egg. These injections can be taken from our clinic or local general practitioner. We can train you or your husband to administer some of the injections. A clinic nurse could also be arranged to come home and give injections. The common medications are gonadotropins including injections FSH, (follicle stimulating hormone) or HMG (human menopausal gonadotropin).These include injection Recagon, gonal-F, Menopur, Menogon, Bravelle. The purpose of these injections is stimulating the development of multiple follicles in the ovaries. When you are on these hormone injections, most or all of these developing eggs are allowed to continue growing until they all reach maturity at the same time. In this way we make use of all the eggs, which would otherwise have been wasted. The number and size of the developing follicles is measured and monitored by trans-vaginal ultrasound scans. The exact number of follicles which develop varies between patients, but the average is about 10-15. Some blood tests are done to check hormone levels while follicle growth is monitored by ultrasound, so that we know when to go ahead with oocyte retrieval. There is another type of injection used during this stage. This is called as GnRH – agonist. (Gonadotropin releasing hormone agonist) egg. Luprolide/ Busarlin or a GnRH antagonist ( ganirelix/cetrotide) to prevent release of eggs before oocyte retrieval. You will then be tested to determine whether you’re ready for egg retrieval. The final preparation for egg retrieval involves a hormone injection which mimics the natural trigger for ovulation. You will be given injections of a medication that ripens the developing eggs and starts the process of ovulation. Injection HCG (Human Chronic Gonadotropin) is given 30-35 hours prior to oocyte retrieval. This causes final maturation of eggs in the follicle. Timing is very important; the eggs must be retrieved just before they emerge from the follicles in the ovaries. If the eggs are taken out too early or too late, they won’t develop normally. Your doctor may do blood tests or an ultrasound to be sure the eggs are at the right stage of development before retrieving them. Egg retrieval will take place 36-38 hours after this injection. The instructions for each medication vary from patient to patient. The medical team at Anmol Fertility & IVF Centre will analyze your case closely to determine which medications to use, what dosage to take, when to administer the medications and how long to take them.