In Vitro fertilization/ IVF?

In vitro fertilization, often referred to as IVF, is a highly successful assisted reprodu-
ctive technology. The term in vitro literally means “in glass.” It refers tdgfo the
process by which a woman’s eggs are fertilized outside her body.

The first step of IVF is that the woman starts by taking fertility hormones to encourage the develop- ment of eggs within the ovaries. We control the body’s own hormonal cycle by giving her a nose spray, which usually is administered for 14 consecutive days. Then the woman will start regular injections of a hormone called FSH (Follicle Stimulating Hormone), which will start the maturation of eggs in the ovary. If the ultrasound control (usually performed after 9-10 days) shows that the so-called follicles (where the eggs are situated) of the ovaries have grown sufficiently, a single dose of another hormone called hCG, is given. Once this process is complete, the woman is ready to undergo what is commonly referred to as “egg retrieval” (typically performed 36 hours after hCG administration).

Egg retrieval is a minor surgical procedure. It takes approximately one hours to
perform, and requires local anesthesia. After the vaginal ultrasound is placed in
the vagina and the ovarian follicles are localized, a needle is directed through the
back wall of the vagina and into the ovarian follicles. From here, the eggsdfg are
easily retrieved.

Once the eggs have been retrieved, they are placed in a petri dish with a special
solution in our laboratory. A semen sample is collected from the male partner and
delivered to the lab where it undergoes a clarifying process referred to as “washing”,
which isolates the healthiest sperm. Once the sperm are washed, they are incub-
ated and placed in the petri dish with the eggs. Alternatively, when the husband is
suffering from factor infertility, intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) is used to
assist the sperm in the fertilization process. After approximately 18 hours, the eggs
are examined. If normal fertilization occurs and the eggs start developing, one
(or two) of the resulting embryos will be selected and placed directly into the
woman’s uterus.

Embryo transfer is a simple procedure that does not require anesthesia. The
selected embryo is inserted into a thin tube and guided towards the woman’s uterus.
Any additional embryos that have not been transferred into the uterus can be frozen
(cryopreserved) at this point and used in a later IVF cycle if pregnancy does not occur
or a subsequent pregnancy is pursued.

Side effects of the hormones that are injected during the treatment are very rare,
but so-called hyperstimulation may occur. This is not dangerous and will most
probably disappear within a few days after you have reported it to us and we have
taken the necessary precautions. We will instruct you on what symptoms you should
be looking for during the stimulation period, and we will stay in close contact with
you throughout the whole process.