IVF
IVF In Vitro Fertilization
The problem of infertility affects more than 6 million men and women. One very successful means to create a solution for infertility is IVF. Since 1981, 250,000 babies have been born due to this method. In vitro fertilization is a method by which egg cells are fertilized by sperm outside the womb in a fluid mixture. After fertilization, the egg is then transferred to the patient's uterus with the intention and hope that pregnancy will occur.
The odds of a successful pregnancy by means of in vitro fertilization are 4 to 6. The chances of success are rated on an individual basis after a thorough evaluation process has been completed. In most cases in vitro fertilization does not require surgery because of the improvements with Ultrasound imaging. The eggs are recovered by means of a needle that is guided sonographically instead of surgically.
To increase the odds of retrieving more than one healthy egg, the patient has to undergo two weeks of rigid preparations. Hormone therapy using fertility drugs is one part of the preparation. The prime time for egg retrieval from the ovary is determined by blood tests and ultrasound scans.
At the optimum time the eggs will be retrieved using ultrasound technology by inserting a needle through the wall of the vagina. There is some discomfort during this process and a local anesthesia will be administered. The discomfort is compared to that of having a Pap smear. There is a brief rest period after this procedure and normal activities can then resume.
Under a microscope, an Embryologist will find the eggs and keep them in a laboratory under the correct conditions until they are ready for fertilization by the sperm. Normally the eggs will divide 2 or 3 times on their way to becoming pre-implanted embryos. These pre- embryos are sustained in the laboratory in a fluid mixture which mimics their natural environment in the fallopian tubes.
By means of a catheter the pre-embryos, usually about four, will be released through the vagina into the uterus 2 days after their retrieval. After the IVF process a brief rest before leaving is expected.