In-Vitro Fertilization

In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) is a treatment of choice for couples with poor sperm quality, blocked or damaged fallopian tube/ or pelvic factors, endometriosis, unexplained infertility and immunological factors. A woman undergoing IVF is given fertility drugs to enhance the growth of the ovarian follicles, so she can develop more mature eggs. HMG (Human Menopausal Gonadotropin) and recombinant FSH (follicle stimulating hormone) are the fertility drugs used to stimulate the production of follicles. These developing follicles are monitored for their maturity by measuring the follicle size through an ultra sound and correlate the finding with the blood concentration of the patient's estradiol drawn the same day.

After ovulation induction is achieved, a woman's eggs are retrieved by needle aspiration with the guide of an ultrasound probe under a light sedation. Egg retrieval procedure takes about 30-45 minutes. The aspirated follicular fluid (containing the eggs) is placed in a laboratory dish and the eggs are observed under the microscope for maturity and quality. The eggs are then transferred to a culture dish where they are incubated in a special culture media.

A semen sample from the husband is obtained while the wife is undergoing the egg retrieval procedure. The husband semen is then washed and prepared to obtain vigorous motile sperm. Later, the prepared sperm is then introduced to the eggs in the culture media. Many of these eggs will fertilize and develop into embryos, a number of the resulting embryos are placed back in the women's uterus using a fine catheter through a simple procedure (that requires no anesthesia) called embryo transfer.