How is IVF performed?
- OVARY STIMULATION: For 8 to 14 days before the next menstrual cycle, woman is given drugs to suppress her natural cycle. This is done through daily injection, tablet or a nasal spray. After the natural cycle is suppressed, fertility drugs are taken for about 2 weeks to stimulate her ovaries. These drugs will help in developing multiple matured eggs instead of just one. Along with these, the woman has to take synthetic hormones to keep the body from releasing these eggs too early.
- PROGRESS CHECK: Women react differently to these fertility drugs and her doctor keep a close watch on any possible side-effects. The doctor will monitor the progress of the matured eggs through vaginal ultrasound scans and blood tests. Within 36 hours before eggs are due to be collected, the woman is given hormonal injection to help the eggs mature.
- COLLECTION OF EGGS: By giving an anesthetic to the woman, the ultrasound probe is inserted to look at the follicular development in each ovary. A thin needle is inserted to remove the eggs from the ovaries. One might experience some discomfort in terms of cramps or spotting but these effects will be go away in a day or two.
- FERTILIZATION: An embryologist (a scientist who specializes in eggs, sperm, and embryos) will examine the eggs before combining them with the sperms.The eggs are mixed with the partner’s or the donor’s sperm and cultured in the laboratory for about 16-20 hours after which they are checked for fertilisation. The fertilized eggs (now called embryos) will be grown in the laboratory incubator for up to six days. The embryologist will monitor the development of the embryos and the best will be selected for transfer. Any remaining embryos of suitable quality can be frozen for future IVF cycles, if need be.
- EMBRYO TRANSFER: Depending on couple’s age and severity of the fertility problem, the doctor places between one and five embryos in the uterus by inserting a thin tube (a catheter) through the cervix. The number of embryos transferred is restricted because of the risks associated with multiple births. Due to this, the doctor might recommend single embryo transfer (SET) if he/she feels it is the best option for you. This is usually a pain-free procedure and no sedation is necessary, but one may experience a little discomfort as you need a full bladder if ultrasound is used.
- SUCCESSFUL IMPLANTATION: If the treatment works, an embryo implants in the uterine wall and continues to grow into a baby. One can take pregnancy test about two weeks after the embryo implant