Register | Login
Login
Sign in with:
---------- OR ----------
Create Account | Login
Create account
As a Member You Can:
  • Join clubs to discuss your interests
  • Connect with people like you
  • Share information, seek advice, get support

   
parenting
in Mumbai (change city)
Select City
  • All
  • Delhi
  • New Delhi
  • Gurgaon
  • Noida
  • Mumbai
  • Pune
  • Banglore
  • Hyderabad
  • Ghaziabad
  • Chandigarh
  • Ahmedabad
  • Kolkata
  • Chennai
  • Coimbatore
  • Jaipur
select‌ stage
 
Fertility Issues Topics..

 
You are here : home > Fertility Issues > Problems in Getting Pregnant > Understanding IVF

Understanding IVF

Understanding IVF

Is IVF a good option for you? Would it be suitable? What are the tests to be taken? Find out.
The birth of Louise Brown through in vitro fertilization (IVF) in 1978 was a major milestone in infertility treatment. It dramatically changed the treatment options for infertile couples, and techniques for assisted reproduction have evolved rapidly since then. In a short span of 20 years,
IVF has become the cornerstone of reproductive medicine, and IVF clinics today routinely perform techniques which were thought to belong to the realm of science fiction a generation ago!


In this article


IVF

IVF is the basic assisted reproduction technique, in which fertilization occurs in vitro (literally, in glass). The man's sperm and the woman's egg are combined in a laboratory dish, and after fertilization, the resulting embryo is then transferred to the woman's uterus. The five basic steps in an IVF treatment cycle are superovulation (stimulating the development of more than one egg in a cycle), egg retrieval, fertilization, embryo culture, and embryo transfer.

IVF is a treatment option for couples with various types of infertility, since it allows the doctor to perform in the laboratory what is not happening in the bedroom - we no longer have to leave everything upto chance!

Initially, IVF was only used when the woman had blocked, damaged, or absent fallopian tubes (tubal factor infertility). Today, IVF is used to circumvent infertility caused by practically any problem, including endometriosis; immunological problems; unexplained infertility; and male factor infertility. It is a final common pathway, since it allows the doctor to bypass nature's hurdles and overcome its inefficiency, so that we can give Nature a helping hand!

Tests Prior to IVF

In order to perform IVF, only 3 things are required - eggs, sperm and a uterus, and before starting the IVF cycle, the doctor will check these.

First, a sperm survival test is carried out This is a "trial" sperm wash, using exactly the same method as will be actually used in IVF, to assess whether an adequate number of sperm can be recovered in order to do IVF. This test will also help the laboratory to decide which method of sperm processing should be used during IVF.

A blood FSH level will provide an idea of the "ovarian reserve", and provide information on whether or not the woman will produce enough eggs after

superovulation. For older women, some clinics do a clomiphene citrate challenge test. If the FSH level is very high, this suggests early ovarian failure, and it may be a better idea to consider donor eggs.

Many clinics may do a hysteroscopy, in order to assess that the uterine cavity is totally normal. They may also do a "dummy" embryo transfer to make sure there are no technical problems with this procedure. Some clinics also do a cervical swab test, to rule out the presence of infection in the cervix.

If a woman has blocked fallopian tubes with large hydrosalpinges, some clinics will remove these prior to the IVF cycle, because they feel that the presence of a hydrosalpinx decreases pregnancy rates after IVF.

For men who have difficulty in producing a semen sample "on demand", the clinic may also freeze and store the sample prior to treatment, as a backup. This can help to prevent the tragedy of having to abort an entire treatment cycle because the man could not produce a semen sample when needed.

Blood tests which may be done include tests for immunity to rubella; and tests for Hepatitis B, and AIDS. Most doctors will also advise patients to start taking folic acid, as part of pre-pregnancy care, as this helps to reduce the risk of certain birth defects.

Patients who stand a very poor chance of success with IVF include the following:

  • Older women, whose ovaries are failing. However, there is no upper age limit at which IVF should not be done. And, in fact, for older women, it might represent their only chance of success. It's not really the age of the woman which is the limiting factor; it's the quality of her eggs.
  • Men whose sperm count is very low. Most clinics will consider doing IVF only for men with at least 3 million motile sperm in the ejaculate. If the sperm counts are lower than this, then ICSI (or microinjection) is a better option.
  • Women with a damaged uterus (for example, because of healed tuberculosis) because the chance of successful implantation of the embryo in the uterus becomes very poor.
It is also not advisable to go in for IVF treatment without trying simpler treatment options first. IVF is a complex procedure involving considerable personal and financial commitment, so other treatments are usually recommended first.


You may also be interested in:

Help with Conceiving
(29359 views)
Second Time Around
(53996 views)
In Vitro Fertilisation
(26886 views)
Increase Conception Odds
(29836 views)
Cancel
Save Edit
parenting
Notifications
38 Comments
Sort by Newest

avatar

Rahul
Rahul.4 years ago
Thank you for the useful information.
 
 
 
.
Reply
Piyush Singh
Piyush Singh.10 years ago
Dr. can i know the success rate of this procedure.. and how long does the treatment goes?
 
 
 
.
Reply
Rohit Rawat
Rohit Rawat.11 years ago
We were very upset until we meet Dr. Anoop Gupta for our infertility, he helped us a lot and his team coordination is excellent, thanks for providing me great gift of life, my child, God bless and thanks to all.
 
 
 
.
Reply
elyse
elyse.14 years ago
it is imoral however says it isn't can die in hell!!
 
 
 
.
Reply
Ibrohim
Ibrohim.14 years ago
i hope get understanding of upto date news of ivf
 
 
 
.
Reply
Mimi
Mimi.14 years ago
thank you for the step by step info on this procedure. i am going to use ivf in 2006 and this has answered some questions. thank you again
 
 
 
.
Reply
sairam
sairam.14 years ago
request furnish me the details/address of ivf clinics in mumbai city of my country.my email is cdrsairam@yahoo.co.in
 
 
 
.
Reply
maitree
maitree.14 years ago
what other treatments r recommended before ivf.
 
 
 
.
Reply
maitree
maitree.14 years ago
hi sairam. my sis is a gynec in bombay. i will check with her and let u know soon
 
 
 
.
Reply
Kal
Kal.14 years ago
im looking to do ivf/icsi in pakistan. can someone plz recommend a clinic with good success rate and cost. email is kkhaliq786@tiscali.co.uk thanks
 
 
 
.
Reply
load more comments
Back to Previous Page   |   More on Fertility Issues Index

 








Subscribe




All tips on Problems In Getting Pregnant
You ever wanted in one place.
No need to go anywhere else. No spam.

*No spam only genuine emails
Follow us on:



Featured Articles - Infertility | Baby Development | Health and Fitness | How to Get Pregnant | Parenting Advice | Weight Loss | Pregnancy Advice | Name Numerology
Baby - Baby Photo Contest | Lucky Names | Lucky Birthdates | Horoscopes | Chinese Calendar | Compatibility Test | Fun Zone
Parenting - Message Boards | Planning a Baby | Pregnancy | Parents of Babies | Baby Names | Baby Name Poll | Birth Announcements | Parenting Quiz
Family - Cooking Club | Love & Relationships | Beauty Tips | Kids Weight Calculator | Recipe Maker
General - Calorie Counter | Personality Quiz | Love Signs | Compatibility Quiz