IVF means fertilization in a test tube, thus the name of it is “test tube baby”. This is the procedure, during which one or more eggs are taken from the woman’s ovary and get fertilized outside the body, after that the fertilized egg is implanted to the uterus via cervix. During the process of its development the standard IVF procedure has passed through several stages, which began more than 20 years ago with the classical test tube baby and moved up to the Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI), where an individual sperm injected into an egg with the help of microscopic techniques.
In about 70% of ART procedure cases, the standard In Vitro Fertilization procedure with the woman’s own eggs is used. Here a mature egg is obtained from the woman’s ovary and it is performed in appropriate environmental conditions, which are similar to the natural state. The very fertilization process is closely monitored in the lab up until the fertilization is complete and the cellular division of the fertilized egg begun. And it is only after that the egg (which may is considered to be the embryo by this time) gets implanted into the woman’s uterus via cervix. The advances of the IVF procedure have increased the rate of live birth dramatically.
Who are the potential candidates for the standard IVF procedure:
• Women, who suffer from the damaged or blocked fallopian tube(s) (tubal factor);
• Women, who suffer from absence of fallopian tubes;
• Women, who suffer from endometriosis;
• Women, who suffer from tubal and / or pelvic adhesions;
• Women, who have the Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis (PGD);
• Women, who have irregular menstrual periods (anovulatory factor);
• If there are antibodies against sperm (antisperm antibodies) are present;
• Standard IVF procedure is also applied, in cases when the reason of infertility is unexplained;
• When the husband or male partner of a woman suffers from infertility.
What Sould You Be Aware of Before You Begin?
For the woman:
It is necessary to avoid any drugs and alcohol;
Women should not smoke for at least three months in a row before the treatment as well as during the very IVF cycle;
It is strongly recommended to have no more than two caffeine containing beverages a day;
Women are to avoid any dietary changes of weight fluctuation during the IVF cycle performing;
Avoid visiting saunas and taking hot tubs;
Avoid having sexual contacts 4 – 5 days before the egg retrieval procedure as well as after the embryo is transferred up until the results of a pregnancy test.
For the man:
If a man had fever 1 – 2 months before the IVF procedure performing is to tell the doctor about it, as fever may influence the sperm quality;
Avoid visiting saunas and taking hot tubs;
It is necessary for men to keep away from putting on tight – fitting underwear;
Men are recommended to avoid taking drugs and alcohol;
Men should not smoke for at least three months in a row before the treatment as well as during the very IVF cycle;
It is strongly recommended for men to avoid making excessive exercises as well as physical overloading;
Avoid having sexual contacts at least three, however, no more than seven days before the semen collection procedure.
| 
