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| The Steps of the Standard IVF Procedure | The standard IVF procedure includes the following steps:
1. Ovarian Stimulation. The doctor induces superovulation in woman in order to harvest several produced high – quality eggs from the ovary before they are released from the follicles. The superovulation is possible to be achieved by using fertility drugs. Several eggs are necessary to be produced by the woman’s ovaries in order to increase the potential for the multiple embryos production, which raises the chances of successful conception. During the 7 – 14 day stimulation period, the ultrasound examination and some specific laboratory tests are performed in order to follow the development of the follicles.
2. Egg Retrieval. As soon as the follicles are ready for the egg retrieval procedure, it is performed in the doctor’s office. Usually the doctor inserts a probe into the woman’s vagina, which is guided by an ultrasound, and collects several eggs with the help of a needle, applied to drain the liquid from the follicle. However, besides the vaginal egg collection, there is one more method available – the eggs may also be gathered with the help of a laparoscope, though, it is applied in quite rare cases. The very procedure of the egg retrieval is performed in the operating room under light general or even under local anesthesia.
3. Sperm Collection. The woman’s husband or male partner collects his semen sample. This is usually achieved through masturbation right in the doctor’s office. After the sperm is collected, it is to be examined in the laboratory where the best quality sperm will be selected for the IVF procedure. In case if a man feels that he might not be able to produce any semen sample either because of stress or some other factors on the very day of egg retrieval, he may be allowed to have his sperm collected beforehand and in this case sperm cryopreservation is usually applied.
4. Embryo Culture. After the eggs are retrieved and the sperm is collected, they are combined in a special Petri dish. It should also be noted, that only the best quality sperm is selected and added to the retrieved eggs. As a rule the egg is fertilized during the period form 48 up to 72 hours. Anyway, the eggs are placed in a special incubator in order to achieve fertilization. However, in case if there is not enough sperm or if the sperm is of a low quality, or when no eggs are possible to get fertilized with the help of the standard IVF procedure, the doctor may choose to apply the Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI) procedure, during which only one single sperm is injected directly into the egg in order to achieve fertilization. And on the next day it becomes possible to determine whether the fertilization occurred or not.
5. Embryo Transfer. The fertilized eggs (the embryos) are implanted into the uterus of a woman. It is performed with the help of a thin embryo – transfer catheter, which is inserted into the uterus through the cervix. This procedure takes place in one to five days after the fertilization. It is similar to a pap smear and as a rule the embryo implanting procedure is quick and painless. Usually somewhere between 1 and 4 embryos are inserted into the uterus. The woman is to undergo a special treatment plan for about two weeks, which may help her to encourage implantation and pregnancy.
Usually in about two weeks it becomes possible to determine whether the procedure was conducted successfully or not. It is possible to determine whether a woman got pregnant or not by performing a blood test. In about two more weeks after a positive blood test the ultrasound investigation is performed. The rates of success of the IVF fertilization for the three first cycles of treatment are considered to be about equal. However, it decreases slightly for the fourth cycle and it drops down considerably after the fifth cycle was conducted.
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