IVF involves
fertilising eggs and sperm outside of the body in a laboratory. The resulting
embryos are then transferred to your uterus to implant and grow into a baby.
The treatment option can be a suitable option for you and your partner when you have been trying to conceive for at least a year without success, or you may experience infertility issues such as blocked or damaged fallopian tubes, low sperm count or motility, endometriosis, or unexplained infertility.
Key Takeaways
1. IVF involves
fertilising mature eggs with sperm in a lab.
2. Your age and the
quality of the embryos affect the IVF success rates.
3. There are 5 stages
in IVF.
How Does IVF Work?
The IVF process can be
broken down into several stages, including ovarian stimulation, egg retrieval,
fertilization, embryo culture, and embryo transfer.
1. Ovarian
Stimulation
In this stage, you will
undergo a course of fertility medications to stimulate the ovaries to produce
multiple mature eggs.
Daily injections will
be administered for 10-14 days, with regular monitoring to track the growth and
development of the follicles (fluid-filled sacs that contain the eggs).
2. Egg Retrieval
Once the follicles are
mature, a minor surgical procedure is performed to retrieve your eggs using a
transvaginal ultrasound-guided needle.
The procedure is
usually done under sedation or anaesthesia and takes 20-30 minutes to complete.
3. Fertilization
After the eggs are
retrieved, they are immediately taken to the laboratory to be fertilized with
sperm.
There are two main
methods of fertilization used in IVF - conventional insemination (mixing eggs
and sperm in a dish) and intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), where a
single sperm is injected directly into each egg.
4. Embryo Culture
The fertilized eggs
(embryos) are cultured in the laboratory for 3-5 days until they reach the
blastocyst stage.
During this time, the
embryos are closely monitored for growth and development, and any chromosomal
abnormalities can be identified through pre-implantation genetic testing (PGT).
5. Embryo Transfer
Finally, one or more
embryos are transferred to your uterus using a thin catheter inserted through
the cervix.
The procedure does not
require anaesthesia since it is usually painless. Any remaining viable embryos
can be frozen for later use.
READ: Everything
You Need to Know About IVF
What are the IVF
Success Rates?
IVF success rates vary
depending on several factors, your age, the cause of infertility, and the
quality of the embryos.
According to the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the average live birth rate per IVF cycle is
around 30%.
However, this can range
from as low as 10% to as high as 60%, depending on individual circumstances.
READ: Top
5 IVF Centres in Nairobi
Are There any Risks
and Side Effects of IVF
There are some potential risks and side effects associated with IVF; these include:
- Ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) is when the ovaries become swollen and painful.
- Multiple pregnancies can increase the risk of complications for both the mother and the babies.
- Ectopic pregnancy; the embryo implants outside of the uterus.
- Infection or bleeding caused by the egg retrieval process.
- Emotional stress or anxiety related to the process.
Do you have questions
or concerns about IVF? Talk to a patient support specialist now and get your
concerns addressed.
READ: Top 6 IVF Centres in Dubai
IVF treatment involves fertilising eggs and sperm outside the female body in a laboratory. The resulting embryos are then transferred to your uterus to implant and grow into a baby.
The treatment option can be suitable for you and your partner when you have been trying to conceive for at least a year without success, or you may experience infertility issues such as blocked or damaged fallopian tubes, low sperm count or motility, endometriosis, or unexplained infertility.
