IVF (In vitro fertilisation)

IVF (In Vitro Fertilisation)

DEFINITION
IVF or In Vitro Fertilisation is a procedure where an egg is
fertilised in a laboratory and the resulting embryo is then placed
in the mother’s uterus.
DESCRIPTION
IVF means, quite literally, ‘fertilisation in a glass’. It
involves harvesting eggs from the female parent and sperm from the
male parent and incubating them in special conditions that allow
Fertilisation to occur. These fertilised egg or embryos are then
placed in the mother’s uterus. IVF is a useful reproductive
procedure for couples that are infertile as a result of: damage to
their fallopian tubes (the narrow tubes that lead from the ovaries
to the uterus), ovulation problems, endometriosis , abnormalities
of the sperm (low sperm count, poor motility, poor morphology),
immunological factor (antisperm antibodies in either partner) or
idiopathic infertility (infertility of unknown cause). 
In order to collect eggs from the female parent, drugs are given
that stimulate her ovaries to release large numbers of eggs. These
medications are often called ‘fertility drugs’ and they help to
regulate her menstrual cycle and stimulate the development of
higher-quality eggs. This process helps to ensure that a sufficient
number of healthy eggs are available for Fertilisation. Ultrasound
measurements and blood hormone levels are checked daily to
carefully monitor the development of eggs, to determine the
subsequent fertility drug dose and to time the retrieval of the
mature eggs. The eggs are then removed under local anaesthetic and
put with the woman’s partner’s sperm into a special container in a
laboratory where – hopefully – the eggs will be fertilised. If this
happens, one or more embryos are implanted in the woman’s uterus so
that a normal pregnancy can occur. This typically occurs about 72
hours after fertilisation.
This success of IVF procedures depends on the nature of the problem
that is causing the infertility but, on average, a couple has a 30
per cent chance of having a baby with one attempt at pregnancy,
using assisted reproductive technology.
TREATMENT OPTIONS
Always consult your Doctor for the diagnosis and management of
infertility. Your Doctor must perform a number of steps in order to
determine that a couple is infertile so they can then receive IVF
treatment.