HOW IVF WORKS

IVF ( IN VITRO FERTILIZATION)

IVF (in vitro fertilization) is the most common form of ART (Assisted Reproductive Technology). If the fallopian tubes are damaged or the sperm is poor, it is obviously the only acceptable treatment. It is also usually the most effective treatment for most other types of infertility as well. The eggs are fertilized in our laboratory, and the resulting embryos then are placed into the uterus 2 to 5 days later. This procedure achieves remarkable pregnancies even in women with hopelessly damaged fallopian tubes, seemingly sterile husbands, and even “unexplained” infertility. Problems with the husband’s sperm are never a serious issue, since we can fertilize the eggs with ICSI. In fact, in our program we routinely use ICSI in all cases to guarantee against any risk of failed fertilization.

How Does In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) Work?

Eggs are retrieved by ultrasound guided needle aspiration under light sedation (in the operating room). This involves no surgical incision, and virtually no pain afterward. You just leave the hospital directly from the operating room, with no pain, and come back three days later to have the embryo (or embryos) placed very simply into the uterus through the cervix with a tiny catheter. No incision and no anesthetic are needed. An hour later you are able to go home. There is no pain from the procedure.

In order to retrieve these multiple eggs for IVF, the woman must undergo injections with hormones and careful monitoring of her ovaries by ultrasound and her hormone levels by blood tests every day or every other day until she is ready for the egg retrieval. This can at first seem very intimidating, but we will “hold your hand” throughout the whole time and guide you gently through this. There are several methods of hormonal stimulation for IVF, that basically can be divided into what we call “conventional stimulation” and “minimal stimulation,” or “mini-IVF.”