IVF - Know The Procedure Of It!

In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) is a medical procedure whereby the eggs of a woman are fertilized by the male sperm outside the body. The entire fertilization process takes place in a laboratory and then the embryo is inserted to the woman’s uterus. It is more commonly referred to as the ‘test tube’ method. 

Now coming to the treatment procedure, IVF occurs in different stages which involves the following - first the ovaries are stimulated to produce eggs through the process of ovulation induction, the eggs are retrieved from the woman and fertilized with male sperm outside the body, and lastly, the embryo is implanted back into the uterus. So before undergoing the treatment, there are a few things that you must know about the procedure-

Ovulation Induction
Before starting with the treatment procedure, you will have your ovaries monitored closely by the doctor or fertility specialist. Certain medications are used to stimulate the ovaries and to advance the growth of follicles which contain eggs. Blood test and ultrasound monitors the response of your ovaries.

Egg retrieval
Once the eggs have completely grown and developed, the next step involves retrieving the eggs. This requires passing a thin needle through the upper walls of the vagina into each of the follicles in the ovary. The fluid is then extracted from the follicle into a test tube and examined to search for eggs. This procedure may take about half an hour, after which the eggs are presented in a culture dish and finally transported to the incubator.

Fertilization
A sample of your partner’s sperm is secured or collected, and those which are healthy and active are added to the retrieved eggs. The eggs and the sperm are then placed in the incubator overnight and monitored the next day to ensure the development of a healthy embryo.

Transfer and Implantation of the embryo
This is the final step of the IVF treatment where the embryos are first examined and the healthy ones are selected for transfer. The process of transferring the embryos occurs via a speculum that is placed in the vagina. The healthy embryos are transported through a plastic small tube which is placed through the cervix into the uterus.

Once the treatment is done, you will be advised proper rest and nutritional supplements to avoid complications. However, the rate of success of IVF treatment largely depends on various factors such as maternal age, reproductive history, lifestyle factors and causes of infertility.

This is the natural fertilisation procedure: The fertilization procedure occurs in the woman’s fallopian tubes, which is called In-vivo fertilization. For about 4 days, the baby grows in the fallopian tubes before being transferred into the uterus, where the embryo grows naturally for 9 months.