In Vitro Fertilization - IVF Treatment
What is IVF Treatment?
Being a parent is a dream come true for many. Most are able to accomplish this dream rather normally, without any hiccup. But there are a few for whom this dream may seem like a distant one. In Vitro Fertilization, IVF Treatment helps out such couples. In this process, mature eggs are retrieved from the ovaries and fertilized by sperms in the lab. The embryo thus formed is then transferred to the uterus to achieve conception.
When to Opt for IVF?
The couple can choose IVF for conception in the following scenarios:
- Bilateral Tube Block
- Low Sperm Count
- Repeated IUI Failure
- Low Egg Reserve
- Endometriosis
- Premature Ovarion Failure
- Advanced Age
- Premature Ovarion Failure
The treatment starts from day 2 of the menstrual cycle and embryo transfer is done usually between day 15 to 19 of the cycle if its fresh embryo transfer. The hormonal injection for growing multiple follicles in ovaries start from the second day of the menses. These injections are usually given for 10-12 days. The patient may experience slight abdominal pain, discomfort, nausea and bloating after 6-7 days of injection.
Once the follicles are developed, the oocytes are extracted from the female and the semen sample is collected from a male on the same day. The eggs and sperms are kept together in a dish giving the sperms time to fertilize the eggs. The resultant embryos are then grown in the lab for 3-5 days after which the frozen embryos are then transferred to the uterus. Post embryo transfer, the patient receives hormonal support in the form of oral tablets and vaginal injections for the next 12-15 days. If the patient is pregnant after this procedure, the support medication continues up to 10-12 weeks of pregnancy.
Precautions to Take During IVF Treatment:
- Injections and medications should be taken regularly
- Avoid sexual intercourse after 6-7 days of injections
- Avoid smoking, alcohol and habit-forming drugs
- Avoid lifting heavy weight or other activities which lead to extra inter-abdominal pressure
- Maintain a healthy diet regimen
- Stress management
During IVF treatment, when donor samples are used, the genetic characteristics of the baby will match that of the donor. So, try to match the physical characteristics of the donor with those of the parents.
The success rate of IVF is dependent on various factors like the age of the patient and the cause and duration of infertility. Due to this the success rate varies between 40% to 60% and is higher when donor samples are used.
The course of treatment involves hormonal stimulation which can lead to ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome as hyper-response of ovaries to the stimulation. The patient may also experience abdominal pain, discomfort, bloating, breathlessness or fluid accumulation in the abdominal cavity. These side-effects can be managed with proper dosage of medication, monitoring and freezing of embryos instead of fresh transfer.
To increase the chances of conception, two or more embryos are transferred in a single go. However, this also increases the chances of multiple pregnancies.
Average span of treatment:
2-3 weeks from the 2nd day of the menstrual cycle
Our Success Rate:
40%-60% of the parenthood journey
How Common is it:
40%-50% of the infertility cases
