In vitro fertilization is a form of assisted reproductive technology (ART). Your doctor retrieves eggs from a woman’s ovaries and fertilizes them with sperm to form an embryo. The embryo can be transferred to the uterus or frozen for future use. IVF benefits couples with infertility issues like low sperm count, damaged fallopian tubes, or unexplained infertility. IVF can involve donated embryos, your eggs and your partner’s sperm, your eggs, and donor sperm, or donor eggs and donor sperm. Your New York Noble Fertility Center specialist can implant embryos in a surrogate, a female who carries your baby for you. IVF is the most successful assisted reproductive technology.
Preparation for in vitro fertilization
Before starting IVF, females first undergo ovarian reserve testing. This test involves your doctor taking a blood sample and testing follicle-stimulating hormone levels to determine the size and quality of your eggs. Your doctor will also do an ultrasound to examine your uterus. The doctor can also insert a scope through your vaginal to your uterus to view the health of the womb and determine the appropriate way for embryo implantation.
In men, doctors do sperm testing. This test involves taking your semen sample and analyzing it in the lab to check for sperm size, number, and shape. If your sperms are weak or damaged, you may have an Intracytoplasmic sperm injection, where your technician injects sperm directly into the egg.
Procedure for in vitro fertilization
In vitro fertilization involves three steps, which include:
Stimulation
A female produces one egg in each menstrual cycle. But IVF needs multiple eggs to increase the chances of developing a viable embryo. Your doctor will prescribe certain fertility drugs to increase the egg numbers your body produces. During this stimulation period, your provider will do regular blood tests and ultrasounds to check egg production to determine the right time to retrieve them.
Egg retrieval
Egg retrieval, also called follicular aspiration, is a surgical procedure doctors perform under anesthesia. Your provider uses an ultrasound to guide a needle through your vagina, your ovary, and into the egg-containing follicle. The needle suctions eggs and fluid out of each follicle.
Insemination
The male partner gives a semen sample. Your doctor mixes the sperm with the retrieved eggs in a petri dish in a fertility lab. If no embryos are produced, the doctor can recommend intracytoplasmic sperm injection.
Embryo culture
During embryo culture, your technician monitors the fertilized eggs to ensure they divide and develop. The technician can test for genetic problems at this stage.
Transfer
When the embryos grow big enough, usually five days after fertilization, your doctor can implant them. Implantation is where your doctor inserts a thin tube known as a catheter in your vagina past the cervix to your uterus. The embryo is then inserted into the uterus. Pregnancy will occur after the embryo implants in the uterine wall, which takes six to ten days.
In vitro fertilization is an assisted reproductive technology where eggs are retrieved from a woman and fertilized with sperm. It benefits couples with infertility problems like uterine fibroids, sperm abnormalities, or unexplained fertility. Schedule an appointment at Noble Fertility Center for in vitro fertilization to accomplish your dream of having kids.