IVF or In vitro fertilisation is a type of reproductive technology and involves retrieval of eggs from a woman’s ovaries and fertilize them.
The fertilised eggs are called the embryo which is frozen for storage or can be transferred to a woman’s uterus. Depending your physical health, a fertility centre can make use of your eggs and your partner’s sperm, your eggs & donor’s sperm, donor eggs & your partner’s sperm, donor eggs as well as sperm and donated embryos.
Your doctor can implant embryos in a surrogate as well.
Use of In vitro fertilisation
Some health care clinics offer free IVF consultation for those looking to have a baby. As IVF is both expensive and invasive, a counselling helps couples understand the treatment first.
During the procedure a doctor transfers the sperm directly into the woman’s uterus. The necessity for the procedure may be necessary due to reduced fertility in women over the age of 40, women having blocked or damaged Fallopian tubes, women with reduced ovarian function, endometriosis, uterine fibroids and male infertility.
Sometimes parents may also choose IVF if they run the risk of passing a genetic disorder to their baby.
The preparation of In vitro fertilisation
Prior to performing an IVF, a woman undergoes overran reserve testing which involves a blood sample and testing it for the level of follicle stimulating hormone to get information about the size and quality of eggs.
A doctor will examine your uterus which may involve an ultrasound and/or insert a scope through your vagina into your uterus to reveal the uterus health and determine the best way to plan an embryo.
In case of men, sperm testing is done to analyse the number, size and shape of the sperm.
Steps Involved in IVF
There are five steps involved in IVF which include stimulation, egg retrieval, insemination, embryo culture and transfer.
1) Stimulation
As a woman normally produces one egg during each menstrual cycle, during this time you receive fertility drugs to increase the number of eggs you produce thereby increasing the chance of developing a viable embryo.
2) Egg retrieval / Follicular aspiration
It is a surgical procedure performed with anaesthesia where a doctor uses an ultrasound to guide a needle through your vagina into your ovary and into an egg containing follicle. The needle sucks out the eggs and the fluid of each follicle.
3) Insemination
By taking a semen sample from the male partner, a technician mixes the sperm and eggs in a Petri dish.
4) Embryo culture
Your doctor will monitor the fertilized eggs to monitor that they are dividing and developing and may undergo testing for checking any genetic conditions.
5) Transfer
When the embryos are big enough, they are implanted via a catheter into your uterus. Pregnancy occurs within 6 to 10 days of the embryo being implanted in the uterine wall which is confined after a blood test.
Complications with IVF
As associated with a medical procedure, there are complications associated with IVF which increases the chance of miscarriage, eggs being implanted outside the uterus, multiple pregnancies and bleeding.
Deciding on an IVF can be incredibly complicated. Thereby choosing the best IVF centre in Delhi is the right path for you. To help you determine your best options the fertility centre will counsel you and your partner through the process.