In-vitro Fertilization

What does it consist of?

The in-vitro fertilization is the process of  egg fertilization under laboratory conditions, and/or  further transplantation of one or two embryos received to the patient´s uterus.

When is it prescribed?

This treatment is particularly suitable under the following circumstances:

  • For women with any kind of fallopian tube blockage.
  • When serious abnormalities were detected in the sample of the partner’s sperm.
  • For couples without male partner or for single women that didn’t reach the pregnancy through artificial insemination, or as well for cases of sterility with the unknown origin.
  • For couples that are interested in a pre-implantion genetic diagnosis.

In-vitro fertilization steps

To increase the chances of success, it is necessary  to stimulate the process of woman’s ovulation. This will allow us to obtain more eggs and to detect the exact time of their maturity.

Then, it will be important to follow up the process by regular ultrasound examinations and blood analysis, to determine the required medicine doses and define the treatment days.

When we see that the eggs have reached a necessary condition, we perform their extraction. The procedure is called ovarian puncture, is carried out on an outpatient basis, in an operating room with the use of sedation. The patient can leave the clinic already in 4 hours.

Once the eggs are delivered to laboratory, we start the process of their fertilization. In some cases it will be necessary to perform a sperm micro injection (ICSI), in other words, mechanical sperm introduction into the egg.

The process, although, doesn’t guarantee fertilization, that’s why we continue our observation under the microscope, and after 18-21 hours it becomes possible to say which of the eggs have been successfully fertilized.

Thus, the embryos that come from fertilized eggs, grow under the meticulous control of fertilization specialists, and finally we pick up those with the highest potential for pregnancy.

Three days  after the eggs retrieval the embryo transfer is usually carried out. This is a simple painless treatment that doesn’t require anaesthesia.

The number of embryos transferred depends on many factors such as patient’s age, embryo quality etc. It is normally transferred two embryos, the latest tendency although inclines to  transfer only one, that allows to eliminate the possibility of conceiving twins.

If more good embryos, than it was necessary to perform successful transfer were obtained, you can use the option of cryo-preserving them for the later use. It can be useful  if you didn’t get pregnant from the first try or if you simply want to repeat the experience.

SUPPLEMENTARY TECHNIQUES

Sperm Microinjection

Once the eggs are delivered to laboratory, we start the process of their fertilization. In some cases it will be necessary to perform a sperm microinjection (ICSI), in other words, mechanical sperm introduction into the egg.
This micromanipulation technique is highly reliable and provides us with the additional information, while observing the egg under the microscope.

Extended blastocyst culture

After fertilization of the received eggs, we continue their cultivating and meticulously follow up their growth and development. These actions are the key factor that helps us to pick up the most potential ones later.

As a rule, embryo transfer is performed three days after the egg retrieval, although in some cases, the prolonged embryo cultivation can be required, that will last up to 5 – 6 days after egg retrieval.

This treatment will provide us with the detailed information about embryo and will help us to choose the most potential embryos.

Egg, sperm or embryo cryopreservation

If more qualitive embryos, than it was necessary to perform successful transfer were obtained, you can use the option of cryo-preserving them for the later use.

Cryopreservation is a highly secure process that allows storing embryos without time limits. Embryos are stored in containers with liquid nitrogen.

It is also possible to apply the same method of cryopreservation to sperm or eggs.

Pre- implantational genetic diagnosis

In some cases it is necessary to perform genetic analysis of the embryos prior to their transfer to the uterus of the patient.
This kind of diagnosis is performed in the reference laboratory by removing several cells or by cell biopsy of embryo, while its development and growth are being followed up. Once the PGD procedure has been performed to each embryo, we carry out the transfer of those only free of genetic problems.