In Vitro Fertilization

In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) is a procedure first successfully utilized in 1978 in which a woman’s ovaries are stimulated with fertility drugs to produce multiple mature eggs, which are then removed from her body and are fertilized in the laboratory with her partner’s (or donor) sperm. The resulting embryos are cultured for (generally) five days, at which point any embryos with reproductive potential are available for use. This can involve either the transfer of the best embryo back into the patient’s uterus, freezing of all of the embryos for later use, or biopsy of the embryos for genetic screening purposes.

IVF Procedures

An IVF procedure at CRE involves the following steps:

  1. Preparing for Controlled Ovarian Hyperstimulation (COH)
  2. Undergoing Controlled Ovarian Hyperstimulation
  3. Egg Retrieval
  4. Sperm Processing
  5. Fertilization of Eggs in the Laboratory
  6. Laboratory culture of the embryos to the blastocyst stage
  7. Either selecting the best embryo for Embryo Transfer (with cryopreservation of any remaining embryos) or Cryopreservation of all embryos (with or without biopsy for genetic screening)

IVF Cycle Calendar

What are the steps and timing of an IVF cycle?

When you schedule your IVF procedure, you will be given a calendar by your clinical coordinator that will highlight all of the key components of your cycle, including medications, appointments, ultrasounds, tentative egg retrieval, embryo transfer, and pregnancy test dates.

FAQ's

  • 1

    Is IVF procedure painful?

    IVF requires hormonal injections to stimulate the ovaries to grow more eggs. This sometimes causes abdominal pressure and discomfort. The extraction of eggs is done under IV sedation which avoids procedural pain. It is normal to feel bloated after an egg retrieval but most people resume normal activities the day after the procedure. The embryo transfer is not painful and feels like having a pap smear.

  • 2

    Is IVF legal in the US?

    IVF is completely legal in the US. Many States, like Texas, also protect the reproductive rights of women who conceived with a sperm donor, egg donor or via gestational surrogacy.

  • 3

    What is IVF and how is it done?

    In-vitro fertilization is a procedure that allows fertilizing eggs in the IVF Lab to bypass the infertility factors affecting conception. It is usually done after a course of conservative treatments have failed. IVF requires injection of hormonal medications to stimulate the ovaries to produce more eggs that month. These eggs are then retrieved through a vaginal US guided needle aspiration under IV sedation. The eggs are fertilized into embryos that are grown for 5 days. We typically transfer a single day 5 embryo and freeze the extra embryos for the future.

  • 4

    Is IVF your own baby?

    Most would agree that a baby born after IVF is “your own baby,” but we know that the definition of “own baby” is relative. Typically, people use their own eggs and sperm to create an embryo. In this case, the DNA originates from both parents. However, if a woman does not have a male partner, she can use a sperm donor through a sperm bank. If a woman is no longer producing eggs, she can use an egg donor. If a woman does not have a uterus or is unable to carry the pregnancy, she can use a gestational surrogate to carry the baby for her. In all cases, whether the child’s DNA is hers or not, carrying a baby for 9 months and delivering qualifies her as the child’s mother. Whether she delivers the baby herself using her own eggs or someone else’s eggs or sperm, the couple would be considered the parent of that child.

  • 5

    How long does IVF take to get pregnant?

    It takes about a month to prepare for IVF and a month to complete the process. A nurse will be assigned to your care to coordinate your cycle.

  • 6

    What is the IVF process step by step?

    Ovaries are first stimulated with hormonal injections. The patient is monitored closely with serial ultrasounds and estrogen levels for about 10 days. Ovulation is triggered with a trigger shot and the eggs retrieved vaginally under IV sedation. Embryos are grown 5 days and transferred fresh to the uterine cavity. In some cases, the embryos are tested genetically (PGS) prior to transfer to pinpoint the healthy one for transfer. This requires freezing the embryos and transferring a month later once the result is known.

  • 7

    What are the 5 stages of IVF?

    The 5 stages of IVF are: 1. Ovarian stimulation 2. Ultrasound Monitoring 3. Egg retrieval 4. Embryo development 5. Embryo transfer


Intrauterine Insemination (IUI)
Donor Egg IVF

Previous
Next