OVERVIEW

In vitro fertilization (IVF) is a sophisticated series of procedures used to treat fertility or genetic problems and assist with the conception of a child. IVF is the most effective form of assisted reproductive technology.

During IVF, mature eggs are collected (retrieved) from your ovaries and fertilized by sperm in a lab. Then the fertilized egg (embryo) or eggs are implanted in your uterus. This process requires preparation and usually takes at least 8-11 days. The procedure can be done using your own eggs and your partner’s sperm. Or IVF may involve eggs, sperm or embryos from a known or anonymous donor. In some cases, a gestational carrier — a woman who has an embryo implanted in her uterus — might be used.

While, in general, chances of success with IVF are excellent, your chances of having a healthy baby using IVF depend on many factors, such as your age and the cause of infertility. There are additional factors that must be considered including time, cost and the need for significant intervention. If more than one embryo is implanted in your uterus, IVF can result in a pregnancy with more than one fetus (multiple pregnancy). Your doctor can help you understand how IVF works, the potential risks and whether this method of treating infertility is right for you.

WHY IS IT DONE

In vitro fertilization (IVF) is a treatment for infertility, significant genetic problems, and patients with recurrent pregnancy loss. While IVF is often not the first-line treatment for most patients, it is always the most effective treatment. Many patients will arrive at this choice after trying other treatments such as controlled ovarian hyperstimulation or and/or intrauterine insemination

There are numerous reasons why IVF is used for patients. Age is often the single greatest factor, especially in women with diminished ovarian reserve, where chances become more limited. IVF can also be done if you have certain health conditions:

Tubal
Factor

Fallopian tube damage or blockage, whether because of infection, surgery or previous tubal ligation, makes it difficult for an egg to be fertilized or for an embryo to travel to the uterus.

Ovulation
Disorders

Fallopian tube damage or blockage, whether because of infection, surgery or previous tubal ligation, makes it difficult for an egg to be fertilized or for an embryo to travel to the uterus.

Diminished
Ovarian
Reserve

If ovulation is infrequent or absent, fewer eggs are available for fertilization.

Endometriosis

Endometriosis occurs when the uterine tissue implants and grows outside of the uterus — often affecting the function of the ovaries, uterus and fallopian tubes.

Uterine
Fibroids

Fibroids are benign tumors in the wall of the uterus and are common in women in their 30s and 40s. Fibroids can interfere with implantation of the fertilized egg and increase the risk of miscarriage.

Male
Factor

Below-average sperm concentration, weak movement of sperm (poor mobility), or abnormalities in sperm size and shape can make it difficult for sperm to fertilize an egg. If semen abnormalities are found, your partner might need to see a specialist to determine if there are correctable problems or underlying health concerns.

Unexplained
Infertility

Unexplained infertility means no cause of infertility has been found despite evaluation for common causes. IVF is universally accepted as the most effective treatment for unexplained infertility.

Genetic
Anomalies

If you or your partner is at risk of passing on a genetic disorder to your child, you may be candidates for preimplantation genetic diagnosis — a procedure that involves IVF. After the eggs are harvested and fertilized, they’re screened for certain genetic problems. Embryos that don’t contain identified problems can be transferred to the uterus.

Fertility preservation for age,
cancer or other health conditions

If you’re about to start cancer treatment — such as radiation or chemotherapy — that could harm your fertility, IVF for fertility preservation may be an option. Women can have eggs harvested from their ovaries and frozen in an unfertilized state for later use. Or the eggs can be fertilized and frozen as embryos for future use.

Women who don’t have a functional uterus or for whom pregnancy poses a serious health risk might choose IVF, to allow for another woman to carry the pregnancy as a surrogate or gestational carrier

IVF FAQ

How You Prepare

When choosing an in vitro fertilization (IVF) clinic, keep in mind that a clinic’s success rate depends on many factors, such as patients’ ages and medical issues, as well as the clinic’s treatment population and treatment approaches. Ask for detailed information about the costs associated with each step of the procedure.

Before beginning a cycle of IVF using your own eggs and sperm, you and your partner will likely need various tests and investigations. These are the same tests we use to evaluate all fertility patients. To explore these tests click here. (hyperlink this to the list of tests that we’ve already outlined in the evaluation page) Before beginning a cycle of IVF, consider important questions, including:

How Many Embryos Will Be Transferred?

The number of embryos transferred is typically based on the age and number of eggs retrieved. Since the rate of implantation is lower for older women, more embryos are usually transferred — except for women using donor eggs.

Most doctors follow specific guidelines to prevent a higher order multiple pregnancy — triplets or more — and in some countries, legislation limits the number of embryos that can be transferred at once. Make sure you and your doctor agree on the number of embryos that will be transferred before the transfer procedure.

What Will You Do With Any Extra Embryos?

Extra embryos can be frozen and stored for future use for many years. Not all embryos will survive the freezing and thawing process, although most will. Cryopreservation can make future cycles of IVF less expensive and less invasive.

How Will You Handle A Multiple Pregnancy?

If more than one embryo is transferred to your uterus, IVF can result in a multiple pregnancy — which poses health risks for you and your babies. In some cases, fetal reduction can be used to help a woman deliver fewer babies with lower health risks. This is critical when dealing with more than 3 fetuses simultaneously. Pursuing fetal reduction, however, is a major decision with ethical, emotional and psychological consequences. Have you considered the potential complications associated with using donor eggs, sperm or embryos or a gestational carrier? A trained counselor with expertise in donor issues can help you understand the concerns, such as the legal rights of the donor. You also may need an attorney to file court papers to help you become legal parents of an implanted embryo.

What You Can Expect IVF Process

In vitro fertilization Illustration of egg retrieval Egg retrieval technique Intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) ICSI Illustration of a blastocyst Blastocyst

In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) Involves Several Steps

— ovulation induction, egg retrieval, sperm retrieval, fertilization and embryo transfer. One cycle of IVF can take about two weeks, and more than one cycle may be required.

Word on the street

Social media is full of misinformation about IVF
risks here is what the science says:

Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome

Use of injectable fertility drugs, such as human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG), to induce ovulation can cause ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome, in which your ovaries become swollen and painful. Signs and symptoms typically last a week and include mild abdominal pain, bloating, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. If you become pregnant, however, your symptoms might last several weeks. Rarely, it’s possible to develop a more-severe form of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome that can also cause rapid weight gain and shortness of breath. We use the most advanced techniques to essentially eliminate severe ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome.

Ectopic Pregnancy

About 2 to 5 percent of women who use IVF will have an ectopic pregnancy — when the fertilized egg implants outside the uterus, usually in a fallopian tube. The fertilized egg can’t survive outside the uterus, and there’s no way to continue the pregnancy.

Stress

Use of IVF can be financially, physically and emotionally draining. Support from counselors, family and friends can help you and your partner through the ups and downs of infertility treatment.

Pain

Despite what you may hear, the procedure itself is essentially painless as we use adequate anaesthesia to keep you comfortable. However, depending on the number of eggs retrieved, there can be mild and occasionally moderate discomfort after the procedure lasting one or two days.

Injury

Injury at the time of IVF is extremely rare. We are pleased to report we have never had an injury in our program. We use every available safety precaution to avoid any chance of harm to patients.

Multiple Births

IVF increases the risk of multiple births if more than one embryo is implanted in your uterus. A pregnancy with multiple fetuses carries a higher risk of early labor and low birth weight than pregnancy with a single fetus does. Premature delivery and low birth weight. Research suggests that use of IVF slightly increases the risk that a baby will be born early or with a low birth weight.

Birth Defects

The age of the mother is the primary risk factor in the development of birth defects, no matter how the child is conceived. More research is needed to determine whether babies conceived using IVF might be at increased risk of certain birth defects. Some experts believe that the use of IVF does not increase the risk of having a baby with birth defects.

Cancer

Although some early studies suggested there may be a link between certain medications used to stimulate egg growth and the development of a specific type of cancer, more recent studies do not support these findings.

IVF Steps To Success

Ovulation Induction

If you’re using your own eggs during IVF, at the start of a cycle you’ll begin treatment to stimulate your ovaries to produce multiple eggs — rather than the single egg that normally develops each month. Multiple eggs are needed to improve your chances, maximize chances of a genetically normal embryo, and to improve the efficiency and value of the IVF process in some cases.

Medications For Ovarian Stimulation

To stimulate your ovaries, you might receive an injectable medication containing a follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), a luteinizing hormone (LH) or a combination of both. These medications stimulate more than one egg to develop at a time. Medications for oocyte maturation. When the follicles are ready for egg retrieval — generally after eight to 14 days — you will take human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) or a gonadotropin releasing hormone agonist (GnRHa) to initiate egg release. Medications to prevent premature ovulation. These medications prevent your body from releasing the developing eggs too soon. Typically, you’ll need one to two weeks of ovarian stimulation before your eggs are ready for retrieval. To determine when the eggs are ready for collection, your doctor will likely perform: Vaginal ultrasound, an imaging exam of your ovaries to monitor the development of follicles — fluid-filled ovarian sacs where eggs mature Blood tests, to measure your response to ovarian stimulation medications — estrogen levels typically increase as follicles develop and progesterone levels remain low until after ovulation. Sometimes IVF cycles need to be canceled before egg retrieval for one of these reasons:

  • Inadequate number of follicles developing
  • Premature ovulation
  • Excessive egg production

Egg Collection

Egg retrieval will be done at our center 34 to 36 hours after the final injection and before ovulation. During egg retrieval, you’ll be sedated and given pain medication. Transvaginal ultrasound guided retrieval is conducted, using a vaginal probe to visualize the ovaries, and then a very thin needle is passed through the vagina and into the follicles to retrieve the eggs. Multiple eggs can be removed in about 5-20 minutes. After egg retrieval, you may experience cramping and feelings of fullness or pressure. You will be kept in the procedure room till you meet discharge criteria. You will then be kept for up to one hour in a recovery area to ensure your wellness before you are discharged.

Sperm Retrival

If you’re using your partner’s sperm, he’ll provide a semen sample at the IVF clinic at the time of the egg retrieval. This can be done through masturbation, or a sperm extraction procedure such as a percutaneous epididymal sperm extraction procedure, or previously frozen sperm can be used. Donor sperm also can be used. Sperm samples are carefully prepared through a gradient process in a centrifuge to remove protein, debris, and the semen itself, isolating only the sperm. The sperm are then placed in a solution that provides them with energy and are then ready to be used for IVF.

Fertilization

Fertilization can be attempted using two common methods: Insemination. During insemination, healthy sperm and mature eggs are mixed and incubated overnight. Mature eggs are placed in a nutritive liquid (culture medium) and incubated. Eggs that appear healthy and mature will be mixed with sperm to attempt to create embryos. However, not all eggs may be successfully fertilized. In general, approximately 50-60% of eggs will be fertilized and results can be seen 24 hours later. Intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). In ICSI, a single healthy sperm specifically chosen under a high-powered microscope, is injected directly into each mature egg. ICSI is often used when semen quality or number is a problem or if fertilization attempts during prior IVF cycles failed. In certain situations, your doctor may recommend other procedures before embryo transfer. In our program, our ICSI fertilization rate is extremely high, and we advise it for the vast majority of our cases and universally for our natural IVF cycles.

Embryo Culture

Embryos are grown in the lab for either 3, or 5-6 days. The choice is dependent on numerous factors. If the embryo number is low, and there is no desire for preimplantation genetic testing, the embryo(s) can be transferred on day 3, while in cases where numerous embryos are present, or if patients need genetic testing of their embryos, or in cases where only a single embryo is desired for transfer, day 5-6 blastocyst culture is considered the most appropriate method.

Assisted Hatching

About five to six days after fertilization, an embryo “hatches” from its surrounding membrane (zona pellucida), allowing it to implant into the lining of the uterus. If you’re an older woman, or if you have had multiple failed IVF attempts, your doctor might recommend assisted hatching — a technique in which a hole is made in the zona pellucida just before transfer to help the embryo hatch and implant. Preimplantation genetic testing. Embryos are allowed to develop in the incubator until they reach a stage where the portion of the embryo that will eventually become the placenta (trophectoderm) will extrude from the embryo and can be biopsied without any injury to the embryo(fetus) itself. These specimens can then be tested either for chromosomes (PGT-A) or for single gene abnormalities such as cystic fibrosis, BRCA mutations, or SMA mutations (PGT-M). Embryos that don’t contain affected genes or chromosomes can be transferred to your uterus. While preimplantation genetic testing can reduce the likelihood that a parent will pass on a genetic problem, it can’t eliminate all the risk. Prenatal testing may still be recommended.

Embryo transfer

Embryo transfer is done at the clinic in a very calm setting. The current recommendation is to consider first freezing embryos and then transferring the embryos into the patient as this improves success rates and results in a safer pregnancy, with less complications. However, in some cases embryos can be transferred fresh, such as when frozen embryo transfers have previously failed, or with natural IVF cycles. takes place two to six days after egg retrieval. On the day of egg retrieval or several weeks prior to the time of embryo transfer, your doctor might recommend that you begin taking estrogen and progesterone supplements to make the lining of your uterus more receptive to implantation. Your doctor will work with you to determine which medications to use and when to use them. The procedure is usually painless, although you might experience mild cramping. A speculum is first placed into the vagina and the cervix visualized. The cervix is then cleared of all mucous and an outer catheter is placed into the cervix. A syringe containing one or more embryos suspended in a small amount of fluid is attached to the end of the catheter. Using the syringe, the embryologist places the embryo or embryos into your uterus under careful ultrasound guidance. If successful, an embryo will implant in the lining of your uterus within 24 hours of transfer.

After the Embryo Transfer

After the embryo transfer, you can resume your normal daily activities. In general, we advise that you avoid extremes of stress, exertion, heat, or cold. We want you to find ways to minimize your stress as much as possible, so do whatever will result in the least amount of anxiety or concern.

Results

About 12 days to two weeks after embryo transfer, your doctor will test a sample of your blood to detect whether you’re pregnant. If you’re pregnant, we will take care of you at VRC, or refer you to any specialist that you wish to see for your pregnancy. If you’re not pregnant, you’ll stop taking progesterone and likely get your period within a week. If you don’t get your period or you have unusual bleeding, contact your doctor. If you’re interested in attempting another cycle of in vitro fertilization (IVF), your doctor might suggest steps you can take to improve your chances of getting pregnant through IVF. The chances of giving birth to a healthy baby after using IVF depend on various factors, including: Maternal age. The younger you are, the more likely you are to get pregnant and give birth to a healthy baby using your own eggs during IVF. Women age 41 and older are often counseled to consider using donor eggs during IVF to increase the chances of success. Embryo status. Transfer of embryos that are more developed is associated with higher pregnancy rates compared with less developed embryos (day two or three). However, not all embryos survive the development process. Talk with your doctor or other care provider about your specific situation. Reproductive history. Women who’ve previously given birth are more likely to be able to get pregnant using IVF than are women who’ve never given birth. Success rates are lower for women who’ve previously used IVF multiple times but didn’t get pregnant. Cause of infertility. Having a normal supply of eggs increases your chances of being able to get pregnant using IVF. Women who have severe endometriosis are less likely to be able to get pregnant using IVF than are women who have unexplained infertility. Lifestyle factors. Women who smoke typically have fewer eggs retrieved during IVF and may miscarry more often. Smoking can lower a woman’s chance of success using IVF by 80 percent. Obesity can decrease your chances of getting pregnant and having a baby. Use of alcohol, recreational drugs, excessive caffeine and certain medications also can be harmful. Talk with your doctor about any factors that apply to you and how they may affect your chances of a successful pregnancy.