When is IVF Recommended?
IVF may be recommended when other treatments (such as intrauterine insemination, IUI) have not been successful, or immediately as a first step in treatment. Such cases occur when there is severe male factor infertility or severe female factor infertility such as advanced endometriosis, tubal obstruction advanced age, or poor ovarian reserve.
The IVF Process
In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) is an assisted reproductive technology procedure (ART) in which a women’s eggs are fertilized by sperm in a laboratory instead of inside the fallopian tube (in –vivo). IVF is the most advanced ART procedure available today, and it is a highly effective, safe form of fertility treatment which has evolved over 25 years.
Every cycle of IVF involves multiple steps, and each occurs at a specific time during a four to six-week period. The following is an overview of the IVF process, which begins in the month proceeding the actual IVF treatment cycle.
An IVF cycle typically includes the following steps/procedures:
- Medications to grow multiple eggs; average 9-11 days
- Retrieval of eggs from the ovary or ovaries
- Insemination of eggs with sperm, fertilization, ICSI
- Culture of any resulting fertilized eggs (embryos) for several days (2-5 days)
- Placement (“transfer”) of one or more embryo(s) into the uterus; procedure similar to IUI
- Support of the uterine lining with hormones to implant and sustain pregnancy
