In vitro fertilization is an assisted reproductive technology used to treat infertility and genetic conditions in women of childbearing age. Also known as IVF, the procedure involves harvesting healthy eggs and sperm cells and fertilizing the egg outside the womb and create an embryo. The embryo is then placed in the uterus for implantation. Here are some questions to ask about the procedure:
Am I a Good Candidate?
Your fertility doctor can suggest IVF treatment following a diagnosis of poor egg quality or low sperm count. The procedure is also used to treat unexplained infertility, endometriosis, uterine fibroids, and blocked or damaged fallopian tubes. In vitro fertilization and embryo screening is good option if you want to avoid passing specific genetic conditions to your offspring. Your doctor will perform bloodwork and other fertility tests to determine if you are healthy enough for the procedure. The treatment is more effective in young and pre-menopausal women.
How Long Does It Take?
In vitro fertilization involves stimulating your ovaries to release eggs for retrieval, which can take several weeks of medication. After the eggs are retrieved, your doctor tests them and selects the best quality egg for fertilization. The eggs are then manually fertilized using carefully selected motile sperm cells. Your doctor may perform embryo tests to identify specific genetic conditions you want to avoid. The biopsy results can take a couple more weeks to process. If the embryo is healthy, the doctor schedules an appointment for frozen embryo transfer. The transfer takes place during specific days of your menstrual cycle. Additional bloodwork and ultrasound tests are used to monitor post-implantation progress.
How Do I Prepare?
Fertility doctors will discuss the details of the treatment before beginning the process. You must avoid smoking or drinking alcohol while undergoing the procedure and during pregnancy. Eat healthy and move around, but avoid engaging in vigorous exercise during treatment. Stick to medication prescribed by your doctor and seek professional advice before using any over-the-counter drugs. Avoid herbal supplements and contact your doctor if you face any unpleasant symptoms. Attend all scheduled appointments with your doctor to track your menstrual cycle and optimize egg retrieval and implantation timeframes.
What Happens After the Procedure?
If the implantation is successful and the embryo’s development is normal, your fertility specialist may send you to an obstetrician. The OBGYN takes over once the embryo’s heartbeat has been confirmed. If implantation fails, you can wait a few weeks before another attempt. Fertility specialists usually freeze your embryos from the first harvest and fertilization. Only one embryo is implanted at a time, so if the first fails, you can use the others for your next treatment cycle.
Are All Procedures Similar?
Traditional in vitro fertilization involves fertilizing the egg outside your body. Once the embryo develops into a blastocyte, the fertility specialist implants it into your uterus. This allows the embryo to divide and grow inside an environment with optimal temperature, pH, and oxygen ratios. Most procedures include these basic steps.
Speak to an IVF Specialist Today
Meeting with a fertility specialist allows you to prepare for in vitro fertilization and increase your success rates. The specialist can answer all questions regarding pre-cycle evaluations, medication, and egg retrieval or implantation preparation. Contact an IVF specialist today to learn more about assisted reproductive technologies.
