In vitro fertilization (IVF) is one of the most effective and popular treatments for infertility. IVF is a very intensive procedure, requiring weeks of medication and numerous office visits and procedures. Understanding what to expect throughout the process can help make IVF more manageable. Below, we will take a look at the most important things to know about the in vitro fertilization procedure.

In Vitro Fertilization Procedure - How It Works

During IVF, eggs are fertilized in the laboratory to form embryos, which are then transferred back to the woman's uterus. If the embryo implants in the uterine lining, pregnancy occurs. The key components of the in vitro fertilization procedure are:

• Ovarian stimulation - For several weeks, the woman will take medication that suppresses ovulation and stimulates the production of more egg follicles than usual. The development of the follicles is monitored using blood tests and transvaginal ultrasound. When it is time, the doctor gives a "trigger" injection to mature the follicles.
• Egg retrieval - Next, the doctor will retrieve the eggs, typically through a minimally invasive transvaginal procedure in which the eggs are aspirated one by one.
• Semen specimen - On the day of egg retrieval, the male partner will provide a semen specimen to be used in the procedure. The semen specimen can be collected at home, but may be provided in the office if the couple lives several hours away.
• Fertilization - In the laboratory, the embryologist performs the fertilization. This step may be accomplished by culturing the eggs and sperm together, or by injecting each egg with a single sperm cell.
• Embryo maturation - The embryos are allowed to mature for several days, until they are ready for transfer. At IVF1, the embryos mature for 6 days, until they reach the blastocyst stage, before being transferred.
• Preimplantation testing - At several points in the embryo development, the embryologist can screen for problems with the embryos. Basic screening involves evaluating whether or not the embryos appear to be developing normally, and ensuring that each embryo has the correct number of chromosomes. For high-risk couples, more detailed screening that tests for specific genetic diseases or chromosomal problems may be performed. Only embryos that appear to be healthy are transferred.
• Embryo transfer - Finally, the embryos are transferred to the uterus by inserting a catheter through the cervix into the uterus, and depositing the embryos through the catheter. If any embryos are left over from the procedure, they can be frozen for use in a future in vitro fertilization procedure.

If you are interested in IVF, Dr. Randy Morris would be happy to hear from you. To schedule your consultation today, please click below and enter your information or call IVF1 at (630) 357-6540.