IVF Treatments

IVF Treatments

In-Vitro Fertilization (IVF) is the most common treatment method among Assisted Reproductive Techniques which are used for the treatment of infertility. The purpose of in vitro fertilization is to fertilize eggs of the woman with sperms -male reproductive cells- in laboratory to obtain embryos that will be transferred to the women for conception. In cases of male factor infertility, sperms of the man are transferred into the egg with a very thin needle which then results in development of embryo (ICSI: Intra-Cytoplasmic Sperm Injection). These embryos are similarly transferred to the uterus of candidate mother.

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Infertility

Infertility is defined as the inability to achieve pregnancy despite regular and unprotected intercourse for one year.

 

The unit that focuses on treatment of infertility is called the Assisted Reproductive Techniques Center. Gynecologists, urologists, medical geneticians, embryologists, psychologists, biologists and nurses work in the unit, which handles the treatment of couples who cannot get pregnant through natural ways.   

Considering variety of the underlying reasons, this department works in cooperation with other medical disciplines, whenever required.

Infertility may be caused by male factors, female factors or both. Male factors of infertility include low sperm count, absence of sperm in semen (azospermia), hormonal factors, varicocele and similar conditions.   

On the other hand, examples of the causative female factors include obstructed Fallopian tubes, hyperprolactinemia, endometriosis, anti-sperm antibodies, polycystic ovary syndrome, low egg reserve, genital infections and adherence of intra-abdominal organs.

The first step to be taken for a couple, who presented with infertility, includes a comprehensive gynecologic exam, a comprehensive urologic exam, medical and family histories of man and woman, hormone analyses which may provide clues regarding infertility, sperm analysis, hysteroscopy, smear test and assessment of documents regarding previous trial(s) in the event that they have a history of infertility treatment.   

Egg reserves of the woman are assessed with hormone tests and ultrasonography on the third day of the menstrual cycle. The first step aims to identify the exact underlying cause of the infertility. The second step starts when it is clarified that the couple is a good candidate for in vitro fertilization.

On the second stage, ovaries are stimulated with a medication to ensure maturation of follicles. Each healthy woman releases only one egg per month, but this medication aims to have ovaries release more than one egg. Follicles are monitored with ultrasound scan and another medication is administered to release the egg from the follicles after they reach a certain size.   

The last phase of this stage is oocyte pick-up (egg retrieval) under sedation or local anesthesia.

The eggs retrieved from the woman are fertilized with sperms in laboratory, if there is no problem regarding motility, morphology or count of sperms. If any problem is detected in sperms, it is necessary to transfer sperm of the man into the egg with a very thin needle in order to ensure the fertilization.   

In both cases, resultant embryos are assessed by an embryologist and healthy embryos are selected. If there are more healthy embryos than needed, embryos are frozen and stored for future attempts.

Pre-implantation Genetic Diagnosis

After eggs are fertilized with IVF or ICSI, pre-implantation genetic diagnosis is required to avoid transmission of any disease to the baby, if health and family histories of woman and/or man are notable for any genetic disease.   

After harvested embryos reach the blastocyst stage, healthy embryos are selected by the embryologist and only these embryos are transferred to the womb of the candidate mother.   

Pre-implantation genetic diagnosis is an important method which assists selection of the healthy embryo and decreases the risk of miscarriage.

 

On the third stage, the fertilized eggs grow for 2 to 3 days. At the end of this time period, the healthy embryos are harvested and transferred to the uterus of the candidate mother.   

Embryo transfer occurs on the Day 2-3 or Day 5, depending on certain characteristics of each couple. Embryo transfer is a painless procedure and does not require anesthesia.

An IVF cycle takes approximately three weeks.

The family is informed about the medications that will be used after embryo transfer, which is the last stage of IVF cycle, is completed. Next, IVF pregnancy is monitored similarly to a natural pregnancy.

 

Serves you until you hug the baby you dreamed of

 

Global hospital and physician network of Hera Healthcare is always ready to assist you to hug the children that you have always dreamed of.

 

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