What does IVF involve?
IVF involves a number of steps. They usually are:
Pre-treatment with a Gonadotrophin Hormone analogue
Preliminary medication, given by nasal spray, to suppress the brains efforts to ovulate and improve the overall chance of pregnancy
Ovarian Stimulation with Follicle Stimulating Hormone
Medication, involving daily injections, to make the ovaries produce more eggs than is usually so during normal ovulation
Monitoring response to treatment with blood tests and ultrasounds
Tests to assess the degree of response to FSH treatment - hopefully not too much or too little
Egg collection
A minor operation to attempt to retrieve oocytes (eggs), involving trans-vaginal needle aspiration of the ovaries
Percutaneous sperm aspiration
For men who have previously undergone vasectomy sperm is usually obtained by needle aspiration of the tubules next to the testis. There are too few sperm obtained by this method for simple insemination.
Fertilization in the laboratory of eggs and sperm
The combination sperm and eggs - by mixing or injection - to permit them to interact and bind together to form an embryo
Laboratory culture and growth of embryos
Growing fertilized eggs in the laboratory for 2 to 6 days to assess if they are suitable for replacement back to the uterus
Embryo transfer
Delicately placing the developed embryos back into the uterine cavity - hopefully to allow them to attach and produce a pregnancy
Freezing of spare embryos
Freezing and cryopreservation of spare embryos (over 3), to permit additional chances of pregnancy in later natural cycles
Hormone supplements in second half of cycle
Hormone treatment to support the lining of the uterus and to assist in the process of embryo implantation
Pregnancy test or menstrual period !
Joy or sadness at the result of your IVF treatment cycle - either way, you have done your best.