FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Three hormones specifically are tested, FSH, AMH, and Estradiol. AMH gives us an idea of the number of eggs remaining, high levels off FSH often means a reducing ovarian reserve, which might affect the effectiveness of IVF.
Women may have tests to check the levels of hormones in their blood and how well their ovaries are working. They may also have an ultrasound scan or X-ray to see if there are any blockages or structural problems. Men may be asked for a semen sample to test sperm quality.
- Step 1: Control Ovarian Hyperstimulation (COH)
- Step 2: Egg Retrieval.
- Step 3: Fertilization and Embryo Culture.
- Step 4: Embryo Quality.
- Step 5: Embryo Transfer.
- Step 6: Laser Assisted Hatching.
- Step 7: Cryopreservation.
- Step 8: Microsurgical Epididymal Sperm Aspiration (MESA) or Testicular Sperm Extraction (TESE).
IVF is most successful for the women in their 20’s and early 30’s . Success rates start steadily decreasing once she reaches her mid 30’s.
In most cases, IVF injections are not much painful. There is a stinging sensation but that isn’t anything to be bothered about. The needles are too thin to cause any pain. You can ask your partner or even your friend to stay by your side when you administer the drugs through injections.
IVF patients often undergo an HSG to get a fuller picture of what’s going on. We had one ourselves and all was okay – we certainly didn’t want to spend thousands until we had checked everything out. But many patients with infertility issues don’t have an HSG and still have successful pregnancies.
It involves collecting a woman’s eggs and a man’s sperm and combining them together in a laboratory to achieve fertilisation. Depending on your situation, IVF can use your partner’s eggs and your sperm, your partner’s eggs and donated sperm, donor eggs and your sperm, donor eggs and donor sperm or donated embryos.
- Infectious disease screening. You and your partner will both be screened for infectious diseases, including HIV, Hepatitis B & C, VDRL for syphilis.
- Mock embryo transfer. Your doctor might conduct a mock embryo transfer to determine the depth of your uterine cavity and the technique most likely to successfully place the embryos into your uterus.
- Uterine cavity: Your doctor will examine your uterine cavity before you start IVF. This might involve a transvaginal ultrasound to create images of your uterine cavity including a color Doppler and sometimes 3D. Or it might include a hysteroscopy — in which a thin, lighted telescope (hysteroscope) is inserted through your vagina and cervix into your uterus.
The number of embryos implanted is typically based on the age and number of eggs retrieved. For young patients on their first cycle, 1-2 embryos are introduced. Since the rate of implantation is lower for older women, more embryos (3) are usually implanted — except for women using donor eggs. However, most doctors follow specific guidelines to prevent a higher order multiple pregnancies — and in some countries, legislation limits the number of embryos that can be implanted at once. Make sure you and your doctor agree on the number of embryos that will be implanted before they’re transferred. Indian law would permit the transfer of 3 embryos.