IVF (In Vitro Fertilisation)
In vitro fertilisation — universally known as IVF — is the most widely used and successful assisted reproductive technology available. It involves the retrieval of eggs from a woman's ovaries and their fertilisation with sperm outside the body in a laboratory setting, before the resulting embryos are transferred into the uterus. Since the first IVF baby was born in 1978, the technique has been refined considerably and has resulted in the birth of more than eight million children worldwide.
Who is it for?
IVF is indicated across a wide range of fertility problems. It is most commonly used for tubal factor infertility (where the fallopian tubes are blocked or damaged), severe male factor infertility (particularly where ICSI — intracytoplasmic sperm injection, in which a single sperm is injected directly into an egg — is combined with IVF), unexplained infertility where simpler treatments have failed, ovulatory disorders such as polycystic ovary syndrome that have not responded to medication, endometriosis, and premature ovarian insufficiency (using donor eggs). It is also used for preimplantation genetic testing (PGT), where embryos are screened for chromosomal or genetic abnormalities before transfer.
The IVF process
A standard IVF cycle involves several stages. Ovarian stimulation uses daily injectable hormones (gonadotrophins) to stimulate the ovaries to produce multiple follicles simultaneously, rather than the single egg that develops in a natural cycle. Follicle development is monitored with serial ultrasound scans and hormone measurements. When follicles are sufficiently mature, a trigger injection initiates the final phase of egg maturation. Egg retrieval is performed under sedation, using ultrasound-guided aspiration of follicles. In the laboratory, eggs are fertilised with prepared sperm (either by standard insemination or ICSI) and cultured for 3–5 days. One or two embryos are selected for transfer into the uterus via a thin catheter — a quick, usually painless procedure. Surplus good-quality embryos can be frozen for future use.
Choosing where to be treated
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