Details Of IVF Procedures

How does IVF work?

Details of IVF procedures can give couples the chance to know exactly how ivf works. If you're going to take the step towards in-vitro fertilisation, then it makes things easier when you know all of the facts.

Basic IVF Procedure

First of all you will be given a course of fertility drugs. These will help your ovaries to ripen several eggs (not just one). Your cycle and medication will be carefully monitored. Your eggs will be collected, and mixed together with your partners sperm. If embryo's form from fertilisation they will be left to grow for a while. The next step is transferring the embryo's into your uterus (up to a maximum of 3) If you have any embryo's left over, who's quality are good, these can be frozen in case they are needed in the future.

Details of IVF procedures - A closer look

That all sounded quite straight forward, but lets take a deeper look into the IVF process.

Firstly before the IVF procedure will be agreed by your doctor or consultant, you and your partner will need to undergo several tests. Including sperm analysis, hysteroscopy or HSG, chlamydia testing, blood samples, there may be more, but these are basic tests.

When you are given the all clear, you will be started on a course of IVF fertility drugs. These drugs aim to stimulate the ovaries to produce several eggs, rather than just one. The ivf fertility drugs are tailored to each individuals needs, so I'm not going to talk about one drug specifically as this may not be the one prescribed for you.The treatment time will also vary along with the type of drug you are using. The drugs can be injections, or nasal sprays. Your cycle will be frequently monitored during this time, and when the follicles (containing the eggs) are almost mature, you will be given an HCG injection, ready for collection of the eggs.

Details of IVF procedures - Collection of eggs

Your eggs will normally be collected morning or early afternoon, around 36 hours after the HGC injection is administered.

There are several methods that can be used to collect your eggs. One IVF process of egg collection (and this is the most common, and a very safe procedure) is normally done with you sedated or after being given a general anaesthetic.

The consultant will use a vaginal ultrasound probe, this will have a fine hollow needle attached. Using ultrasound to obtain the best view the consultant will pass the needle through vaginal wall and into the ovary, where he can suck out the egg from the follicle. Eggs will be removed by sucking them up into the needle. This ivf process takes around 20-30 minutes.

There may be a little pain that follows, but this can be controlled with mild painkillers.

Another method of egg collection involves a needle being passed through the abdominal wall. This is normally if the ovaries are not placed in a normal position.

IVF procedure - Fertilisation

Eggs and sperm will both be tested for maturity, the eggs will be then be placed into an incubator for around 3 - 8 hours.

When the eggs are ready to be mixed with the sperm, this will happen in either a tube or a labelled dish containing a specially prepared medium. This will then be placed back into the incubator for fertilisation to occur.

60-70% of the eggs will be fertilised, although this figure isn't guaranteed. For some couples, no eggs will be fertilised.

Fertilisation can take around 18 hours to occur, when cells will then start to divide.When the embryo's contain 4-8 cells, they are ready to be placed into your uterus.

Details of IVF procedures - Embryo transfer

Embryo transfer is quite easy and only mild discomfort is normally felt.You will lie on bed, with knees raised or maybe feet in stirrups. The consultant will use a vaginal speculum to expose your cervix, and the embryo's will be placed into your uterus using an 'embryo transfer catheter' with a syringe at the end. This ivf procedure may be monitored using an ultrasound.

It normally takes 3-4 days for the embryo's to implant into your uterus.

Any 'spare' embryo's (as only up to 3 will be implanted in the UK) can be frozen. Up to 50% of these will survive the thawing process.

So - Those are the details of ivf procedures, after the ivf process the only thing to do is sit back and wait. After around 2 weeks you will be offered a blood test to check if you are pregnant.

And if you are... Congratulations!

See ivf success rate statistics.

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