IVF - In Vitro Fertilisation
Thawing and transfer(including assisted hatching )
In Vitro Fertilisation also known as the “Test-tube baby” technique, is where the egg is fertilised outside the body and the embryo(s) are introduced back into the woman’s uterus. IVF is typically suitable for several groups of patients, such as:
- Couples in which the woman has blocked or damaged Fallopian tubes.
- Women with endometriosis or ovarian disorders.
- Men with abnormal semen parameters.
- Couples with unexplained infertility.
The woman is given fertility drugs to stimulate her ovaries and the development of several mature follicles.
Once mature follicles have been produced the eggs are collected using an ultrasound-guided needle through the vaginal wall and into the ovary. This procedure is performed under sedation/local anaesthetic. The collected eggs are then placed into culture in the embryology laboratory.
Our Fertility Specialist performs the embryo transfer procedure. The selected embryos are introduced, through a fine catheter, into the woman’s uterus. Typically 2-3 embryos are transferred, depending on the patient’s circumstances. The embryo transfer procedure takes no more than half an hour and few women experience any discomfort.
The success rate for IVF is typically 25 – 30 % per treatment cycle. However, the success rate is dependant on many factors, such as the age of the woman.