IVF Procedure

It is common knowledge that the main objective of IVF procedure is to achieve fusing of the egg and the sperm outside the womb via artificial means. Saying that IVF is complicated would be nothing short of an understatement. It is indeed one of the most complex procedures which call forth a lot of patience and perseverance in case an individual wants to succeed in this task.Apart from the traditional five stages of IVF, there are a lot other details involved which a couple should be aware of so that they know what they are heading for. The procedure kick starts with general checkups of both male and female parent to assess the root cause of the problem i.e. difficulty in conceiving. It is also done to assess the overall health of the mother and arrive at a conclusion regarding how the treatment would take place.Even the minutest of details, such as the concise dates of the menstruation or possible allergy to any injection or drugs is also ascertained beforehand.

The first step of IVF procedure which involves ovarian stimulation commences on the third day of menstruation. The medicines which are given to the female parent at this stage are meant to trigger the growth of multiple follicles in the ovaries. This is done in a bid to make the ovaries produce more than one egg. Post the injection of medicines, constant monitoring on the growth of ovarian follicles is performed with the help of gynecologic ultrasonography. Only if the growth of the follicles is found to be satisfactory, then the process of ovulation is started voluntarily. Soon after, the eggs are removed via a transvaginal technique and are safely stored in a lab. Here the follicles are separated from the fluid and are taken forth for the next procedure, known as fertilization.

In this process, the inactive cells around the egg and the semen are separated from the sperm to promote proper fusion of the egg and the sperm. The fusion takes place in an incubated environment where the two are kept together subjected to a certain temperature, heat and light. It is interesting to note that the ratio of the egg and the sperm is generally 1: 75000. The process of fusion of the two cells can also take up to 18 hours. In certain cases, where the individual is reported to have a lower sperm count, the sperm is directly injected into the egg without waiting for it to fuse on its own.

Once the fused egg has reached to the 6-8 level of cell development, it is placed back in the mother’s uterus. The IVF procedure is definitely not as easy as it seems to be. Moreover, there are several conditions which must be fulfilled before an egg can qualify to be fused. Factors like evenness of growth and level of fragmentation are some of the chief factors which are taken into consideration while selecting the right egg.