Are you considering fertility treatment and do you know about the assisted fertilization method IVF? Cryos International is the world’s largest sperm bank and we will guide you through the main aspects of treatment with IVF.
What is IVF?
IVF stands for in vitro fertilization and it is a method of assisted fertilization in which sperm and eggs are combined in a laboratory. In vitro means “in a glass” because the egg is fertilized in a petri dish.
Is IVF for me?
Treatment with IVF can be a good option if you have problems with ovulation or egg quality, if you suffer from conditions such as polycystic ovary syndrome or endometriosis or if your partner has problems with sperm count or motility.
The treatment is also an option if you are a single woman or a same-sex couple having treatment with IVF using a donor sperm.
How does IVF work?
For 8-14 days near the beginning of your menstrual cycle, you start taking fertility medication in the form of hormones to stimulate your ovaries to develop multiple mature eggs for fertilization (instead of just one).
While taking these medications, you visit your doctor’s office or clinic to have ultrasound measurements of your ovaries done. This allows your healthcare provider to monitor the development of the follicles.
When the eggs have matured in the ovaries, they are surgically aspirated by a doctor and afterwards the eggs are prepared for fertilization in a petri dish in a laboratory. Sperm cells will be placed together with the eggs in the petri dish for them to fertilize.
When the eggs and the sperm cells have fertilized, they form what is called embryos. The embryos are then placed in an incubator for 3-5 days until they have developed sufficiently. The embryologist selects the most viable embryo or embryos to place in the uterus. If the treatment is successful an embryo implants in the uterine wall and continues to grow into a baby.
Want to know more?
Now you know a little more about treatment with IVF and the possibilities it gives people who want a child. However, your local fertility clinic can give you much more guidance, and you are also always welcome to contact Cryos’ competent Customer Service for advice or read more about fertility treatment with donor sperm on Cryos’ blog.