What Is In Vitro Fertilization Treatment?

To carry out this In Vitro Fertilization Treatment, it is necessary to carry out controlled ovarian stimulation to obtain eggs which will then be fertilized in the laboratory. The embryos born from this process will be kept in culture for 5 – 6 days, after which the best-quality embryo will be selected to be transferred into the uterus. Any excess embryos will be cryopreserved for future use.

This technique increases the chances of pregnancy compared to sexual intercourse for several reasons:

• It includes an ovarian stimulation process, which causes more ovarian follicles to develop through a stimulation scheme; in this way, the growth and maturation of the hairs are controlled, increasing the chances of pregnancy thanks to the development of more eggs, which will be collected, fertilized and will give life to more embryos.

• The semen sample is prepared in the laboratory to select the best quality sperm.

• During the embryo culture in the laboratory, the embryos are checked and monitored during their development to select the embryo with the highest implantation potential.

• Embryo transfer is programmed to occur at the optimal moment concerning the endometrium preparation.

Table of Contents

In Vitro Fertilization process step by step

First Visit

With the first visit to the Best IVF Center in Pakistan, our specialists will assess the patient and, if present, will analyze the medical files of previous treatments. A complete gynecological evaluation and a study of the male semen will then be carried out, if necessary. In this way, IVI can guarantee a diagnosis that is as personalized as possible and adapted to the needs of the patients.

Ovarian stimulation

With the start of treatment, ovarian stimulation begins, which lasts about 10-14 days and provides for the administration of daily injections, which the patient can carry out independently.

This stimulation increases the chances of success of the treatment, as the woman naturally produces only one egg per menstrual cycle, while the stimulation causes multi-follicular growth.

Follicular Preparation / Control

The specialist conducts a follow-up of the stimulation, checking the response trend using various ultrasound scans and blood tests. The oocyte retrieval is scheduled when the follicles reach the appropriate size, and development is considered optimal.

Pick up

It is a simple procedure that only lasts 15-20 minutes. It is carried out in an ad hoc sterile environment and under sedation to avoid any possible disturbance to the patient. To carry out the pick-up, the ovaries are accessed from the vaginal cavity, and the follicular fluid containing the ova to be fertilized in the laboratory is aspirated.

Recovery is very fast for the patient.

In vitro fertilization

It consists of the union made in the laboratory of ova and sperm from the male partner of the couple or a donor.

There are two techniques to accomplish this process:

• Conventional IVF: each egg obtained from the pick-up is deposited in previously prepared drops of semen to simulate the natural fertilization process.

• Intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI): inserting a selected sperm into each mature egg.

Embryo culture

Embryo culture takes 5 to 6 days. After fertilization, the embryos begin developing in incubators with a culture medium providing everything necessary for growth. During this time, embryologists observe and analyze the development of embryos to assess their quality.

Transfer of the best embryo

To carry out the transfer, the patient’s uterus must first be prepared, ensuring that the endometrium (the inner layer of the uterus) has the optimal thickness to accommodate the embryo and facilitate pregnancy. Subsequently, the best embryo is transferred into the uterus vaginally with the help of a cannula. It is a simple procedure in an ad hoc sterile environment and does not require anesthesia.

What are the benefits of IVF?

In vitro fertilization (IVF) has many advantages, being one of the most widespread assisted reproduction treatments.

It consists of the union of the egg with the sperm made in the laboratory by conventional IVF or intracytoplasmic injection (ICSI) to obtain embryos which can then be transferred into the woman’s uterus.

IVF has better pregnancy rates than artificial insemination. Furthermore, with this technique, we can evaluate the ovarian reserve, estimate the quality of the oocytes and embryos, and, in cases where significant alterations of the seminal fluid are found, ICSI allows us to continue the treatment since we will need as many sperm as they are the oocytes obtained from the stimulation because the technique consists in depositing them inside the cytoplasm of the oocyte.

Finally, in vitro fertilization is the most recommended treatment in the presence of a tubal alteration; in this situation, there is no possibility of a meeting between the sperm and the oocyte unless in vitro fertilization is performed.

Pregnancy test

Our Infertility Doctors in Lahore will communicate the optimal date to carry out the pregnancy test through a specific blood test, generally to be carried out some days after the transfer.

If the result is positive, a follow-up ultrasound is performed 10/15 days later to confirm the presence of the embryo sac, and IVI will discharge the patient once the correct development of the pregnancy has been verified.