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OVERVIEW FOR IVF-PATIENTS
(a) What is IVF?
In Vitro Fertilization and Embryo Transfer (IVF-ET) is a procedure that enhances the chances of conception in those couples when other fertility therapies have been unsuccessful or are not possible.
(b) When is IVF indicated?
1. Female factors
• Blocked fallopian tubes
• Anovulation not responding to medical treatment
• Endometriosis
• Altered tubo-ovarian relations due to adhesions and or previous abdominal
surgery
• Sexual dysfunction e.g. vaginismus
2. Male factors
• Mild to moderate oligoasthenospermia not responding to medical therapy
• Severe oligoasthenospermia (ICSI is advised)
• Obstructive azoospermia (TESA/PESA with ICSI is advised)
3. Unexplained Infertility
(c) What are the steps involved in infertility?
• Superovulation - stimulates egg development
• Oocyte (egg) Retrieval - Done under IV sedation by transvaginal guided
ultrasound.
• Collecting and preparing semen - Done on the day of egg retrieval.
• Insemination of eggs and embryo culture
• Transferring embryos to the uterus
• Done on Day 2, 3 or day five of development and two to three embryos are
transferred
• Extra embryos are frozen after taking informed consent.
• Blood for Beta HCG is done 2 weeks after embryo transfer
(d) What are risk or concerns involved in IVF-ET
• Risk of Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome (OHSS)
• There may be a failure to recover an egg
• Eggs recovered may not be normal
• Sometimes male partners may not be able to produce semen specimen but
this problem is treated by semen freezing as "back up"
• Fertilization failure inspite of normal eggs
• Abnormal development of embryos which are then not transferred.
• Embryos transfer may be difficult or there may be implantation failure
• Any step in IVF-ET process may be complicated due to unforeseen
equipment failure, laboratory condition etc.
• Congenital malformation, genetic abnormalities, mental and other birth
defects occur in 3% of spontaneously conceived children, may also occur IVF
babies
• Adoption to date is still an alternative to IVF-ET .
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