What is the full form of the IVF?
IVF full form is In Vitro Fertilization. In vitro fertilization is the most common ART (assisted reproductive technologies) procedure. IVF is performed under controlled laboratory circumstances by fusing eggs from the female donor and sperm from the male donor. The embryo is known as a zygote or test-tube baby. After embryo culture, the embryo is transferred to the uterus of the mother. This is a common treatment for women with obstructed or weakened Fallopian tubes.
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Procedures that must be followed for IVF
There are 6 main processes necessary to achieve IVF, which are as follows:
Step 1: Stimulation, also called super ovulation
- Medications known as fertility medications are administered to the woman to stimulate egg production.
- A lady produces one egg every month on average. Fertility medications instruct the ovaries to generate several eggs.
- During this phase, the lady will get routine transvaginal ultrasounds to assess her ovaries and blood tests to determine her hormone levels.
Step 2: Egg retrieval
- To retrieve eggs from a woman’s body, a simple procedure called follicular aspiration is performed.
- Most surgeries are performed in the doctor’s office. The woman will be given painkillers so that she does not experience discomfort during the surgery. The healthcare expert inserts a tiny needle via the vagina into the ovary and egg-containing sacs (follicles) using ultrasound pictures as a guide. The needle is attached to a suction device that extracts the eggs and fluid from each follicle individually.
- The method is repeated for the second ovary. There may be cramping following the surgery, but it will subside within 24 hours.
- In rare instances, a pelvic laparoscopy may be required for egg removal. If a woman is unable or unable to make eggs, she may use donated eggs.
Step 3: Insemination
The man’s sperm is combined with eggs of the highest quality. The process of combining sperm and egg is known as insemination.
Step 4: Egg fertilization
- The eggs and sperm are then stored in a controlled environment room. The egg is often fertilized by sperm a few hours after insemination.
- If the doctor believes that the likelihood of fertilization is minimal, sperm may be injected straight into the egg. This method is known as intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI).
- Numerous fertility centers routinely perform ICSI on a portion of the eggs, even when everything seems normal.
Step 5: Embryo culture
- When the fertilized egg divides, the embryo is formed. The laboratory team will monitor the embryo’s growth on a regular basis. A typical embryo has several cells that are actively dividing within five days.
- Pre-implantation genetic diagnosis is an option for couples with a high chance of passing on a genetic (hereditary) problem to their kid (PGD). Typically, the surgery is performed between 3 and 5 days following fertilization. Scientists isolate a single or many cells from each embryo and test them for specific genetic diseases.
- The American Society for Reproductive Medicine states that PGD can assist parents in deciding which embryos to implant. This reduces the likelihood of transmitting a disease to a child. The procedure is controversial, and not all centers offer it.
Step 6: Embryo transfer
- Three to five days following egg harvest and fertilization, embryos are implanted into the uterus.
- The procedure is performed while the woman is awake in the doctor’s office. A narrow tube (catheter) containing the embryos is inserted into the woman’s vagina, via the cervix, and into the womb. If an embryo attaches to (implants) the uterine lining and develops, pregnancy occurs.
- Multiple embryos can be implanted simultaneously in the uterus, which can result in twins, triplets, or more. The precise number of embryos transferred is a difficult subject that relies on numerous variables, including the age of the woman.
- Embryos that are not implanted or donated may be frozen for later use.
Why it’s done
IVF is a treatment for infertility and genetic disorders. If IVF is performed to treat infertility, you and your partner may be able to try less-invasive treatments such as fertility drugs to increase egg production or intrauterine insemination — a procedure in which sperm are placed directly into the uterus near the time of ovulation — before attempting IVF.
IVF is sometimes used as the primary treatment for infertility in women over 40. IVF is also an option for those with specific health issues. IVF may be an option, for instance, if you or your partner have:
- Fallopian tube damage or obstruction – Fallopian tube injury or obstruction makes it challenging for an egg to be fertilized or an embryo to get to the uterus.
- Ovulation disorders- If ovulation doesn’t happen often or doesn’t happen at all, there are fewer eggs available to be fertilized.
- Endometriosis – Endometriosis develops when tissue comparable to the uterine lining implants and grows outside of the uterus, frequently affecting the ovaries, uterus, and fallopian tubes.
- Uterine fibroids – Uterine fibroids are benign tumors. They are prevalent in women aged 30 to 40. Fibroids can prevent the fertilized egg from implanting.
- Previous tubal removal or sterilization – Tubal ligation is a form of sterilization in which the fallopian tubes are cut or closed to prevent pregnancy permanently. IVF may be a viable option to tubal ligation reversal surgery if you wish to conceive following tubal ligation.
- Impaired sperm production or function – Below-average sperm concentration, poor sperm movement (mobility), or aberrant sperm size and shape might make fertilization of an egg problematic. If semen abnormalities are detected, it may be necessary to consult an infertility specialist to determine whether there are correctable issues or underlying health concerns.
- Unexplained infertility – Unexplained infertility indicates that despite evaluation for common factors, no cause of infertility has been identified.
- A genetic disorder – If you or your partner are at risk of passing on a genetic disorder to your child, you may be a candidate for preimplantation genetic testing, a procedure that involves IVF. After the eggs have been retrieved and fertilized, they are checked for genetic defects, but not all defects may be detected. Embryos that are free of recognized defects are transferable to the uterus.
- Fertility preservation for cancer or other health disorders – If you’re about to undergo cancer treatment — such as radiation or chemotherapy — that could negatively impact your fertility, IVF for fertility preservation may be a possibility. Eggs can be extracted from a woman’s ovaries and frozen in an unfertilized state for future use. Or, the eggs can be fertilized and embryos preserved for future use.
- Women who lack a functional uterus or for whom pregnancy poses a significant health risk may choose IVF with a gestational carrier (gestational carrier). In this instance, the woman’s eggs are fertilized with sperm, but the resulting embryos are implanted in the uterus of the gestational carrier.
