In Vitro Fertilization (IVF)
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Medicines, commonly called fertility drugs, are given to the woman to boost her egg production beginning approximately one month prior to the actual procedure.
A minor surgery, called follicular aspiration, is done to remove the eggs from the woman's body. The surgery is normally done as an outpatient procedure in the clinic. Patients will be given pain medication to minimize any discomfort.
Using ultrasound images as a guide, the doctor will insert a thin needle through the vagina and into the ovary and sacs (follicles) containing the eggs. The needle is connected to a suction device, which pulls the eggs and fluid out of each follicle, one at a time. The procedure is repeated for the other ovary. Patients may experience some cramping after the surgery, but it usually goes away within a day.
The man's sperm is placed together with the best quality eggs and stored in an environmentally controlled chamber. The mixing of the sperm and egg is called insemination. The sperm usually enters (fertilizes) an egg a few hours after insemination.
When the fertilized egg divides, it becomes an embryo. The lab director, Jeffrey Jones, will call you with updates on how the embryos are developing and their quality.
Couples who have a high risk of passing a genetic (hereditary) disorder to a child may consider pre-implantation genetic diagnosis (PGD). The procedure is done about 3 - 4 days after fertilization. Embryologists remove a single cell from each embryo and screen the material for specific genetic disorders.
After embryo transfer, the woman may be told to rest for the remainder of the day. Most women return to normal activities the next day.
Women who undergo IVF must take the hormone progesterone for 8 - 10 weeks after the embryo transfer. Progesterone is a hormone produced naturally by the ovaries that helps thicken the lining of the uterus. This makes it easier for the embryo to implant.
About 12 -14 days after the embryo transfer, the woman will return to the clinic for a pregnancy test.