How Is IVF Done?

In vitro fertilization is one of the commonly known assisted reproductive treatments.

Robert G. Edwards was the first one to apply the method and as a result of the application, the first tube baby, Louise Brown, was born in 1978. IVF treatment, developing rapidly afterward, has become the most successful form of infertility treatment today.

In vitro fertilization is the process of fertilizing the female reproductive cell egg (oocyte) and male reproductive cell sperm outside the body, in a laboratory environment, and transferring the resulting embryo to the uterus of the mother-to-be.

The duration may vary according to the types of treatment. The first stage is the formation of eggs. The goal is to collect 8-10 eggs. A woman normally produces one egg each month. But more eggs are needed. Hormone injections are applied every day to get more than one egg and the treatment starts between the 2nd and 4th days of the menstrual period of our female patient. This period lasts around 8-10 days and the development of the eggs and the effect of the drug are checked by ultrasound every 3-4 days. Hormone levels can be examined by bloodletting when necessary. The response of the ovaries to hormone injections is followed closely since it varies from person to person. The mother-to-be should pay attention to understanding the usage of drugs correctly, applying the doses exactly and on time. At this point, it is very important to communicate in a timely manner if there is something not understood or you could not do. Because, for the success of the treatment, no wrong should be done during this period of drug use.

A different hormone injection, namely 'cracking needle', is made to release the egg cells into the follicle when the eggs reach a certain size and maturity. Egg collection is performed 34-36 hours after the application of the cracking needle. The time of application of the cracking needle is of the utmost importance!

Egg collection is a 15-20 minute procedure in which our patient does not feel any pain since it is performed under anesthesia. Eggs are collected vaginally with the help of a needle under ultrasound. The number of eggs varies between patients and can be between 1 and 40. Rarely, eggs may not be attained.

Our patient can go home a few hours after this procedure after the controls are done.

The father-to-be gives a sperm sample on the same day. Egg cells taken from the female patient and sperm cells obtained from the sample given by the male are fertilized by microinjection in the laboratory environment. The fertilization process is confirmed under the microscope 16-18 hours after microinjection. The development of the resulting embryos is monitored. The embryo transfer day is decided by the doctor and embryologist by evaluating the patient's number of embryos, the development levels of the embryos, previous attempts if any. Embryo transfer can be left to the next month if necessary, and the resulting embryos are stored by freezing with the vitrification method.

Embryo transfer is the final stage of this process. It is very important for the mother-to-be to be calm and peaceful during the transfer. The best embryo or embryos that can lead to pregnancy are selected before the transfer. The number of embryos to be transferred was determined as 1 embryo in the first two treatments in patients under 35 years of age, and 2 embryos in patients over 35 years of age or after two unsuccessful treatments, as per the regulation published in 2010. Our patients are informed about their embryos by our embryologist before the transfer.

Embryos are placed into the uterus with the help of a thin plastic tube-shaped catheter under ultrasound. Our patient should have a full bladder during this procedure. Anesthesia is not used and our patient can be discharged in a short time since the transfer process is painless. The 'progesterone' hormone is given vaginally or as an injection to the patient to support the pregnancy until the pregnancy test.

What should be done and what should you pay attention to after the transfer? Do you need to lay down all the time?

NO! The mother-to-be can continue her daily life after the transfer. There is no need to lay down all the time. Studies have clearly shown that lying down does not add to pregnancy or the attachment of the embryo. The most important issue is to use the necessary drugs in full and on time until the pregnancy test is done. Taking care of your health as much as possible, taking the necessary precautions especially not to catch an infectious disease, catching the sleep rhythm, and eating organic and healthy is the best support you can give yourself in this period.