IVF Treatment

IVF treatment is applied to assist fertility, prevent genetic problems and assist in having children, and can be basically defined as a complex set of procedures. In IVF treatment, mature eggs are collected from the woman's ovaries, and fertilized with sperm in the laboratory environment. The fertilized egg or eggs are transferred to the uterus. In vitro fertilization treatment, IVF, is completed in about 3 weeks, but if the steps to be applied are divided into parts, the process may take longer depending on the application.

Who can get IVF Treatment?

IVF treatment may be applicable in such cases as;

• Endometriosis,
• Problems with the uterus or fallopian tubes
• Antibody problems that may damage sperm or eggs,
• Metabolic diseases such as obesity,
• Presence of genetic disease in the mother or father,
• Low sperm count,
• Ovulation problems,
• Inability of sperm to penetrate the cervical mucus or survive afterwards,
• Poor egg quality
• Advanced age,
• Unexplained fertility problems.

How is IVF Treatment done?

In vitro fertilization is one of the assisted reproductive technologies, and can be used to solve infertility or various genetic problems. IVF treatment can be used for people with different fertility problems and fertilization takes place outside the body.

In vitro fertilization treatment is frequently preferred by people who cannot conceive naturally, and is a comprehensive process consisting of different stages. Taking fertility drugs for a certain period to help the ovaries produce mature and ready-to-fertilize eggs is the first step of IVF treatment, called ovulation induction. At this stage, blood tests and ultrasound methods can be used regularly to measure hormone levels and monitor egg production.

The formation process of eggs is triggered, and when they reach sufficient size, the egg collection stage is started. As part of the egg collection process, which takes about 15 to 30 minutes, the ovary is accessed with a needle. The fluid in the follicles is aspirated from the middle of each follicle larger than 10 mm. This procedure is performed under anesthesia. After the eggs are cleaned, the maturity stages are evaluated under the microscope.

The stage in which the egg follicles are fertilized with sperm in the laboratory environment and the embryo is obtained is called insemination. When the embryo reaches sufficient maturity, it is transferred into the uterus. When fertilization is successful, it usually takes 2 to 6 days for the embryos to develop. Thus, the embryologist can choose the strongest embryo.

The transfer of the fertilized embryo to the uterus of the expectant mother is performed by a method very similar to the PAP-Smear technique, called embryo transfer. Pregnancy occurs when any of the embryos attach to the lining of the uterus.

Fertilization of the egg in the laboratory environment can also be done with the classical IVF method, when the sperm left next to the egg enters the egg and fertilizes it. Another method that can be used is Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI) or microinjection. In this method, fertilization is achieved by injecting the sperm into the egg using micropipettes under the microscope. ICSI is usually applied in cases with low sperm count or motility.