IVF TREATMENT

 IVF DEVELOPING 

A LITTLE INTRODUCTION TO IVF

        It wasn't until 1978 that the first successful IVF pregnancy and live birth occurred. Dr. Patrick Steptoe and Dr. Robert Edwards performed the procedure in England, resulting in the birth of Louise Brown on July 25, 1978.

Here are some other milestones in IVF history:

1965: Robert Edwards and Georgianna and Howard Jones attempt to fertilize human oocytes in vitro.

1981: Howard and Georgianna Seeger Jones announce the birth of the first IVF baby in the United States.

1990: The first Iranian IVF babies are born in Yazd, Iran.

The origins of IVF date back to the 1800s and are documented in medical journals.

WHAT IS IVF?

IVF is an abbreviation for in vitro fertilization. This procedure can help if the sperm quality in men is poor or if the couple is unable to meet physically. A procedure is performed to place one or more embryos into the uterus, where the embryos will develop. A single IVF cycle can take about 10-14 days to complete successfully. It is classified as a form of assisted reproductive technology that directly manipulates eggs or embryos and sperm.

In-Vitro Fertilization (IVF)

          IVF stands for in-vitro fertilization, a type of assisted reproductive technology (ART) that helps couples or individuals who are having trouble getting pregnant conceive a child. IVF treatment is a series of procedures that involve fertilizing one or more eggs with sperm outside the woman's body in a laboratory, and then transferring one (and sometimes more) embryos into the woman's uterus.

THE IVF PROCESS OVARIAN STIMULATION

           The first step of IVF treatment is ovarian stimulation so that multiple eggs can be made to develop rather than just the one that occurs in a natural cycle. Paradoxically, the ovaries are suppressed with drugs called agonists or antagonists that prevent the natural cycle of ovulation.  Fertility drugs, which are the same hormones that women make on their own, are then given by injection at the same time to deliver higher doses of the naturally-occurring hormones, This results in multiple eggs being stimulated to develop. Each egg is contained in a follicle that makes hormones, mainly estrogen and progesterone. The cycle is controlled by changing the dose of the fertility drugs based on a blood test of the level of hormones made in the developing follicles and the number and size of follicles as measured by transvaginal ultrasound. When the number, size and hormone levels are right a single injection is given to mature the eggs.  

IVF PROCEDURES AND DEFINITIONS

           Below is a list of common clinical and laboratory terms that explain techniques used during an IVF cycle.

EGG RETRIEVAL

            An Egg Retrieval is a minor surgical procedure using light anesthesia in which a doctor obtains eggs from the follicles of the ovaries. After a successful egg retrieval, the eggs can be used for an IVF cycle or frozen for future use.

DONOR INSEMINATION

             A gynecologist places sperm inside the vagina at the cervix or directly inside the uterus (called Intrauterine Insemination or IUI). Donor insemination was previously called Artificial Insemination).

EMBRYO DEVELOPMENT

          When the sperm successfully fertilizes the egg, an embryo forms and begins to grow. When the embryo is 2 to 3 days old it is at the ‘cleavage stage’; at 5 to 6 days old, it is called a ‘blastocyst’.

INTRA-CYTOPLASMIC SPERM INJECTION (ICSI)

        ICSI is an IVF procedure used to inject a single sperm into an egg to result in fertilization. This is done with special microscopic equipment in the embryology laboratory.

ASSISTED HATCHING

           Assisted hatching is an IVF procedure that uses a laser or chemical solution on the embryo to increase the chances it will implant in the lining of the uterus (endometrium).

EMBRYO TRANSFER

          During an IVF cycle, the embryo transfer takes place when the fertilized eggs (embryos) are placed back into the woman’s uterus through the cervix using a small catheter and ultrasound guidance.

IMPLANTATION

         After placing the embryo(s) inside the uterus the embryo has to undergo a complex process in order to attach itself to the endometrium which is the inside layer of the uterus. This process is called implantation.

EMBRYO CRYOPRESERVATION

         Embryo Cryopreservation is a procedure used to preserve an embryo by freezing it at very cold temperatures. The preserved embryos can be used for a frozen/thaw embryo transfer (FET) if the patient does not get pregnant with a fresh transfer. Frozen embryos can also be used in the future to have another child after a successful IVF cycle.

WHO CAN GET IVF TREATMENT?

           IVF or in vitro fertilization is often recommended or beneficial for individuals and couples dealing with the following infertility issues

TUBAL INFERTILITY

            A condition in which the fallopian tubes, one of the tubal causes of infertility, are blocked or damaged, preventing the egg and sperm from meeting.

MALE INFERTILITY

            Low sperm count, low motility, or other sperm-related problems indicate male factor infertility.

OVARIAN DISORDERS

          Ovulation is irregular or absent.

ENDOMETRIOSIS 

               A disorder in which tissue grows outside the uterus that resembles the lining of the uterus.

UNEXPLAINED INFERTILITY

               A condition in which a specific cause of infertility cannot be found despite careful examination.

 GENETIC DISORDERS

          Couples with genetic disorders may undergo IVF in conjunction with preimplantation genetic testing (PGT) to ensure that the embryos are free of genetic abnormalities.

SINGLE PARENTS OR SAME-SEX COUPLES

             Individuals or couples who require donor eggs or sperm for conception.

CONCLUSION 

         In science and technology, especially in the medical field, the need for technologies has increased. They are better suited to the lifestyles of humans. In the medical field, this method of having children is very necessary for humans. Because some people have some hormonal problems in the body to give birth to children. In vitro fertilization is very necessary to correct it. A lot of efforts are being made in the medical field to ensure a hundred percent chance of success. Developed and developing countries are making great efforts for this.