IVF is the joining of eggs and sperm in the laboratory – extracorporeally – in order to produce fertilised embryos for transfer to the uterus of the expectant mother.
The fertilisation of eggscan be carried out either by means of the conventional IVF method (IVF) or by means of the microfertilisation method (ICSI).

IVF with the couple’s own sperm is recommended in:

• Couples for whom simple methods, such as Intrauterine Insemination (IUI), have failed.
• Women with complete absence or damage to the fallopian tubes.
• Women suffering from advanced endometriosis, with possible complications in the fallopian tubes and egg quality.
• Situations where there is a limited number of eggs.
• Cases of severe male infertility.

IVF with donor sperm is recommended in:

• Severe cases of male infertility, with poor sperm quality.
• Previous failure to inseminate with sperm from the couple.
• Cases of poor embryo quality or repeated implantation failures, mainly due to the male factor.
• Male carriers of a genetic disease that cannot be studied in embryos.
• Women without a partner.

How is IVF done?

The woman is given medication to stimulate her ovaries and produce many ovarian follicles. Then, at the appropriate time, the woman is ovulated, followed by fertilisation of the eggs from the sperm sample in the laboratory by the embryologists.

The fertilised eggs are cultured in appropriate culture media and grow into embryos. The dishes containing the fertilised eggs (zygotes) are placed in an incubator for 2-5 days under special conditions to allow the embryos to go through the early stages of development.

The embryos are then transferred back to the woman’s uterus(embryo transfer) and 12 days after the embryo transfer, a pregnancy test is done to confirm the pregnancy.

Ovulation – What is it and how is it done?

Oocyte retrieval is the process of retrieving eggs from the ovaries . When we have evidence through ultrasound that the follicles have reached a satisfactory size and we consider that there is an appropriate number, oocyte retrieval is scheduled 36 hours after the administration of an injection of chorionic gonadotropin, which causes the eggs to mature in a similar way as in a natural cycle.
It is performed in the operating room under anesthesia, so that the woman does not feel any discomfort during the procedure , which lasts approximately 15 minutes.
Egg retrieval is performed transvaginally , under continuous ultrasound control. The follicles are punctured one by one through a needle that penetrates the vaginal wall. The contents of each follicle are aspirated into special tubes and immediately delivered to the embryology laboratory.
The embryologist locates the eggs, isolates them from the follicular fluid and places them in special small containers, called dishes, containing a special culture medium. The dishes are then placed in an incubator under the appropriate culture conditions.

Embryo transfer

It is the process of transferring the embryos into the uterine cavity.
Embryo transfer is painless and short, no anaesthesia is required.

The best embryos are selected for transfer to the mother’s womb and the embryo transfer is performed with a special catheter.

The whole process is done with great care and thoroughness. The woman usually remains lying down for about an hour and then she can return home.