Welcome to our comprehensive guide on using assisted reproductive technologies to become a parent. Throughout your IVF journey, we at Dr. Archana Salve’s clinic are dedicated to providing individualized and sensitive treatment. This is a step-by-step guide to the in vitro fertilization (IVF), often known as test tube baby technique.
1. Ovarian Stimulation
What It Is: The first step in IVF involves stimulating the ovaries to produce multiple eggs. This is crucial because it increases the chances of retrieving viable eggs for fertilization.
How It’s Done: You will take hormone injections, usually for about 10-14 days. These hormones stimulate your ovaries to produce several eggs. During this period, we’ll monitor your response through blood tests and ultrasounds.
Why It Matters: More eggs increase the likelihood of successful fertilization and a higher chance of embryo implantation.
2. Egg Retrieval
What It Is: Egg retrieval, also known as oocyte aspiration, is the procedure where we collect the eggs from your ovaries.
How It’s Done: This is a minimally invasive procedure performed under sedation. We use an ultrasound-guided needle to aspirate the eggs from your ovaries.
Why It Matters: Collecting eggs at the right time is critical to ensure they are mature and ready for fertilization.
3. Sperm Collection
What It Is: Sperm collection is the process where sperm is obtained from the male partner or a donor.
How It’s Done: The sperm sample is collected through masturbation. In some cases, if there are concerns about sperm quality or quantity, sperm can be retrieved surgically.
Why It Matters: High-quality sperm is essential for successful fertilization and embryo development.
4. Egg and Sperm Preparation
What It Is: Both eggs and sperm need to be prepared and assessed before fertilization.
How It’s Done: Eggs are examined and processed to ensure they are ready for fertilization. Sperm is analyzed for motility and concentration, and sometimes it’s treated to enhance its fertilizing potential.
Why It Matters: Proper preparation improves the chances of successful fertilization and embryo development.
5. Co-Incubation
What It Is: Co-incubation is the process where eggs and sperm are combined in a controlled environment to encourage fertilization.
How It’s Done: Eggs and sperm are placed together in a culture dish and incubated. In some cases, intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) may be used to directly inject a sperm cell into an egg if needed.
Why It Matters: This step is where fertilization happens, so it’s crucial for the success of the IVF process.
6. Embryo Culture
What It Is: After fertilization, the resulting embryos are cultured for several days to assess their development.
How It’s Done: The embryos are kept in a special incubator that mimics the conditions of the uterus. We monitor their growth and development to select the best embryos for transfer.
Why It Matters: Culturing embryos helps identify the ones with the highest potential for implantation and pregnancy.
7. Embryo Transfer
What It Is: Embryo transfer is the final step in the IVF process, where one or more embryos are placed into the uterus.
How It’s Done: This is a relatively simple procedure performed using a thin catheter. It is usually done without anesthesia. We guide the catheter into the uterus and transfer the embryos.
Why It Matters: Successful embryo transfer increases the chances of implantation and achieving pregnancy.
Conclusion:
Navigating the IVF process can be complex, but with the right support and guidance, it’s a journey toward achieving your dream of parenthood. At Fertiprotect and Superspeciality Centre located in the heart of Kalyani Nagar & Viman Nagar, which works under the expert guidance of reputed Gynecologist and Fertility Specialist Dr. Archana Salve. we’re here to provide expert care, support, and answers to your questions every step of the way.
For more information or to schedule a consultation, please contact us +91 9175021447. We look forward to helping you on your path to starting or expanding your family.