In vitro fertilization (IVF) is considered a universal and the most effective way to solve the problem of infertility. The essence of the procedure is to obtain maturing female eggs from the ovaries with further fertilization of the husband's spermatozoa. The resulting embryos are grown in a special medium in an incubator, then these embryos are transferred to the uterus directly.
In vitro fertilization is used to treat various forms of infertility, except when the uterus has undergone significant anatomical changes, such as intrauterine fusion of the walls.
Most often, the method of in vitro fertilization is used to treat married couples who, after a year of regular sexual life without the use of contraceptives, do not conceive. Also, IVF is used for obstruction of the fallopian tubes, broken anatomy of the fallopian tubes and ovaries, with spermatogenesis and hormonal infertility.
The procedure of in vitro fertilization includes 4 stages:
- Hormonal stimulation of ovulation is the process of stimulating ovulation with drugs to release several eggs at a time in a single menstrual cycle.
- Puncture of the follicles - mature eggs are extracted from the follicles (through the vagina), by inserting a needle into them, through which the follicular fluid containing eggs is sucked. Puncture of the follicles is a painless process for a woman, performed under ultrasound observation, without the use of anesthesia.
- Cultivation of embryos is the observation of the process of fertilization and development of embryos. After 4-6 hours after puncture of the follicles, spermatozoa are placed on the eggs, as a result of successful fertilization embryo development begins by dividing the cells.
- Transfer of embryos - the process of transporting embryos into the uterine cavity by means of a special catheter, which is introduced through the cervical canal approximately 72 hours after fertilization of the oocyte. Typically, about 4 embryos are carried for a greater probability of pregnancy. The process of embryo transfer is absolutely painless and does not require anesthesia or anesthesia.
Since the day of embryo transfer, special preparations are prescribed to maintain their viability and normal development, which must be taken strictly according to the doctor's prescription.
The onset of pregnancy can be determined by the level of chorionic gonadotropin by analyzing the blood two weeks after the embryos were transferred to the uterine cavity. Chorionic gonadotropin (HG) is the first specific pregnancy hormone, produced by a fetal egg and is a reliable indicator for confirmation of pregnancy.
Already three weeks after in vitro fertilization with ultrasound, you can consider a fetal egg in the uterus.
After in vitro fertilization, pregnancy occurs only in 20% of cases. There are a number of factors that can lead to failure, the most frequent of which are:
- absence of oocyte growth with hormonal stimulation of ovulation;
- the occurrence of premature ovulation;
- lack of the possibility of obtaining eggs in puncture of follicles;
- inadequacy or poor quality of oocytes obtained by puncture;
- impossibility of fertilization in sperm pathologies;
- the process of cell division of the embryo does not start;
- formation of embryos of poor quality;
- unsuccessful implantation of embryos in the uterine cavity.
When not onset of pregnancy, in vitro fertilization can be repeated. There are cases that some couples have pregnancy only after 10 attempts. The number of valid IVF attempts is determined by the doctor for each case individually.
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