In vitro fertilization is an assisted reproductive technique that has enabled many couples with fertility problems to achieve their dream of being parents. It is when you have to resort to this technique that you have a thousand doubts about this process. Here we will try to explain in detail each of the phases of in vitro fertilization.
This technique consists of doing the fertilization of the egg with sperm in a laboratory, instead of being inside the woman. It is a complex technique that we will describe in phases.
1st Phase: ovarian stimulation
The first phase consists of stimulating the woman so that she can obtain several mature eggs in the same menstrual cycle. The more there are, the better, as there will be more chances of good quality embryos coming out.
Ovarian stimulation is achieved through a injectable hormone treatment, plus another drug to prevent ovulation from occurring too early. The stimulation begins during the first days of the rule, and usually lasts about 8-11 days although it will depend on each specific case. Through ultrasound, the response of the eggs to the medication will be reviewed. Once they reach the desired size, ovulation is provoked and the ovarian puncture is programmed 36 hours after that last puncture.
2nd Phase: follicular puncture
Through a simple 15-minute intervention with sedation where you will not find out anything, the doctors remove the mature eggs with a fine needle through the vagina. While on the other hand, the semen collection of the couple is produced, which will be processed to select the best sperm. In the event that semen from the couple cannot be used, it will be used as a donor.
After about 20-30 minutes after the follicular puncture you can go home, and the rest of the day rest is advised and avoid efforts.
3rd Phase: insemination
Once the eggs are mature and the semen sample is processed, the insemination is carried out. It is one of the last phases of in vitro fertilization.
There are two ways to do the insemination: directly insert a sperm directly into each egg (ICSI) or put in contact selected sperm with each oocyte and wait for the insemination to proceed by itself. The ICSI technique is performed especially in cases of low sperm count or difficulties in fertilizing the ovum.
4th Phase: in vitro culture of the embryo
The resulting embryos are observed in the laboratory day after day, and are kept in a suitable environment for their development. According to its development, embryologists analyze and classify embryos according to their morphology and ability to divide.
They are normally kept for about 3 days in the laboratory, although there are occasions when it is necessary to extend the time in the laboratory up to 5 days depending on each situation.
5th Phase: Embryo transfer
The embryologists will decide when is the best moment for the transfer according to each case. The procedure is painless and fast, it does not require sedation of any kind. With a fine cannula the selected embryo (s) are introduced (usually not more than 2) to transfer them to the uterus. The rest of the unselected embryos are frozen to be used on another occasion if necessary.
In addition, the woman is administer progesterone which is the hormone responsible for the implantation to occur correctly. In about 2 weeks after the transfer, a blood test is performed to see if the pregnancy has been achieved.
It usually has a about 45% success, but the success of this reproduction technique is affected by many variables such as the age of both members of the couple, the cause of infertility, ... so it is advisable that the probability of success be explained to you in each case.
Going through this process is hard and exhausting, and on many occasions we do not receive the appropriate response from our environment. If you have a partner near you who is going through a fertility problem, we will tell you "What not to say to a couple who has fertility problems."
Because remember ... more and more couples have to resort to in vitro fertilization. Knowing more about the process can help with the sense of loss of control in these cases.