- IVF is one type of assisted reproductive technology in which eggs are fertilised outside the body and the resulting embryos are reimplanted into the uterus.
- IVF process typically consists of ovarian stimulation, egg retrieval, fertilisation, embryo culture, embryo transfer, and finally a pregnancy test.
- IVF can be an effective solution in cases of blocked fallopian tubes, male factor infertility, unexplained infertility, advanced maternal age, ovarian reserve problems, and failure of previous fertility treatments.
- ICSI can be considered as a complementary treatment to IVF in Delhi in case of male factor infertility or if there has been a fertilisation failure previously.
Over the last 40 years, in vitro fertilization has completely revolutionized reproductive medicine and enabled millions of families globally to experience the joy of parenthood after unsuccessful attempts by other means.
It does not matter if it is male factor infertility, tubal blockage, unexplained infertility, etc., IVF treatment is a scientifically advanced and increasingly successful option for all these problems.
At Zemya IVF & Fertility Clinics, a premier IVF Treatment in Delhi centre, every patient is given a personalized, evidence-based treatment plan that focuses on delivering an optimal outcome, a healthy baby delivered live.
What Is IVF?
In vitro fertilization (IVF) is an assisted reproductive technology in which eggs are collected from a woman’s ovaries, fertilized with sperm in a special laboratory, and the resulting embryo or embryos are placed in the uterus to conceive. Vitro fertilization is a term used to describe the process of fertilization that happens outside the body in a controlled environment rather than happening inside the fallopian tube as in natural reproduction.
It has become more and more evident that not only can it be done, but it also represents the best and most reliable option for the treatment of infertility that we have at our disposal. The advances made in reproductive endocrinology, culture techniques, preimplantation genetic tests, and cryopreservation have all been instrumental in the evolution of IVF from a pioneering technique to the reliable and readily accessible option for infertile couples that it has become today.
Who Is IVF For?
IVF treatment is recommended for the treatment of various fertility problems. At Zemya IVF & Fertility Clinics, the IVF Treatment in Delhi team will assess the couple before the recommendation of the treatment, making it the best option. IVF treatment can be recommended in cases of blocked or damaged fallopian tubes, severe male infertility with very low sperm count, unexplained infertility where simpler treatments like IUI Treatment in Delhi and ovulation induction have failed, advanced age with declining ovarian reserves, ovulation disorders, endometriosis, genetic disorders where pre-implantation genetic diagnosis is required, and failed previous fertility treatments.
Couples who need donor eggs, an egg donor, or donor sperm are treated with IVF. They can also be those who wish to use frozen embryos from a previous cycle through a frozen embryo transfer protocol.
The IVF Process: Step by Step
Ovarian Stimulation
The process of IVF begins with ovarian stimulation, which involves the woman using different drugs such as injectable follicle-stimulating hormone drugs to stimulate her ovaries to produce many eggs instead of one egg produced during a normal menstrual cycle. This is done in order to ensure that many eggs are produced because not all of them will fertilize and develop into a blastocyst that will be transferred into the womb.
Throughout the ovarian stimulation phase, the patient receives close monitoring through regular check-ups, visits that include blood tests to check for hormone levels such as human chorionic gonadotropin and transvaginal ultrasound to see the growth of follicles. Such careful monitoring enables the fertility team to adjust the stimulation regimen properly and reduce the likelihood of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS), a condition in which the ovaries overreact to fertility drugs and the symptoms range from bloating and slight discomfort to severe cases where rapid weight gain and fluid accumulation may occur, requiring medical treatment. Natural cycle IVF, which involves very little or no ovarian stimulation, may be offered as a first or complementary option for women with extremely low ovarian reserve or those who wish to take a less aggressive approach to treatment.
Egg Retrieval Procedure
Once the follicles have reached the correct size, a trigger injection is given to complete the process of egg maturation, and the egg retrieval process is arranged to take place thirty-six hours later. Egg retrieval is done under sedation using a small needle and ultrasound to aspirate the mature eggs from the follicles. It takes about fifteen to thirty minutes to complete the procedure, and most patients go home on the same day with minimal discomfort.
Fertilisation and Embryo Culture
After retrieval, eggs are examined in the embryology lab and then inseminated with the sperm sample of the male partner or donor sperm.
If male factor infertility is diagnosed or fertilisation hasn’t been successful previously, intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) is employed, as part of the ICSI Treatment in Delhi service at Zemya IVF & Fertility Clinics, where a single sperm is injected straight into each mature egg to ensure maximum fertilisation.
The fertilised eggs are cultured in the laboratory for three to six days and monitored as they develop from early-stage embryos to the blastocyst stage. Those that develop successfully are evaluated for quality, and in cases where preimplantation genetic testing is necessary, genetic screening can occur at this time to ensure that chromosomally normal embryos are transferred.
Embryo Transfer
Embryo transfer is basically a simple and nearly painless operation wherein a single or multiple embryos are deposited in the uterine lining through the cervix by means of a very thin catheter. The Reproductive Medicine Society and the American Society for Reproductive Medicine guidelines are increasingly advocating single embryo transfer in cases that are suitable because the most significant risk due to multiple embryos transferred is multiples leading to low birth weight, prematurity, and gestational diabetes, related complications.
The decision to perform a fresh embryo transfer in the same cycle or a frozen embryo transfer in a subsequent cycle depends on the woman’s hormonal response and endometrial receptivity. Frozen embryo transfer has become more popular and has been found to have better or comparable results to fresh cycles, as the uterus has time to recover from the impact of the stimulation drugs before the transfer.
Embryo Cryopreservation and Storage
The good quality embryos that are not utilized in a fresh transfer cycle can be stored by means of embryo cryopreservation vitrification for subsequent frozen embryo transfer cycles. Embryo storage provides an option to couples for making additional conceiving attempts without going through the entire stimulation and egg retrieval procedure again, thus saving both money and the hassle of using the body. For ladies who desire to keep their fertility for the future, the Egg Freezing Clinic New Delhi at Zemya IVF & Fertility Clinics provides egg freezing as a better option to embryo storage.
Pregnancy Test and Beyond
About fourteen days following the transfer of the embryos, a blood test or home pregnancy test will verify whether the pregnancy resulting from the IVF cycle has taken hold. Once the pregnancy is verified to be positive, ultrasound tests will be done to verify that the pregnancy is progressing as expected in the uterus and to rule out ectopic pregnancy, which is a rare occurrence with IVF pregnancies. When the IVF cycle fails, the fertility medicine team will study the process and make necessary adjustments before undertaking another cycle.
Risks and Considerations
IVF is a safe and well-established procedure, yet patients should be informed of the possible risks.
Ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome is the main short-term risk; however, its occurrence and severity are greatly decreased by the careful monitoring of stimulation.
There are risks for both mother and infants in multiple pregnancies, when more than one embryo implants successfully, such as premature birth, low birth weight, and gestational diabetes. Single embryo transfer is more and more favored. The risk of birth defects with IVF compared to natural conception is slightly higher, although the actual risk remains low. Ectopic pregnancy is very rare with IVF. Ectopic pregnancy is a pregnancy where the embryo attaches itself outside of the womb. Ectopic pregnancy is a medical emergency.
All patients of Zemya IVF & Fertility Clinics shall be screened for infectious diseases before commencement of treatment.
IVF Cost and Accessibility
The cost of IVF varies greatly depending on what protocol is needed, if eggs and/or sperm are needed from donors, and how many cycles it takes for a pregnancy to happen. Zemya IVF & Fertility Clinics offers honest and transparent information regarding the cost of IVF right from the very first consultation. They promise no hidden costs and explain all financial aspects of each and every step of the IVF process.
Frequently Asked Questions
IUI Treatment in Delhi is a procedure wherein sperm is directly inserted into the uterus during ovulation. The process of fertilisation occurs naturally in the fallopian tube. IVF is a procedure wherein eggs are fertilised in a lab and then transferred into the uterus. IVF is a more complex procedure and is undertaken when IUI does not produce results or when infertility is caused by a complex factor.
The number of cycles varies quite considerably depending on various factors such as age, ovarian reserve, embryo quality, and the main cause of infertility. Some couples have gotten pregnant on their first IVF cycle; however, it might take several cycles for other couples. After each failed IVF cycle, the case undergoes a detailed analysis so that the treatment can be changed and any issues that led to the failure can be addressed.
ICSI stands for Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection. It is an in vitro fertilization method in which the embryologist injects a single sperm into the egg. This method is usually suggested to the couple in case the reason of male infertility, if the prior IVF cycle had low fertilization rate, and if there are very few sperm in the semen sample. ICSI Treatment in Delhi at Zemya IVF & Fertility Clinics is performed by highly skilled embryologists who use the latest technology and equipment.
A fresh embryo transfer happens in the same cycle as the egg retrieval procedure. A frozen embryo transfer, however, is the transfer of embryos that have been cryopreserved, and it takes place in a different cycle from the egg retrieval procedure. Both methods can lead to successful outcomes, and the determination of which one to use should be based on individual factors.
Yes. At Zemya IVF & Fertility Clinics, the couple’s clinical situation will determine whether IVF is done using donor eggs from an egg donor, donor sperm, or both.
Usually, donor egg IVF is one of the solutions for women who have very low ovarian reserve, premature ovarian insufficiency, or are of advanced maternal age, when using their own eggs is very unlikely to result in successful pregnancy.