IVF TREATMENTS
Picture a place that’s quiet and serene where whispering is the only form of communication… this is the ideal place where life is born. Until recent times, there has always been some sort of cloud of mystery including doubts and questions regarding IVF TREATMENTS. Nowadays information is available that a couple can use and allows them to understand every sophisticated detail. Below are brief descriptions of what is entailed for the main techniques that are used to have a safe pregnancy with assistance from our IVF labs.
ARTIFICIAL INSEMINATION
This technique is where the male sperm is inserted into the uterus (Intra-uterine insemination). There are two methods that are used: First, the male sperm is inserted in the cervix (intra-cervical insemination); the second technique is placing the seminal fluid into the vagina (intra-vaginal insemination). Therefore when the two gametes meet (spermatozoid and oocyte) it’s a natural process: the spermatozoids reach the Fallopian tubes and then the oocyte is fertilized. These techniques are also known as ‘first level’ due to how simple they are. Cost wise it’s inexpensive compared to other more entailed techniques. Results are discrete and can be improved in most cases with the help of pharmaceuticals that stimulate ovulation. The percentage of pregnancies through artificial insemination can be between 10-20%.
IN VITRO-FERTILIZATION IVF-ET AND ICSI
When the two gametes can’t meet in a natural process, due to impediments or insufficiency of the male sperm, or not viable Fallopian tubes, fertilization can be obtained only by in vitro most commonly known as by test-tube. With the guide of an ultra-sound, the oocyte is withdrawn directly from the ovary and is placed in an incubator. The spermatozoid (even in small numbers) is selected and treated. Regarding IVF-ET (In Vitro Fertilization and Embryo Transfer) the gametes are placed closer together in the test tube while ICSI (Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection) the spermatozoid is (Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection) the spermatozoid is injected into the oocyte to help fertilization. Once the fertilization is successful, the embryo starts to develop in the incubator and between 2-3 days of conception it is placed inside the uterus with a soft tube-like apparatus. These simple concepts are really just well prepared techniques with the help of a modern lab. Nowadays, ICSI is performed quite regularly offering a higher rate of successful fertilizations. The percentage of success these techniques vary a lot from diverse Centers and in relation to age. Therefore the percentage of a successful pregnancy obtained through in vitro fertilization is between 25 and 40%.
HATCHING
What this technique offers to do is to increase the setting up of embryos in the uterus after they are transferred. A small opening is made in the outer membrane of the embryo making it easier and faster for small roots of the embryo to grow. There are 3 techniques used to make the small opening:
