IVF (In-vitro Fertilization). What do you need to know?

        Very often spouses who’ve tried to conceive for a long period of time are told that IVF (In-vitro fertilization) is the only chance for them to have children. But what is IVF? How is it conducted?

        IVF (In-vitro fertilization) is one of the main and effective methods of infertility treatment which is applied since 1978. IVF procedure is based on the fertilization of female’s eggs with her husband’s/donor’s sperm  outside her organism. Eggs are cultivated (bred till a certain developmental stage) with a special medical equipment in the lab. The most viable embryos are transferred into the patient’s uterus. Nowadays, usage of IVF is a common thing but nearly 40 years ago Louise Brown (a first child “created” in such a way) was known as “test-tube baby”.

        In many cases infertility is caused by physical inability of egg and sperm cell to “meet in the natural medium” – in female genital tracks (e.g. impassibility of fallopian tubes).  But, at the same time, woman is able to bear a child to a term. That’s why, fertility specialist have to fertilize the eggs out of her body.

        Natural conception is going on according to the following steps:
        • Maturation of the eggs;
        • Movement of eggs through the fallopian tubes to the uterus;
        • Meeting of an egg and a sperm cell in the fallopian tubes;
        • Fertilization of an egg and formation of embryos;
        • Ingress of the embryo into the uterus.
        IVF procedure is conducted according to the following steps:
        • Ovary stimulation
        • Follicles puncture
        • Embryos Cultivation
        • Transfer of embryos into the uterine cavity
        • Pregnancy testing

        Nowadays, if after 1-2 years of unsuccessful infertility treatment, spouses are suggested to use IVF as effective method of Assisted Reproductive Technologies.  Indications for using IVF might be:

        • inferiority of sperm cells (disorders of its mobility and viability);
        • abrupt decrease of sperm cell amount;
        • disorders of deferent ducts;
        • endometriosis;
        • peritoneal infertility;
        • hormonal disorders or problems with ovulation;
        • tissue incompatibility.