The Random Collective Where Curiosity Meets Creativity
Related Articles
In vitro fertilization (IVF) is the fertilization of eggs with sperm outside the body in a laboratory. The embryos are either transferred back into the uterus or frozen for later use. The laboratory can use two techniques to bring the eggs and sperm together. In IVF treatment, 50,000 to 100,000 sperm are placed with each egg, one of which will fertilize the egg.
Intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) involves injecting a single sperm cell into each egg cell using a fine needle. ICSI is used when there are insufficient sperm cells for icsi treatment pakistan or when fertilization did not occur during a previous cycle of IVF treatment.
Hormonal stimulation
In IVF treatment, the growth of multiple follicles is stimulated simultaneously, and we try to mature 5 to 15 follicles in one cycle. This process is initiated by administering hormones that directly stimulate the ovaries. At the same time, the woman receives medication that prevents spontaneous ovulation.
There are several stimulation schedules (scheme with antagonist, short or long schedule with agonist). During stimulation, the woman regularly visits the doctor for check-ups. They perform an ultrasound and take a blood sample. The doctor measures the follicles on the ultrasound. They mature at around seventeen or eighteen millimetres. As soon as the follicles are mature, the doctor schedules the pick-up. The doctor checks the hormonal values in the blood.
Pick-up (egg aspiration)
During the pick-up, the ovaries are punctured via the vagina under ultrasound guidance, bypassing the uterus and fallopian tubes. The doctor punctures the vaginal wall and can thus access the follicles directly. These are punctured one by one and emptied. This follicular fluid ends up in a test tube and is examined microscopically. The eggs are isolated one by one until all the follicles are empty.
A day hospitalization is sufficient because the pick-up is usually performed under local anesthesia. The woman remains awake but feels no pain; her partner can stay with her. Usually, the woman can leave the hospital around noon. In exceptional cases, general anaesthesia is indicated.
Fertilization (IVF or ICSI)
Depending on the amount of sperm in the semen sample, on the day of the pick-up, eggs and sperm are brought together in the best ivf center in islamabad or ICSI for fertilization. From then on, we speak of ’embryos’.
Age of women up to 35 years:
- 1st cycle: 1 embryo
- 2nd cycle: 1 embryo*
- 3rd – 6th cycle: max. two embryos
- Cyro-embryos: max. two embryos
Pregnancy test
Fifteen days after the pick-up, a pregnancy test is performed using a blood sample, and the doctor discusses the past cycle with the intended parent(s). If the pregnancy test is positive, the first ultrasound is scheduled three to four weeks later. If everything is in order, the doctor refers to the gynecologist, who will further monitor the pregnancy. If the pregnancy test is negative, the doctor discusses further treatment plans.
Cryo cycle (defrost cycle)
Cryopreservation involves freezing embryos by vitrification, a rapid freezing technique with nitrogen. The embryos can be preserved for five to ten years.
A cryo cycle or thaw cycle is a cycle in which a frozen embryo is thawed and transferred back into the uterus. The ovaries are not stimulated to mature follicles, and there is no pick-up. A frozen embryo can be transferred in a natural or artificial cycle.
