| |
IVF is a process by which eggs are recovered from
the ovary , fertilized in the laboratory and
transferred into the uterus 3 - 5 days later as
cleaving embryos or blastocysts.
Ovulation induction was performed to stimulate the
ovaries to produce several eggs for IVF in order to
increase the chance of conception. Once more than
three follicles have ripened , the female partner
will be given an injection of hCG which will trigger
the final maturation process of the eggs. The egg
recovery will be performed 36 hours after hCG
administration and on that day the husband will be
required to produce semen samples. The eggs are
recovered from the follicles using ultrasound-
guided technique. The oocytes are carefully
identified and washed before being placed in
incubator. After a period of time , usually 3 - 4
hours, they are inseminated with the specially
prepared sperm. The oocytes and sperm are cultured
together and inspected on the following day to see
if fertilization has occurred. The first signs of
fertilization , are shown by the presence of two
small dots within the egg , the pronuclei. If this
has occurred , the zygote ( a fertilized egg ) may
then divided into two , four or more - cell embryo.
When the eggs have fertilized and cleaved , no more
than three embryos will be transferred into the
women on day 3 or day 5 after egg collection.
Husbands are encouraged to accompany their wives
during this special time , but only they wish to do
so. The couple will be shown the embryos before the
transfer takes place and the embryos' picture will
also be given. If there are more than three good
quality embryos , the extra embryos can be frozen
for future attempts. |