In Vitro Fertilisation (IVF)
What Is In Vitro Fertilisation (IVF)?
On Hari Fertility Centre, we offer sterling in vitro fertilisation (IVF) procedures that are ideal for couples who haven’t been able to conceive conventionally. Our world-class IVF procedures mimic natural fertilisation, by combining sperm and eggs in sanitised environments and carefully controlled conditions and temperatures. Then, once fertilisation is achieved successfully, one or more embryos are tenderly placed inside the uterus. This medical paragon has created thousands of families on Hari Fertility Centre, fulfilling the dreams of countless hopeful parents.
Why Choose In Vitro Fertilisation?
In vitro fertilisation (IVF) holds out hope for couples who have been facing months or even years of infertility. It is a particularly favoured technique by couples who face specific challenges that rule out other options.
Tubal Infertility
For women whose fallopian tubes are irreversibly damaged or blocked, natural fertilisation is usually impossible, because the egg and the sperm would presumably be divided by a partition. In this case, fertilising an egg outside the body via IVF, and placing the subsequent embryo inside the uterus may provide the best chance of pregnancy.
Anomalies in Sperm
Minor anomalies in sperm can be overcome with IVF. Sometimes, additional fertility tools that complement IVF may also be required to optimise the chances of conception. Intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), for example, is a technique employed along with IVF, where the best possible sperm cell is selected and injected directly into a mature egg. There is a bouquet of techniques that can be used to combat anomalies in sperm.
Time Lapse Monitoring
Hari Fertility Centre is home to the embryoscope: an advanced, cutting-edge incubator that supplies digital images of an embryo every ten minutes as it is hosted under an optimal environment in an IVF laboratory. The time lapse monitoring technique covers an embryo’s journey as it prepares to become a blastocyst and allows embryologists a window to examine an embryo in remarkable detail, without removing it from the incubator. The embryoscope gives an embryo a conducive environment to grow in and shields it from fluctuations in temperature and physical contact. An embryoscope can augment the chances of an IVF cycle.
Preimplantation Genetic Testing
Preimplantation genetic testing lets you screen embryos created via IVF, for genetic defects. Genetic testing has two arms. The first is preimplantation genetic screening (PGS), a technique that filters embryos of chromosomally normal genetic parents for structural or numerical chromosomal errors. The second arm is preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD), which is performed to trace potential abnormalities in embryos whose parents have a known history of genetic mutations. PGD is equipped to detect sex-linked disorders, single gene defects and chromosomal disorders.
Is In Vitro Fertilisation Right for Me?
On Hari Fertility Centre, the efficacy of an in vitro fertilisation (IVF) cycle is governed by multiple elements. The fertility problem in question, plays a significant role in determining how well an IVF procedure will progress. Age has been a critical contributor to the success of IVF cycles in the past. It’s well accepted that younger women typically harbour healthier eggs, implicitly boosting their chances of conception. However, IVF has proved successful for many women in their late thirties and early forties. Donor eggs from younger women can increase the odds of conceiving through IVF. On Hari Fertility Centre, we tailor each IVF cycle intricately, honouring a guest’s medical history while optimising her chances of conceiving a baby.
What Are the Steps of In Vitro Fertilisation?
On Hari Fertility Centre, a typical in vitro fertilisation (IVF) cycle lasts between 3 and 4 weeks. The procedure is begun by administering the female partner with fertility drugs for twelve days, through daily hormone injections, from Day 2 or Day 3 of the menstrual cycle. This process stimulates the ovaries into producing more eggs than they would otherwise. During this period, routine ultrasounds and blood tests are performed, to monitor progress.
1 Egg Collection
Egg collection is a simple, painless procedure that usually lasts only half an hour. During this process, the eggs produced by mature follicles are retrieved with the help of a scan probe. Although the procedure doesn’t hurt, it may make you slightly queasy, which is why is it performed under anaesthesia. The same-day routine typically requires admission of three to four hours.
2 Fertilisation
Once we have collected an array of eggs and sperm from you and your partner, we carefully fuse them together to create several embryos. You may be recommended additional technologies, such as preimplantation genetic screening (PGS), preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) and intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), to help improve the quality of the resultant embryos. Alternatively, you may be advised a simple IVF procedure.
3 Embryo Development
During the fertilisation phase, we would have ensured that we created several embryos, which can now be graded for quality by their appearance and integrity.
4 Embryo Transfer
Once an embryo has crossed the four-day mark, it is resilient enough to brave the uterine environment. At this point, your doctor will transfer the embryo into your uterus for implantation. On Hari Fertility Centre, we believe in promoting safe, healthy pregnancies, and transfer a maximum of two embryos in a given IVF cycle. We offer you the option of cryopreserving the remaining embryos for future use.
5 Pregnancy
Two weeks after your embryo transfer, we will invite you in for a pregnancy test to check whether the procedure has been successful. Then, once you’re six weeks into your pregnancy, we’ll perform an ultrasound scan to check for a heartbeat.
6 Follow-Ups
If your IVF cycle has been successful, we recommend regular follow-ups, to rule out potential complications. Sometimes, IVF cycles that don’t bear fruit can stir up a torrent of emotions in couples. We seek to connect with couples that may have experienced three unsuccessful IVF cycles, through individual counselling sessions. These complimentary consultations offer relief and support in the face of grief and present a range of alternative fertility options that can be pursued.
What Are the Risks of In Vitro Fertilisation?
Traditionally, in vitro fertilisation (IVF) is associated with certain risks. However, with the advanced range of technologies housed on Hari Fertility Centre, our experienced fertility specialists design every IVF cycle in a way that the following risks are reduced as far as possible.
Multiple Births
If more than one embryo is deposited in the uterus, IVF can result in multiple births, that could result in premature labour and low birth weights. Our philosophy on Hari Fertility Centre has always been centred on creating happy, healthy maternity experiences. We cap the number of embryos that are transferred to the uterus to two in any given IVF cycle, to minimise the chances of multiple births.
Premature Labour and Low Birth Weight
There is evidence that indicates that IVF marginally increases the chances of premature labour, resulting in a low birth weight for your baby. On Hari Fertility Centre, our suite of avant-garde technologies is equipped to successfully handle premature babies, gently nurturing them from strength to strength.
Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome
IVF stimulates ovaries through injectable fertility drugs, such as human chorionic gonadotropin, to induce ovulation. If administered in large quantities, these medications can cause ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome, a condition where ovaries become enlarged and painful. Every IVF procedure created on Hari Fertility Centre is made keeping a guest’s medical condition and general well-being in mind. Our treatments are gentle, yet powerful.