In Vitro Fertilization (IVF)

IVF is the best known, and most widely used, of all the assisted reproductive technology options. Using this technology, oocytes (eggs) are directly removed from the woman’s ovaries and exposed to sperm in a petri dish to achieve fertilization. The advantages of this approach are that several reproductive processes are bypassed, eliminating the need for the fallopian tube to pick up the ovulated egg and transport the embryo. Further, in vitro fertilization permits direct exposure of the sperm to the egg, providing the best possible scenario for sperm to fertilize the egg.

No surgery is needed for recovering the eggs. The female is carefully sedated to ensure her comfort, while recovery of eggs is achieved through the vagina, using ultrasound guidance. The laboratory immediately identifies and collects the eggs, preparing them for exposure to sperm, either by incubating thousands of sperm with the egg (insemination), or by directly injecting an individual sperm into each egg (ICSI or intracytoplasmic sperm injection). The resulting embryos are cultured between two to five days in the laboratory before being transferred into the uterus.

The embryology laboratory team carefully handles the embryos, observing their growth and characteristics, which enable the embryologist to select the best one to two embryos for transfer into the woman’s uterus. Transfer of the embryo or embryos is achieved by carefully passing a tiny catheter through the cervix to a precise position in the uterus (endometrium). A small microdrop of special fluid is used to “float” the embryos into position and the catheter is slowly withdrawn, then being examined under the microscope to make sure the transfer occurred. Any remaining embryos are then carefully observed and cryopreserved (frozen) for subsequent transfer.

You can also find detailed information in our IVF handbook that will help guide you through the in vitro fertilization process.

Additional Assistive Reproductive Technology (ART)

ICSI

Intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) is a technique which involves injecting a single sperm into the egg using micromanipulation techniques. It may be used in cases where there is male factor (low sperm quantity or quality) issues, and for patients who have previously undergone IVF with poor fertilization results. ICSI has been shown to dramatically improve fertilization in these patients.

AZH

In some cases, the embryo has a difficult time completing the hatching process. Assisted zona hatching (AZH) is used in such cases and is performed by creating a small hole in the shell (zona pellucida) that surrounds the embryo. By creating this hole artificially, embryos are better able to escape the zona, increasing the chance of implantation and pregnancy.

PGT

Preimplantation Genetic Testing (PGT) is a process used with IVF to test embryos before they are transferred back into the uterus. PGT includes Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis (PGD), a process that screens embryos for genetic disorders in patients at risk of passing on serious inherited disorders to their children and Preimplantation Genetic Screening (PGS), a process that screens embryos for chromosomal abnormalities.