In vitro fertilization (IVF) has become a hope for couples struggling with infertility as it allows them to have children. As science develops, so does the technology involved in IVF. At SCI IVF Hospital, we believe that patients should be well-informed about their fertility journey. In this blog post, we will discuss different treatments available in IVF and what they involve as well as how each one can help you get pregnant successfully.
- Standard IVF Treatment
This is the most common type of fertility treatment which many people are aware of already. It consists of several steps:
- Ovarian Stimulation: The process begins by injecting hormones into a woman’s body so that her ovaries produce more than one egg.
- Egg Retrieval: When eggs have matured enough they are taken out from the ovary through minor surgery.
- Fertilization: Eggs are then mixed with sperm cells in a lab dish where they should merge forming embryos.
- Embryo Transfer: After a few days when some of them develop further, one or two healthy-looking embryos are transferred back into the woman’s uterus where hopefully they attach themselves and grow until birth occurs
- Standard IVF works well for couples who have problems like blocked fallopian tubes, unexplained infertility, and male factor infertility.
- Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI)
This specialized form of IVF is used mostly in cases where men suffer from very low or no sperm count at all. In ICSI, the doctor selects the single best-looking healthy spermatozoon under a microscope and then picks up this specific cell using a tiny needle after which inserts the same directly within the selected mature oocyte facilitating its fertilization process. After that newly created embryos are placed into the woman’s womb just like during regular IVF.
- Preimplantation Genetic Testing (PGT)
This is a sophisticated technique used to examine embryos for genetic defects before their implantation into the uterus. PGT can be very useful for those couples who suffer from known inherited diseases or recurrent miscarriages. There are a few kinds of preimplantation genetic testing:
- PGT-A (Aneuploidy): Designed to detect abnormal numbers of chromosomes.
- PGT-M (Monogenic): Intended for finding specific gene mutations responsible for certain diseases.
- PGT-SR (Structural Rearrangements): Used when one parent carries balanced chromosomal translocation which might give rise to unbalanced rearrangements leading either into viable offspring with serious congenital anomalies or nonviable conceptus altogether.
By ensuring that selected embryos possess an accurate amount of chromosomes and do not contain any harmful genes, PGT enhances the probability of having a healthy baby.
- Donor Eggs or Sperm
If one partner’s eggs or sperm are not viable, couples can use donor eggs and sperm as an alternative. In such cases, the use of donor eggs is common for women of older maternal age or with premature ovarian failure, while donor sperm may be used when males have severe infertility. The treatment involves using these cells through typical IVF procedures before transferring the resultant embryos into the uterus of another person.
- Frozen Embryo Transfer (FET)
Occasionally, patients may decide to freeze their embryos until a later date. Thawing one or more previously frozen embryos and then placing them into the womb describes a procedure known as Frozen Embryo Transfer (FET). This method comes in handy when couples want to postpone pregnancy or those who have additional embryos left from previous IVF cycles.
- Surrogacy
Surrogacy becomes an option for couples where the woman cannot carry a pregnancy due to health issues. Such couples’ only hope lies in having IVF-created fertilized eggs implanted into another woman’s womb who will bear it on their behalf until birth which is known as surrogacy.
Conclusion
We realize that no two paths toward fertility are alike. So, at SCI IVF Hospital, we offer various treatments depending on individual requirements since there is no universal solution to everyone’s problem related to the inability to conceive naturally. Our experts like Dr Shivani Sachdev Gour will walk you all through each step involved whether it’s ICSI, PGT, standard IVF, or any advanced methods because we give personalized attention that will eventually lead you into parenthood.
