In Vitro Fertilisation – IVF

What is IVF?

 IVF (In Vitro Fertilisation) is one of several Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) procedures, used to overcome a range of fertility issues and help couples conceive a child. Eggs and sperm are joined together outside the body, in our IVF laboratory. The fertilised egg (embryo) is allowed to grow in a protected environment for some days before being transferred into the woman’s uterus, increasing the chance that a pregnancy will occur. In Vitro Fertilisation (IVF) can be used to overcome a range of fertility issues and for many couples, gives them the best chance of having a baby. 

In Vitro Fertilisation (Standard) – IVF

Standard IVF is used in patients who have essentially normal female parameters and normal sperm parameters – good numbers, good motility and good morphology, and in patients with “normal” parameters who do not wish to have PGD/PGS on their embryos.

What is involved?

The steps involved in the standard IVF process include:

  • Stimulation of the ovaries to encourage development and maturation of the eggs
  • Retrieval of the eggs
  • Collection and preparation of the sperm sample
  • Fertilisation of the eggs and culture of the embryos
  • Transfer of the embryos back into the uterus.
  • These steps are described more fully in the overview section.

In a Standard IVF procedure a calculated number of sperm are added to the culture dishes containing the eggs, and they are incubated together overnight. If an egg is fertilized by a sperm, a zygote or pre-embryo will begin to develop. The embryo remains in the incubator for two to five days while it continues to grow and divide. Our clients are offered a choice of options for their embryos. They can be transferred (See Embryo Transfer), Embryo Biopsy with PGD/PGS can be carried out, (see Embryo Biopsy with PGD/PGS), or they can be frozen for future use.