Anyone who has gone down the road of fertility treatment, or is considering it as an option, will know that it is a journey which can appear daunting, scary and of course filled with uncertainty. One possible fertility treatment is in vitro fertilisation, which when you are not familiar with how it works can seem more complicated than it actually is in reality.
Couples embarking on this journey often have little knowledge of the journey in front of them. They depend on the professionals to be understanding and explain the options fully and they can also read and research information which is available. Dr Patrick Quinn is a well known scientist in the field of IVF with rich experience in directing many IVF Labs and was instrumental in the development of many ART products.
The fertility journey can take its toll; emotionally, physically and financially. Being armed with accurate facts helps those on this path feel more in control of their own destiny.
The facts about in vitro fertilisation are that it is a three stage treatment which is less complicated than some may expect.
The three stages of in vitro fertilisation are:
- Stimulation
- Egg Collection
- Embryo Transfer
Let's look at what each of these stages involves.
IVF-Stimulation-These days most clinics employ what is referred to as friendly stimulation. The concept of friendly stimulation is to obtain a precise amount of eggs so that there will be a sufficient number of eggs for success whilst at the same time not subjecting patients to discomfort.
Reputable clinics will not overuse drugs. The reality is that a huge amount of eggs does not equate to success. In fact once a certain amount of eggs are used, a plateau is reached. If too many eggs are produced this can result in too many eggs which have chromosomal abnormalities.
Many assisted reproduction experts agree that the ideal lies between eight and fifteen eggs, over one or two cycles. This gives the optimum chance of a viable pregnancy. Below are the statistics.
-Five embryos averages out at 52% success rate
-Ten embryos 69%
-Fifteen embryos the average success rate is 79%
With this friendly stimulation approach, normally women can expect nothing more than some pre-menstrual symptoms.
IVF-Stimulation-These days most clinics employ what is referred to as friendly stimulation. The concept of friendly stimulation is to obtain a precise amount of eggs so that there will be a sufficient number of eggs for success whilst at the same time not subjecting patients to discomfort.
Reputable clinics will not overuse drugs. The reality is that a huge amount of eggs does not equate to success. In fact once a certain amount of eggs are used, a plateau is reached. If too many eggs are produced this can result in too many eggs which have chromosomal abnormalities.
Many assisted reproduction experts agree that the ideal lies between eight and fifteen eggs, over one or two cycles. This gives the optimum chance of a viable pregnancy. Below are the statistics.
-Five embryos averages out at 52% success rate
-Ten embryos 69%
-Fifteen embryos the average success rate is 79%
With this friendly stimulation approach, normally women can expect nothing more than some pre-menstrual symptoms.
IVF-Egg Collection- Egg collection is carried out under sedation, so women don't feel anything during this procedure. Although there are some risks attached, the rate of complications is very low. Extremely accurate ultrasound machines are used and doctors are very au fait with the technique.
IVF-Embryo Transfer- Most clinics carry out this procedure under ultrasound guidance. Some clinics will carry out this guided transfer before the actual cycle. This is called a test embryo transfer. Women don't feel anything during this procedure.
The entire in vitro fertilisation procedure is far easier than one might expect, in a good clinic. If we consider egg donors, it is unlikely that they would donate eggs more than once if the procedure was complicated and painful.
What is complicated is the emotional rollercoaster that couples and women go through while making these decisions to try IVF or any other fertility treatment and then waiting to see if they have been successful.
Choosing a good clinic is central to your chances of success as well as your peace of mind.
Here are some tips for choosing a good IVF clinic:
When you are considering clinics look for a conservative, caring clinic which has a track record of good, stable success rates.
Conservative in terms of IVF just means a clinic which practices friendly stimulation and not too much stimulation. The ideal target in terms of eggs is around ten.
In vitro fertilisation clinics should be concerned about multiple pregnancies due to the risks involved. Any in vitro fertilisation clinic should be happy to talk you through all aspects of the treatment, to put your mind at ease as much as possible.
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