In vitro fertilization is a long-used assisted reproductive technique applied to infertile couples. IVF treatment is one of the most preferred infertility treatments today. Couples can have a baby in cases where infertility, infection, obstruction in the tubes, low sperm quality in men, weight or advanced age may develop that cannot be explained by in vitro fertilization. IVF treatment includes the treatment process that enables female reproductive cells, eggs and male reproductive cells, sperms to be collected outside the body and fertilized in a laboratory environment.
When the fertilized egg begins to divide and passes the first stages of development called embryo in laboratory environment, it is placed in the uterus of the expectant mother. Pregnancy obtained after this stage is not different from naturally occurring pregnancies. The difference from natural pregnancy is that fertilization is carried out under laboratory conditions and the fertilized egg is placed back in the mother's womb. Vaccine treatment may also be preferred before IVF treatment, especially for male infertility. In this method, the collected sperm are transferred to the uterus.
In IVF treatment, eggs are placed in two ways:
Fertilization in the laboratory is in the form of leaving the sperm next to the egg, and these sperm entering the egg spontaneously and performing the fertilization process (classical in vitro fertilization).
Under the microscope, the sperm is injected directly into the egg with the help of a pipette and fertilization (microinjection) is performed.
IVF specialists determine the preference between the two methods according to the characteristics of the couples. The goal is to get the highest chance of success for the couple.
IVF Treatment Process
Regularly menstruating women produce one egg each month. In IVF treatment, it is aimed to increase this number with externally given hormonal drugs. Although each treatment protocol differs, basically two parallel hormone treatments are applied that provide egg development and prevent early ovulation. During the use of these hormone drugs, ultrasound and blood tests are performed to monitor the response of the ovaries, that is, the egg development, and to make dose adjustments when necessary. In this way, the eggs that reach maturity are collected by a simple needle aspiration method known as the cracking needle and fertilization is provided in the laboratory with the sperm taken from the male.
Egg retrieval can be performed under general anesthesia or under sedation and local anesthesia. This fertilization can be achieved by placing the sperm and egg side by side in the classical in vitro fertilization method or by injecting each sperm into a single egg under a high-magnification microscope, called microinjection. Your doctor will explain which method is more suitable for you. Fertilized eggs are left to develop in the laboratory for 2-3 days, in some cases for 5-6 days in a temperature and atmosphere controlled culture environment, and after this period, the best developing embryos are selected and placed back in the egg. uterus.
Since the determination of the number of embryos to be transferred will directly affect the chance of pregnancy and the risk of multiple pregnancy, this number will be discussed with you in detail before the transfer after the quality of the embryo is determined. Embryo transfer does not require anesthesia and sedation except in very rare cases.
In Which Situations Is IVF Treatment Performed?
If she cannot get pregnant for 1 year or longer despite having sexual intercourse without using any contraception, an IVF Center should be consulted for infertility. For IVF treatment, first of all, the number of ovaries of the woman is evaluated. On the 3rd day of menstruation, the status of the number of ovaries is checked with hormone tests and ultrasonography. If the number of ovaries is found to be good in this examination, IVF treatment can be performed until the age of 45. However, due to the negative effects of aging, the embryo should be examined in terms of chromosomes. In addition, women who will start IVF treatment after the age of 38 should apply to the preimplantation genetic diagnosis method and evaluate the condition of their embryos.
After the age of 35, the number of eggs and ovulation decreases and egg quality decreases in women. Even if the number of ovaries is suitable for IVF, the chance of success in IVF decreases. For these reasons, it is important for women with infertility problems to start treatment without waiting for their advanced age in order to have children. Men's sperm production continues at all ages. However, as age progresses, sperm quality decreases. In men over the age of 55, sperm motility may decrease by 54 percent. It is thought that sperm DNA is damaged as a factor in this.