IVF Treatment

In vitro fertilization is an assisted reproductive technology that brings the female egg and male sperm together in a special culture environment, greatly increasing the chance of fertilization. The fertilized egg is known as an embryo. Embryos are observed in the IVF laboratory, their growth is monitored and their quality is graded there. Embryos can befrozen for transfer to the woman's uterus at a later time, or they can be transferred to the recipient's uterus in the multi-layer embryo stage or blastocyst embryo stage.

Success Rates in IVF Treatment

Success rates in IVF treatment vary between centers. However, if we talk about the average success rate, it is around 40% under the age of 35 and around 18% over the age of 40.

What are the Situations in which IVF should be done?

• Couples who did not become pregnant despite 3 vaccination attempts

• Double-sided occlusion of the tubes

• Ovulation sloth

• Inability to get pregnant due to widespread adhesions in the abdomen due to chocolate cyst

• Low or no sperm count or cases where sperm functions are severely impaired

• Unexplained infertility conditions

• History of recurrent pregnancy loss

• Low number of eggs in women

• In order to ensure healthy embryo selection by doing genetic research in hereditary diseases

How Is IVF Treatment Done And What Are Its Stages?

IVF treatment consists of different stages that follow each other and are connected with each other. Treatment consists of an average of 7 stages.

Stage 1: Evaluation of the Couple and Diagnosing the Cause of Infertility

At this stage, the couples are evaluated separately and the cause of infertility is investigated. When starting IVF treatment, it is the most important stage for planning the treatment. First, gynecological and urological examinations are performed and the necessary tests are requested. At this stage, some couples' infertility problems can be solved with simpler or surgical treatments without the need for IVF treatment. In 25% of couples, problems can be found on both sides.

Stage 3: Ovarian Arousal Stage

At this stage, which is also called ovulation induction, it is aimed to develop more than one egg cell by applying certain drug regimens. Successful ovulation induction must be individualized. The same protocol and the same dose of drugs may give different results in different people and different metabolisms.

The drugs to be used for egg stimulation are hormone-containing drugs. The patient is called on the third day of menstruation, and hormonal drugs that will stimulate egg development are started according to the results of the examination and analysis.

Many protocols are used for ovarian stimulation. Which of these will be applied is decided at the first examination of the patient. After the treatment is started, blood and ultrasound examinations are performed at regular intervals and egg development is monitored. This can take about 10-14 days. When the egg size reaches the desired size, a cracking needle is made. After 34-36 hours, the egg collection process begins.

Stage 4: Egg Collection Stage

When the egg cells in the follicles developed in the third stage complete the maturation period, the stage of collecting them in the operating room is the 4th stage. This procedure, which is performed under general anesthesia, takes an average of 30 minutes, and the patient does not feel pain because he is completely anesthetized. Eggs taken into the laboratory environment are prepared for microinjection.

Stage 5: Fertilization Process in a Laboratory Environment

The collected eggs are evaluated under the microscope in the laboratory and an embryo is formed by fertilization with the appropriate sperm. Fertilization can occur in 2 ways, the first of which is the classical method, namely the egg and sperm are left in the same environment and spontaneous fertilization is expected. The second method is microinjection, that is, injecting the sperm into the egg using special micro cannulas after undergoing some procedures.

Embryo development is monitored daily by placing the fertilized eggs in special devices called incubators. The aim of daily follow-up is to select the highest quality embryo with the highest probability of attachment to the uterus.

Stage 6: Transfer of Order

It is the most critical stage of treatment. If the transfer of the embryo developed during the treatment into the uterus is not performed under appropriate conditions, the entire treatment may be at risk. There is no pain during the transfer process and it is done between the 2nd and 6th days after the egg is collected. The embryo, which has reached a certain maturity, is placed into the uterus with the help of a special catheter. Other embryos remaining after the transfer can be frozen by talking to the couples.

Stage 7: Detection Stage of Pregnancy

12 days after embryo transfer, BetaHCG test is applied to the expectant mother. If the test is positive, it is repeated after 48 hours. If both tests are positive, pregnancy begins. The follow-up of pregnancy with in vitro fertilization is carried out in the same way as the pregnancy with the normal physiological way.

What Are the Risks That May Occur During IVF Treatment?

• OHSS (Ovaries overstim ulation)

• Multiple pregnancy and related premature birth

• Ectopic pregnancy

• Needle injury and anesthesia risk during egg collection

Duration of IVF Treatment

The duration of IVF treatment varies according to the response of the patient. If the patient's response to treatment is positive and no problems are encountered, IVF treatment is not a long treatment. Treatment usually starts on the 3rd day of menstruation and usually lasts 12 days until egg retrieval, after which 3-5 days are required for embryo transfer.

What does the success of the treatment depend on?

• Maternal age: As maternal age advances, the success rate decreases.

• Embryo Status: The development status of the embryo increases the success rate. Therefore, 5th-6th. day transfers are more successful.

• Previous Pregnancy: Treatment success increases in patients who have had a previous pregnancy.

• Cause of Infertility: The presence of any disease causing infertility and the degree of this disease increase the success rate of IVF.

• Lifestyle: Smoking, obesity, alcohol and drug use affect the success of treatment.

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