IVF and Microinjection

IVF treatment

IVF treatment is a preferred aided reproduction technique in the presence of a condition that prevents pregnancy spontaneously, or in cases where pregnancy cannot be achieved despite the follow-up and simple treatments (like vaccination).

In IVF treatment, fertilization is ensured by combining the egg taken from the woman in the laboratory environment with the sperm taken from the man. The resulting embryo (baby cell) is placed in the uterus of the expectant mother through special catheters with the help of ultrasound.

What are the IVF treatment stages?

Evaluation of the couple

Evaluation of men and women should be done by an experienced specialist in this field. Evaluation of hormone tests (such as AMH, TSH, prolactin), gynecological examination and ultrasound control after your history is taken in detail, medicated uterine film for the evaluation of the tubes; Spermiogram and some blood tests are usually sufficient for the first evaluation.

As a result of the evaluation, if there is a problem that needs to be corrected before the treatment, it is appropriate to solve them and start some vitamins during the preliminary preparation period.

Stimulation of the ovaries (stimulation) period

Considering your examination findings and previous treatments, the most suitable treatment protocol for you is determined. In the treatment, protocols called long protocols, which last about 3 weeks, or protocols that are started in the menstrual period, which we call a short protocol, and usually last less than 2 weeks (11-13 days on average) can be preferred.

Ultrasound and blood tests will be required at regular intervals at the beginning of the treatment and during the treatment (short protocols are usually required 3-4 times in the 11-13-day period and 2-3 blood tests are required).

Egg-enhancing drugs are needles made around the navel, and they are basically similar to the egg-enhancing hormones in your body. The dose of egg-enhancing needles is determined by our doctor, taking into account your egg reserve, age, weight, and the responses of your ovaries to previous treatments, if any.

Cracking needle application and egg collection (OPU) period

After the sufficient egg size and number are reached with the needles made from the navel, the timing of the needles, which is called the cracking needle, but whose main task is to mature the eggs, is timed. Although there are cracking needles sold under different names in the market, there are basically two different types in terms of content (those containing REC-HCG/containing GnRH analog). Your doctor will determine which of these cracking needles will be used at what dose. An average of 35 hours after the cracking needle is applied, egg collection (Oocyte Pick Up; OPU) is performed.

Egg collection is a painless procedure that takes 10-15 minutes with the help of anesthetic drugs applied intravenously, which we call sedation anesthesia. As in every medical application applied anesthesia, it is necessary to be hungry for 6 hours before the procedure and not to eat or drink anything.

On the day of the egg collection process, sperm samples will be taken from your spouse and prepared before the fertilization process, the highest quality ones will be intensified. It is recommended that your spouse perform a 2-day sexual abstinence before the procedure in order to use fresh and high-mobile sperm in the procedure. On the day the egg is collected, new drugs (progesterone, etc.) will be added to your treatment.

fertilization

The fertilization of eggs with sperm is done by our embryologists in the laboratory. There are various technical methods for fertilization to occur. One of them is the classic IVF and the other is the microinjection (ICSI) process.

In vitro fertilization (IVF) method

In this method, the collected eggs are placed in special culture containers and a sufficient number of sperm is placed around each egg and the sperm is expected to fertilize the egg. Whether there is fertilization is evaluated with a microscope after 16-18 hours.

Intra Cytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI) Method

In this method, after the eggs are sorted, 1 sperm selected by our embryologists with special methods is injected into each egg under the microscope, and it is ensured that the sperm enters the egg.

Today, the most preferred method is the ICSI method. Whether there is fertilization is evaluated with a microscope after 16-18 hours.

Embryos follow up in the laboratory

After checking by our embryologists whether fertilization occurs 16-18 hours after fertilization, the embryos are followed in the incubators reserved for them.

Embryo transfer

The timing of the embryo transfer process will be made by your doctor. In cases where your uterine lining or hormone values are not suitable, the transfer process may be postponed to the next month and your embryos may need to be frozen.

If the embryo transfer process will be done in the month when the egg is collected, the transfer process is 3-4 after the collection. or on the 5th day. The embryo transfer day will be determined by our doctor and embryologists, taking into account the number of embryos, quality and previous treatment results, if any.

If you have good quality embryos left behind after the transfer, you can freeze these embryos and store them.

The transfer process is a painless procedure and does not require any anesthesia in patients who can have vaginal examination. Before the procedure, you are asked to be congested in the urine by drinking water, in this way, the place where the transfer catheter and embryo is left can be clearly monitored on ultrasound. After the transfer process, you are taken to the room and rested for about 1 hour. You can be discharged after the drugs to be used after the transfer and the points to be considered.

Evaluation of the transfer result

You can learn the result of the treatment with the beta hCG test, which will be checked from the blood 9-11 days after the transfer. It is of great importance for you to share your result with our center for your next follow-up processes.