In Vitro Fertilization

In vitro fertilization (IVF) treatment has been used successfully for many years for couples who cannot have children with natural methods. In vitro fertilization, an assisted reproduction technique, offers couples who cannot have children due to infertility of undetermined cause, advanced age, infection and blockages in the tubes in women, low sperm count and low quality in men, and metabolic disorders such as obesity the opportunity to have children. In vitro fertilization treatment, which is the most preferred infertility treatment today, is an artificial fertilization technique applied by combining female and male reproductive cells under laboratory conditions and placing the fertilized egg in the mother’s uterus. This process is carried out by collecting the female reproductive cell, the egg, and the male reproductive cell, the sperm, under certain conditions. After the fertilization is completed in a healthy way, the egg is expected to start the division process and turn into a structure called embryo, and then the embryo is placed in the mother’s uterus and the pregnancy process begins as a result of successful attachment. After this stage, the pregnancy is no different from a natural pregnancy.

In IVF treatment, the egg cell taken from the mother and the sperm cells of the father are brought together in a laboratory environment outside the female reproductive system and an embryo is obtained when a sperm fertilizes the egg. As a result of implanting the embryo obtained in this way into the mother’s uterus, it becomes possible to create pregnancy in people who cannot conceive with normal methods.

If a woman who is under 35 years of age and who does not have any disease that may prevent her from conceiving cannot conceive despite having unprotected and regular sexual intercourse for 1 year, she should definitely be examined and if necessary, she should apply for treatment. Women who are over 35 years of age or who have had any problems affecting conception before should try for 6 months. If pregnancy has not occurred at the end of this period, the necessary treatment procedure should be started as soon as possible in order not to progress further and lose time.

IVF is a common and increasingly successful treatment method. These treatments are applied due to women’s tubal problems, ovulation problems and male infertility, and many applications are on the agenda to increase the success of treatment.

In vitro fertilization is generally recommended to be performed 3 times. There is a possibility of pregnancy in the trials after this number, but the chances are very low.

IVF treatment can be applied in women until the age of 45. However, it should be taken into account that the chance of getting pregnant decreases significantly in women over the age of 40. For this reason, the success rate of IVF in older women is lower than in younger women and the number of attempts may need to be increased.

Factors such as the age of the expectant mother and embryo quality are of great importance in the success of IVF. Therefore, the chance of success varies according to these factors. While the success rate of IVF in women under 30 years of age is 55-60%, this rate decreases to 15-20% in women over 40 years of age.

10 Questions Wondered in IVF Treatment

With the medical technologies that have developed in recent years, the success rate in IVF treatments has increased, and many couples who were considered impossible to have a child have been able to have a healthy child thanks to this treatment. We have compiled 10 questions about IVF treatment for you,

How is the egg collected? Is it a painful procedure?

Under vaginal ultrasound guidance, a special needle is inserted into the ovaries and the fluid-filled structure called the follicle, where the egg is located, is drained. The fluid removed with the needle is transferred into a tube. The fluid in the tube contains eggs with very small cells that can be seen under a microscope. Egg retrieval is not a painful procedure, but it is better done under light or general anesthesia so that patients are not uncomfortable.

How are the embryos implanted in the uterus after fertilization?

Embryo transfer into the uterus is a very simple and short procedure. First, a thin plastic catheter is inserted into the cervix by the specialist. The embryo is transferred to the mother’s uterus through this catheter. Due to the egg-enhancing injections administered before the procedure, more embryos than the required number of embryos may be obtained. In this case, the quality embryos that are not transferred can be frozen and stored.

Should I rest after embryo transfer?

It is recommended that expectant mothers rest for the first 45 minutes after embryo transfer. After 45 minutes, the expectant mother who is allowed to leave the hospital does not need to rest. There is no harm in continuing her daily activities and work life. After the transfer, the expectant mother can return to all normal life activities except sports activities such as heavy exercises, brisk walks and sexual activities.

When can the person return to normal activities after the transfer? Is the sexual life affected?

After the transfer, the expectant mother can resume all normal life activities except for sports activities such as heavy exercises, brisk walks and sexual activities. Especially in the first week after the transfer, sexual intercourse is not recommended for expectant mothers. The reason for this is that the ovaries enlarge slightly due to the egg development treatments and procedures applied. However, the necessity of this practice has not yet been scientifically proven.

What are the pregnancy outcomes from frozen embryos?

The rate of pregnancy from frozen embryos varies depending on the quality of the IVF center’s laboratory. It is of great importance that the embryos obtained by specialists are stored under appropriate conditions.

What is done if the sperm count is too low or there are no sperm in the sperm test?

If the sperm count is lower than the desired ratio, in vitro fertilization treatment with microinjection is performed. With this method, it is possible to achieve successful fertilization even with a low sperm count. If there is no sperm in the semen, a surgical procedure is performed to search for sperm in the testicles.

Should a special diet be followed during IVF treatment?

Although there are not enough studies on this subject, studies show that IVF rates increase in patients who consume diets based on Mediterranean cuisine (vegetable oils, fish, legumes, vegetables) during the period when pregnancy is considered (preconceptional period).

Is there a higher risk of miscarriage after IVF?

The risk of miscarriage in IVF pregnancies is slightly higher than in natural pregnancies. However, this result is not due to the IVF treatment. The increased risk of miscarriage is attributed to the reason that prevented the person from conceiving.

What is blastocyst transfer?

It is a method that aims to increase the chances of conception for patients who have tried in vitro fertilization. Blastocyst transfer is the development of the embryo on the 5th day of the embryo, which is formed by bringing together egg and sperm cells that have failed to get results many times and leaving them to fertilize. The quality embryo, which does not have any genetic problems and no structural defects are detected, is examined in the laboratory environment and transferred to the uterus of the expectant mother. This method is highly successful.

Is sexual abstinence necessary during IVF treatment?

Sexual abstinence is only required for 3 to 5 days before the egg retrieval procedure, as it is aimed to ensure that the sperm count and motility are at the appropriate level. It is recommended that you consult your physician about sexual abstinence after the transfer.

*Page content is for informational purposes only. Please consult your doctor for diagnosis and treatment.