In vitro fertilization is a common infertility treatment option that initially helps infertile women with fallopian tube problems to have children. For decades, the rapid development of IVF technology has tackled countless infertility problems, allowing tens of thousands of infertile couples to give birth.

IVF process:

1. Ovulation stimulation – The doctor will stimulate multiple eggs through medication. Women will have ultrasound scans frequently to monitor follicle growth. When the follicles develop to an optimal size, the doctor will prescribe drugs to trigger ovulation.

2. Egg and sperm retrieval – It involves inserting a narrow needle into the ovaries through the vagina under ultrasound guidance. Follicles will be collected using a needle and being examined for the presence of eggs under a microscope. It is a relatively safe procedure and is done under light general anesthetic. The whole process usually takes only 15 to 30 minutes.

   Before OPU, semen sample has to be collected. The sperm with the best quality and motility will be selected through a procedure called “semen washing”.

3. Fertilization – The fertilized embryo will be transferred into the uterus between 3-5 days. If you are considering preimplantation genetic screening/diagnosis, you should consult your doctor in advance.

4. Embryo transfer – The doctor will perform ultrasound and prescribe drugs to determine the appropriate time for embryo transfer. On the day, the doctor will use an abdominal ultrasound to guide the process for placing the embryo at optimal position. If there are good quality embryos left, you can consider whether to freeze the embryos for future use by cryopreservation.

There are many reasons for infertility, so the treatment plan varies from person to person and needs to be determined according to different situations. In addition, each treatment case responds differently to IVF.