Couples or individuals who are struggling with infertility in the Naples, Florida area or other parts of the country may find relief from this unfortunate condition through in vitro fertilization, or IVF for short. This procedure has helped individuals across the globe achieve their goals through this proven treatment option. Those who are experiencing infertility should speak with a fertility specialist to help determine the cause of the problem. Once the cause of infertility has been established, patients may begin exploring their treatment options. IVF may be used to help couples with various causes of infertility conceive successfully.
IVF is a procedure that involves the combination of sperm and eggs in a dish in a laboratory to create embryos, which may be later transferred to the uterus or frozen for use in future cycles. The female may be given fertility drugs to stimulate the ovary so that several mature eggs may be produced. Some women may choose not to take the fertility drugs, however, although the odds of developing more eggs may be decreased in such cases. While on fertility drugs, the fertility specialist will monitor the patient , as women may respond differently to the medication. Some complain of flushing or headaches while taking fertility drugs.
The temperature and hormones of the female will be monitored and an ultrasound will be conducted a few days before ovulation to make sure that the eggs are ready to be retrieved. An anesthetic is required during egg retrieval and an ultrasound is performed to identify the eggs. A fine needle is used to retrieve the eggs while using ultrasound guidance throughout the procedure. The egg retrieval process takes about 15 minutes to half an hour to perform, and most women experience only minimal pain afterwards.
The IVF cycle may take about four to six weeks to complete. The couple may expect to spend a few hours one day at the clinic to retrieve the eggs and for the fertilization procedure. The female will then return to the clinic for the embryo transfer. Sterile conditions are provided for the transfer. A fine tube is used to place the embryos in the uterus, and the specialist will use about two to three embryos during each cycle to help reduce the risk of multiple births. Extra embryos may be frozen for future use if the cycle is not successful. This could help cut costs on future cycles, too.
The success rate for IVF varies depending on various factors including the age of the woman undergoing the procedure, as well as the cause of infertility. Women over 35 may have a lower success rate than women who are younger than 35, although this varies. Using intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), in which a sperm is directly injected into an egg, may improve the chance of fertilization, but will not improve the chances of success following fertilization. Patients should consult a Naples fertility specialist to discuss success rates in greater detail.
Learn more about in vitro fertilization in Naples, Florida.
