In vitro fertilization, commonly known as IVF, is a type of fertility treatment in which fertilization occurs outside the body. It is suitable for people with a wide variety of fertility problems and is one of the most widely administered successful treatments.

What is IVF?

IVF is a common treatment method developed for people who cannot naturally have a baby. It involves retrieving a woman’s eggs and fertilizing them in a controlled manner with sperm in the laboratory. If fertilization is successful, the embryo is allowed to grow for two to six days and then transferred to the uterus to form a successful pregnancy.

Multiple egg cells are often fertilized and multiple embryos are formed to increase the probability of success. In such cases, it is recommended that a single embryo be transferred to the uterus and that other healthy embryos be frozen for use during another IVF cycle. Thus, this treatment aims to prevent the risk of multiple pregnancies and to complete subsequent IVF cycles more easily.

Who is suitable for IVF?

IVF is not the first method to be applied to all couples who cannot have babies. Many fertility problems can be solved without the IVF method. For example, simple processes such as medication may overcome some ovulation problems. Therefore, the source of the problem needs to be carefully examined and alternative methods should be tried.

• IVF method is not applied especially in elderly women of menopausal age. This is because the chances of success are very low.
• Women with blocked or damaged fallopian tubes,
• People with unexplained fertility problems or who have tried other types of treatment and have negative results,
• Men with low sperm count and sperm with low motility characteristics or abnormal shape,
• Women who have difficulty in ovulating and cannot get positive results with other ovulation treatments,
• Women who have reduced fertility chance due to advanced age may benefit from IVF treatment.

What are the stages of IVF?

·         Planning:

A fertility specialist reviews medical history, test results, and other fertility treatments with negative results at the first appointment. Couples should participate in this stage together and they need to carefully understand the planned IVF process.

·         Medication use:

A list of hormone medication is prepared and how to use them is explained. Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) injections will stimulate the ovaries to produce more eggs than normal. Thus, more eggs are obtained. Throughout the cycle, hormone levels are measured by regular blood tests. At the same time, the size and number of follicles in the ovaries are monitored under ultrasound and the appropriate time is determined for egg retrieval. An egg cracking needle performed approximately 36 hours before the egg retrieval process also promotes ovulation.

·         Egg retrieval:

This is performed under ultrasound guidance with mild anesthesia. The mature cells are retrieved from the ovaries and transplanted into a thin tube. Sperm cells should be extracted from the male simultaneously with the egg retrieval procedure. For more information: Egg Retrieval Procedure

·         Fertilization:

The retrieved eggs are taken to the laboratory and then placed in the culture medium to prepare for fertilization. Sperm and eggs are kept together for natural fertilization in the classic method. An embryologist separates the spermatozoa and a sperm cell is injected into each egg.

·         Embryo transfer:

Cells that successfully reach the embryo stage are simply transferred to the uterus by embryo transfer. This stage is completed through a very thin catheter passing through the cervix.

·         Conclusion:

Two weeks after the embryo transfer, a blood test is performed and pregnancy is considered successful if the test is positive.

How long does the IVF take?

IVF process applied to each individual is different from one another. Certain stages take a longer or shorter time in some people. For most women, an IVF cycle lasts between four and six weeks. However, changes may occur in the process of bringing the menstrual cycle and fertility under control, which is the first stage of treatment for medical reasons. The clearest information on this subject can be obtained after the treatment plan is fully established.

What is the success rate of IVF treatment?

There are many factors affecting the successful termination of IVF treatment. These include the age of the woman, the cause of infertility, sperm and egg quality, and previous pregnancies. If the woman is not of advanced age, has no health problems, and has a successful embryo transfer, it can be stated that this rate is around 80% in Cyprus.