Over the years, the IVF procedure has given the world more than 5 million babies. Ukraine is one of the leading European countries in terms of IVF success: according to statistics, over the past 10 years, the success of the protocols has increased by 21%. Let’s consider the 3 basic stages of IVF, which it […]
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Over the years, the IVF procedure has given the world more than 5 million babies. Ukraine is one of the leading European countries in terms of IVF success: according to statistics, over the past 10 years, the success of the protocols has increased by 21%.
Let’s consider the 3 basic stages of IVF, which it will be useful to learn about for each participant in the program.
First Stage: Oocyte Collection And Embryo Cultivation
The IVF procedure can be performed both with the eggs of the biological mother and with donor oocytes. Since the embryo does not always develop from a fertilized egg, it is recommended to aspirate from 3 to 12 oocytes to increase the success of the protocol. To obtain the required number of cells, a woman undergoes a stimulation procedure. During the next cycle, the future oocyte donor takes hormonal drugs that stimulate the growth of follicles (“storage” of eggs in the ovary). The doctor monitors the growth and number of follicles with regular ultrasound screening. At the stage when the doctor sees a sufficient number of mature follicles, the eggs are taken.
Under the control of ultrasound, with a special thin needle, the reproductive specialist aspirates mature eggs, freeing the follicles.
Since the extracted eggs can exist under strictly defined conditions (temperature 37०, a certain ratio of carbon dioxide and oxygen), they are transferred to an incubator. Then, the reproductive specialist fertilizes the stabilized oocytes, and after 24-72 hours, the fact of the development of the embryo is recorded. All this time, the embryo develops in a nutrient medium in an automated incubator.
On the 5th day (120 hours from the moment of fertilization), the embryologist re-monitors the fact of the development of embryos, and assesses their quality using the following methods:
- Microscopy – visual assessment of the uniformity and rate of division of the ovum.
- Molecular genetic testing (PGD screening) – assessment of the chromosomal set of the embryo, exclusion of chromosomal abnormalities and genetic mutations incompatible with life.
Developing high-quality embryos are frozen in liquid nitrogen and placed in a cryostorage.
Second Stage: Frozen Embryo Transfer
A crucial step in the IVF protocol is the transfer of frozen embryos. The optimal period for performing the manipulation is considered to be 6-8 days from the day of the expected ovulation. The procedure does not require special preparing.
The woman is seated on a chair in a functional position. The reproductive specialist will allocate the cervix and place an ultrasound probe in the projection of the uterus for external control of the procedure. Then, the doctor removes the embryos from the cryobox and, using a special cannula, transfers one or more embryos in drops of nutrient medium into the uterine cavity. After the introduction of embryos, the catheter is additionally checked for the absence of embryos and the successful placement of future babies in the uterine cavity is recorded.
Third Stage: Monitoring The Onset Of Pregnancy
After the transfer stage, the fertility specialist monitors the onset of pregnancy using:
- express test;
- Ultrasound of the uterus to identify the ovum;
- blood test for hCG (human chorionic gonadotropin).
As a rule, pregnancy is diagnosed in this sequence. The express test shows the fact of the onset of pregnancy, on the ultrasound, the doctor sees that the transferred embryo has been implanted into the prepared endometrium, and the dynamic control of the hCG level confirms that pregnancy is developing.
Upon successful completion of the stage of transfer and implantation of a cultivated embryo, a biological or surrogate mother carrying a pregnancy goes under the supervision of an obstetrician-gynecologist. The doctor will draw up a pregnancy monitoring program, tell you about the necessary screenings, give recommendations on lifestyle and answer your questions.
MILITTA Possibilities
The road to parenting happiness can be a long one. But MILITTA has everything you need to meet your long-awaited baby as soon as possible:
- cooperation with the best clinics for the treatment of infertility;
- own database of completely healthy egg donors of European and Asian phenotypes;
- proven database of surrogate mothers;
- experienced personal coordinators who support 24/7;
- trust of thousands of patients from Ukraine, Europe and Asia.
How to Sign Up For a Consultation
To choose an ART program, leave a request through the feedback form or contact the call center:
096 172 55 99
095 172 55 99
073 172 55 99
The coordinator will process your application and select the best solution.
MILITTA: modern possibilities of reproductive medicine for you.
