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IVF is a technique involving the fertilisation of eggs by sperm outside the body.  The term literally means 'fertilisation in glass' hence the commonly-used description 'test-tube baby'.

When is IVF appropriate?

IVF was developed as a treatment for women who have blocked or badly damaged fallopian tubes which prevent the egg and sperm from meeting.  It may also be used in some cases where a woman has endometriosis, the male partner has poor quality sperm or where the cause of infertility is unknown.

What does treatment involve?

IVF treatment is made up of a number of procedures usually referred to as a treatment cycle:

• Down regulation - firstly, the female is prescribed a drug which suppresses the release of the hormones responsible for the production of an egg.  This is necessary in order to establish a baseline from which to start ovarian stimulation and to prevent spontaneous ovulation before egg collection can take place.
• Ovarian stimulation - this takes the form of a daily intra-muscular injection.  Stimulating the ovaries in this way should produce several eggs to ensure that there are enough suitable eggs for fertilisation.
• Monitoring - regular monitoring of the effects of the drugs on the ovaries is undertaken through ultrasound scans and blood tests.
• Final injection - when the ultrasound scan and blood tests indicate that there are a sufficient number of mature follicles (the sacs in which the eggs grow), a final injection is administered to ensure the ripening of the eggs in preparation for the egg collection.
• Egg collection - eggs are collected from the ovaries through the vagina using a fine needle under ultrasound guidance to separate the eggs from the follicles.  This is performed as a day-case, typically under sedation.
• Sperm production and preparation - on the day of the egg collection, the male partner is required to produce a semen sample at the centre.  The sample is then prepared in the laboratory to extract the most mobile sperm.
• Embryology - when all the eggs have been collected, they are put in a dish with the prepared sperm and incubated in the laboratory.  
• Embryo transfer - If fertilisation has occurred, usually two of the embryos are transferred directly into the uterus two days after the egg collection.  The embryos are transfer through the vagina and cervix using a fine catheter.  Blastocyst transfer, a technique enabling us to maintain, or even increase, our IVF success rates whilst significantly decreasing the risk of multiple pregnancy is available at Scion.
• Pregnancy test - A pregnancy test should be carried out fourteen days after the embryo transfer.  If the result is positive, an ultrasound scan is recommended two or three weeks later to check the embryo is alive and situated in the uterus.

In cases where more than three embryos result from an IVF treatment, it is sometimes possible to freeze and store these embryos.  This enables women to have a further treatment without the need for ovarian stimulation or egg collection.

Majority of your treatment including consultations, drug therapy
and monitoring will take place at Holly House Hospital but please be aware
that egg collection, mixing of sperm and eggs, embryo culturing and
embryo replacement are all carried out at CRM London.