IVF Flashcards
What does IVF stand for?
In vitro fertilisation.
What is IVF?
It is one of several techniques available to help those with fertility problems have a baby.
During IVF an egg is removed from the persons ovaries and fertilised with sperm in a lab. The fertilised egg is then returned to the womb to grow and develop.
How many couples in the UK have trouble conceiving?
About 1 in 7 heterosexual couples in the UK have trouble conceiving.
What causes infertility?
There are many causes, some are connected to the male reproductive system and some to the female.
• Age
• Endometriosis
• Uterine abnormalities
• Cervical mucus problems
and more.
What are the main stages of IVF?
• The natural menstrual cycle is suppressed to allow control of the procedure.
• The ovaries are stimulated to produce more egg cells (oocytes). This is called ovarian hyperstimulation.
• Progress is monitored using ultrasound scans to check the development of the follicles as they mature.
• Eggs are collected by inserting a needle through the vagina and into the ovaries. This is called transvaginal oocyte retrieval. 10-30 eggs are removed.
• The eggs and sperm are both checked and any that are defective are discarded. The sperm and egg are mixed for a few hours to allow egg fertilisation.
• The fertilised eggs are incubated for 2-6 days, after this embryo transfer takes place.
• A plastic catheter is passed through the vagina and cervix, allowing the embryos to be placed into the uterus. For successful pregnancy the transferred embryos must implant in the wall of the uterus.
What is the role of FSH within the main stages of IVF?
Ovarian hyperstimulation involves the injection of FSH, which naturally stimulates the development of a follicle.
During a normal menstrual cycle, only one or occasionally two eggs would be released.
By suppressing the natural cycle and hyperstimulating with FSH, the female will produce a larger number of eggs.
This means that there are enough to ensure sufficient embryos can be produced to allow successful transfer.
What happens to the embryos not transferred into the uterus?
IVF usually produces more embryos than can be transferred into the mother’s uterus.
These spare embryos can be frozen (cryopreservation) for future use.
They can also be donated to others who are not able to produce good quality embryos of their own.
What factors affect the number of embryos transferred into the uterus?
• Mothers age
• IVF cycle
• Quality of embryos
What happens to the IVF success rate with age?
The success rate of IVF decreases with age of the individual having the treatment.
What is the success rate of IVF?
In 2019, the % of IVF treatments resulting in a live birth in the UK was 32% for females under 35 and 4% for females over 44.
What happens if the first IVF cycle is unsuccessful?
A second and following cycles may be offered.
This depends on local policies and funding.
How can the chances of a successful pregnancy be increased?
• Additional cycles would normally transfer two embryos rather than just one.
• The embryo quality can be judged before transfer. If they aren’t of high quality, more than one embryo can be transferred to increase the chance of success.
What is preimplantation genetic screening?
This is testing embryos for genetic diseases or the correct number of chromosomes.
