IVF Flashcards
What are the 5 most common reasons from ivf treatment being carried out and what are the statistics
Male infertility- 37%
Unexplained- 32%
Ovulatory disorder- 13%
Tubal disease- 12%
Endometriosis- 6%
What are the 6 main stages in the ivf cycle
1- suppressing the natural menstrual cycle
2- helping ovaries produce more eggs
3- checking your progress and maturing eggs
4- collecting the eggs
5- fertilising the eggs
6- embryos transferred to the uterus
Describe the action that is taken during stage one (suppressing the natural menstrual cycle) of the ivf process
Injections or nasal spray medications will be given, this lasts for 2 weeks and can make other medications from other stages more effective
Describe the action that is taken during stage two (helping your ovaries produce more eggs) of the ivf process
you take a fertility hormone (FSH)
FSH increases the number of eggs your ovaries produce so more eggs can be collected
Describe the action that is taken during stage three (checking progress) of the ivf process
Before your eggs are collected, you’ll have an injection of a hormone called human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG) that helps your eggs to mature.
Describe the action that is taken during stage four (collecting the eggs) of the ivf process
You’ll be sedated and your eggs will be collected using a needle that’s passed through your vagina and into each ovary under ultrasound guidance.
This minor procedure takes about 15 to 20 minutes.
Some women experience cramps or a small amount of vaginal bleeding after this procedure.
Describe the action that is taken during stage five (fertilising the eggs) of the ivf process
The collected eggs are mixed with your partner’s or the donor’s sperm in a laboratory to fertilise them.
The fertilised eggs continue to grow in the laboratory for up to 6 days before being transferred into the womb. 1 or 2 embryos will be chosen for transfer.
After egg collection, you’ll be given hormone medicines to help prepare the lining of your womb to receive the embryo.
Describe the action that is taken during stage six (embryo transfer) of the ivf process
A few days after the eggs are collected, the embryos are transferred into your womb. This is done using a thin tube, a catheter, that’s passed into your vagina. you won’t usually need to be sedated.
What 3 factors affect embryo transfer
Age of the woman, number of ivf cycles already done, quality of the embryo
According to the nhs how should women under 37 go about ivf treatment
1st cycle- a single embryo transfer
2nd cycle- single embryo transfer only if top-quality embryo is are available
3rd cycle- no more than 2 embryos should be transferred
According to the nhs how should women aged 37-39 go about embryo transfer
1st and 2nd cycle- single embryo transfer, double embryo transfer should only be considered if no top quality embryos are available
3rd cycle no more than 2 embryos should be transferred
What is meant by quality when referring to the state of embryos during ivf treatment
Quality is defined by the number of cells, the speed of division and thee presence of the tissue that will become the foetus
