In Vitro Fertilisation also known as the “Test-tube baby” technique, is where the egg is fertilised outside the body and the embryo(s) are introduced back into the woman’s uterus. IVF is typically suitable for several groups of patients, such as:

- Couples in which the woman has blocked or damaged Fallopian tubes.
- Women with endometriosis or ovarian disorders.
- Men with abnormal semen parameters.
- Couples with unexplained infertility.

The woman is given fertility drugs to stimulate her ovaries and the development of several mature follicles. Each of these follicles may contain an egg. The recruitment and development of the follicles is regularly monitored by ultrasound scans and blood tests. This is to ensure that the ovarian stimulation is both safe and effective.

Once mature follicles have been produced the eggs are collected using an ultrasound-guided needle through the vaginal wall and into the ovary. This procedure is performed under sedation/local anaesthetic. The collected eggs are then placed into culture in the embryology laboratory.

The male partner produces a semen sample on the same day, which is also prepared in the laboratory. The aim of the preparation process is to harvest a good number of motile, normal looking sperm. Measured amounts of the prepared sperm are then cultured, overnight, with the eggs.

Next morning the eggs are inspected for signs of fertilisation. Those eggs that have normal fertilisation are cultured in the laboratory for another 24 – 48 hours. The development of the embryos is monitored and the patients are kept advised of their progress.

Our Fertility Specialist performs the embryo transfer procedure. The selected embryos are introduced, through a fine catheter, into the woman’s uterus. Typically 2-3 embryos are transferred, depending on the patient’s circumstances. The embryo transfer procedure takes no more than half an hour and few women experience any discomfort.

The spare embryos are then assessed in terms of their suitability to be cryopreserved for use, by the couple, in future cycles.

The success rate for IVF is typically 25 – 30 % per treatment cycle. However, the success rate is dependant on many factors, such as the age of the woman.