IVF Treatment Pakistan | What is IVF and How Does It Work?

The good news for people who want to start a family but are struggling with infertility is that reproductive medicine has advanced significantly over the past few years. And in this context, IVF Treatment Pakistan is in vitro fertilization (IVF), which currently allows patients to achieve, on average, up to 55% success rate.

And for those of you who are thinking about beginning an in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatment, we have put together this comprehensive guide that covers a variety of topics, including what in vitro fertilization is, how it is treated, and which situations the method is appropriate in.

What is IVF?

Despite being the most complicated assisted reproduction procedure, knowing how it operates does not require a seven-headed creature. In practice, in vitro fertilization, or just IVF, is a treatment that fertilizes the eggs in a specialized laboratory, such as the Beta Project, to then transfer the embryos to the woman’s uterus.

To perform the procedure, the woman’s eggs and the man’s sperm are collected. The treatment can also be done with donated eggs, sperm, and even embryos, and even by women who don’t have a partner or by same-sex couples.

With the aid of microneedles and the proper image amplification equipment, this fertilization is typically carried out by injecting a sperm into each oocyte (as the ovum is also known) (in vitro fertilization with ICSI).

Simple preparation and selection of gametes—the name given to reproductive cells—can sometimes result in the same fertilization. These gametes—an egg and multiple spermatozoa—are placed in the same container (platelet) and incubated together. However, a single sperm must enter and naturally fertilize the egg by traditional IVF within 18 hours.

This procedure requires a large number of motile spermatozoa per egg to be fertilized and therefore fertilization will not always be obtained in situations where the number and quality of spermatozoa are very low.

In vitro, fertilization is indicated in which cases?

Before choosing an Assisted Reproduction treatment, the woman, the man, or both, should seek the help of a doctor. Only then, after carrying out all the necessary tests and diagnosing each case, will the professional recommend the ideal path.

However, in general, the reasons for using in vitro fertilization are quite varied and include issues with the woman, the man, or even situations where women or men want to become pregnant on their own or same-sex couples who want to have biological children.

How does IVF work?

The in vitro fertilization process usually has five basic steps: ovarian stimulation, egg collection and selection, sperm collection, and selection, fertilization, and embryonic transfer.

1 – First stage of IVF: Ovarian stimulation

In this stage, the woman uses injectable hormones to stimulate the development of follicles (pockets of liquid that can contain an egg). This process can last from 10 to 12 days and is accompanied by ultrasound examinations and possible hormone dosages to better coordinate the process, improving its efficiency and even trying to avoid the production of excess eggs, which could have unwanted effects on the body.

2 – Second stage of IVF: Collection and selection of eggs

Through a needle attached to an ultrasound device, the liquid from the ovarian follicles is aspirated. Done under light sedation, the procedure usually lasts between 15 and 30 minutes. The most mature and healthy ovules, identified in the aspirated liquid from the follicles, once selected, go on to the incubation process in a special greenhouse, under conditions that simulate those of the woman’s body and thus await the moment of their conventional fertilization or with ICSI.

3 – Third stage of IVF: Collection and selection of sperm

In most cases, sperm collection is done by masturbation, carried out in a private room at the clinic, to avoid any outside contamination and speed up sample processing. It is necessary to puncture the testicles. Any of the samples obtained will undergo IVF Cost in Pakistan preparation to separate and select the healthiest sperm for use in the oocyte fertilization process.

4 – Fourth stage of IVF: In vitro fertilization

After selecting the best eggs and the best sperm, both are placed in contact for fertilization in the laboratory and stored in a greenhouse that has the same temperature and other conditions as the woman’s body.

In most cases, especially when the quantity or quality of sperm is low, the chance of fertilization or fertilization of the oocytes can be increased by using intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), which injects a single sperm directly into the egg.

5 – Fifth stage of IVF: Embryo transfer

Between two and five days, the embryo is ready for transfer, which is done using a delicate catheter, to deposit it (them) inside the uterus. For greater efficiency, the doctor uses an ultrasound that shows on the screen the best place in the uterine cavity. After the procedure, it is advisable that the patient restricts more intense physical effort and continue taking the medication to support the treatment indicated by the doctor.

What are the chances of getting pregnant and the length of IVF treatment?

Like any other Assisted Reproduction treatment, a large part of the probability of a successful pregnancy depends on a series of factors, which together directly influence the issue of fertility, from age group, through diagnoses already reported earlier, and even lifestyle. of the couple.

Where should I look for IVF treatment? Is it expensive?

Because it is considered a highly complex treatment, that involves a multidisciplinary team with a gynecologist, urologist, and embryologist, the best way is to choose a Genova IVF and Fertility Centre Lahore, Pakistan.