In vitro fertilisation (IVF) is a process in which an egg is combined with sperm outside the body, in vitro, to create a fertilised egg, called an embryo. The process involves stimulating a woman鈥檚 ovaries, removing听eggs听and mixing them with sperm in controlled conditions in a laboratory.听
If you and your consultant decide that IVF treatment is the way forward, your treatment听will be planned and co-ordinated by one of our fertility nurses. An appointment will be arranged听at which you will discuss your treatment plan, complete treatment consent听forms听and learn how to administer your medications.听
IVF involves using drugs firstly to down-regulate or suppress the female partner鈥檚 natural monthly hormone cycle. When this has been achieved, a fertility hormone drug is used to stimulate the ovaries to produce听a good number听of eggs. You will usually have three听scans;听baseline, to confirm down-regulation, and two progress scans. The scans are usually performed from 8am in the Fertility Centre. The egg collection is carried out in the Day Surgery Unit at 星空无限, and on the same day your partner will need to produce a sperm sample at the Fertility Centre.听
The embryologists prepare the sperm sample, which is then mixed with the eggs and transferred to an incubator so that fertilisation can take place. If there is poor sperm quality a procedure called ICSI may be听required in which a single sperm is injected into each egg. One of our embryologists will call you the day after your egg collection to let you know whether fertilisation has been successful. The embryos are cultured to blastocyst stage (day 5) at which time the embryo transfer is听completed听and any suitable embryos are frozen. The embryo transfer takes place in the Fertility Centre.听
All the way through your treatment our team are here to support and听advise听you. We are fortunate to have an excellent counselling service run by an independent counsellor, and two sessions are included in all licenced treatments.听
If you have been trying to conceive for a while without success through sexual intercourse, intra-uterine insemination (IUI) or donor insemination (DI), IVF may be听an appropriate next听step for you. If the female partner has no fallopian tubes or either partner has been sterilised IVF may also be听appropriate for you.
IVF treatment can be combined with the use of donor sperm or donor eggs.听
Using donor eggs is a form of IVF treatment for women who are unable to use their own eggs听
IVF with donor eggs is an IVF cycle in which donated eggs are used rather than the female partner鈥檚 eggs. The process is听very similar听to an IVF cycle except that donor eggs are mixed with the male partner鈥檚 sperm to create embryos for transfer into the female partner. Donor eggs may be supplied by an altruistic donor or by someone听participating听in our Egg Sharing Scheme.听
Once you and your consultant have agreed that IVF with donor eggs is the way forward you complete a matching form and have a session with the counsellor to explore the implications of using donated eggs in your treatment. You will also complete some听additional听treatment screening blood tests.
Once these stages have been completed you will be placed on the waiting list for donor eggs. Please contact the centre for approximate current waiting times to receive donor eggs.听
When your name reaches the top of the waiting list, you will be contacted by one of the nurse co-ordinators with details of a potential donor. If you are happy with the match and want to听proceed, your treatment will be planned. If you do not want to听proceed听with the proposed donor, then your name will remain at the top of the waiting list for the next suitable match.
Our egg donation programme involves the stimulation of a donor鈥檚 ovaries with the drugs used normally for an IVF cycle whilst we simultaneously prepare the lining of your uterus, using tablets, to be ready to receive embryos.听
The donors鈥� eggs are collected and then mixed with the male partner鈥檚 sperm and transferred to an incubator so that fertilisation can take place. If there is poor sperm quality a procedure called ICSI may be听required in which a single sperm is injected into each egg.听One of our embryologists will call you the day after the donor eggs and sperm have been mixed to let you know whether fertilisation has been successful. The embryos are cultured to blastocyst stage (day 5) at which time the embryo transfer is听completed听and any suitable embryos are frozen. The embryo transfer takes place in the Fertility Centre.听
IVF with donor eggs may be听appropriate for听you if you have a known egg problem,听a very low ovarian reserve or are unable to produce your own eggs for use in an IVF treatment cycle.
Our staff at 星空无限 have long been well regarded for the quality of care and treatment they provide for our patients and for their innovation, commitment and professionalism. This has been recognised in a wide range of achievements and it is reflected in our award of NHS Foundation Trust status. This is afforded to hospitals that provide the highest standards of care.
