IVF is recommended whenever the couples are suffering from infertility of more than two years duration. IVF treatment may also be helpful to the couples suffering from the following:

Blockage or absence of the fallopian tubes most commonly seen after sterilisation or infection

Pelvic adhesions

Chronic an-ovulation

Endometriosis

Unexplained infertility










Initial consultation:
Step-1 Collections of Eggs
This would be similar to the one detailed in IUI section.

Treatment and Management
Female patient is treated with stimulatory drugs in the form of injections and these are taken for about three weeks in different combinations.
Detailed instructions about drugs would be given once the couple becomes familiar with the procedure.
One ultrasound scan would be done just before the start of stimulatory drugs to rule out any ovarian cysts and confirm the existence of quiescent ovaries.
Repeat ultrasound scan for follow up of treatment is commenced about 10 days prior to egg collection and patient is asked to come every other day from there onwards.
Step-2 Mixing of Sperm and Egg
Once the follicles look big enough on the ultrasound scan, one injection is given to ripen the eggs and 36 hours later patient is taken to theatre for egg collection.The whole procedure takes about 30-40 minutes. Female patient then comes back to her room where after a couple of hours rest, discharged.

Female patient then goes home after one hour’s rest. The husband is asked to produce the semen sample before this procedure or is asked to bring the sample from home. Sperm sample after processing in the lab is mixed with the eggs, and kept overnight in the incubator, where the atmosphere is very close to the human body in comparison.
Step-3 Confirmation of Conception
under the guidance of the ultrasound scan. Husbands are encouraged to stay with their wives during embryo transfer. This procedure does not take more then ten minutes of the operator's time. Patient is again asked to stay on table for twenty minutes before going home. Patient is then advised to have pregnancy test two weeks after embryo replacement and, to have an ultrasound four weeks later if the pregnancy test is positive.
The result of fertilisation is seen in the morning and if successful, patients are informed over the telephone and asked to come the following day i.e., 48 hours after egg collection. On their arrival the quality of the success is discussed and the number of embryos to be transferred is agreed upon.

The female patient is then placed in the lithotomy position and draped. Cervix is visualised. Embryologist loads these embryos in a fine catheter and hands it over to the consultant gynaecologist who very gently transfers these embryos inside the uterus
Step-4 Embryo Transfer