In Vitro Fertilization (IVF)
In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) involves the union of eggs and sperm in our laboratories to generate embryos that will be transferred later.
Embryologists select embryos with the greatest potential to achieve pregnancy, thereby increasing the chances of having a healthy baby at home.
This is one of the most common treatments in assisted reproduction clinics today, and it has one of the highest success rates.
How are IVF treatments performed?
The treatment consists of several stages. First, during the initial visit with our specialists, patients’ medical history is reviewed, and necessary complementary tests are requested to assess their reproductive status.
Once the problem is identified and the treatment scheduled, the process follows these steps:
- Ovarian Stimulation: The patient must take prescribed medication to stimulate the production and maturation of eggs. These medications include hormones that promote follicular development.
- Follicular Puncture: The puncture involves extracting eggs from the patient. This procedure requires mild sedation to avoid discomfort, and then the patient can resume normal activities. The retrieved eggs are transported to our laboratories, where they are kept in incubators and analyzed by our embryologists.
- Preparation of Sperm and Egg Fertilization: Simultaneously, a semen sample from the partner is collected to select the most suitable sperm for fertilizing the egg. This process takes place in our Andrology laboratories. After our embryologists select the eggs and sperm, fertilization is performed in our laboratories.
- Transfer: The transfer of selected embryos is an outpatient and painless procedure that does not require sedation and lasts between 15 and 20 minutes. The embryos are transferred to the patient’s uterus using a catheter under ultrasound guidance. After the transfer, a blood test is performed within 12 to 14 days to determine if the patient is pregnant.
What happens with surplus embryos?
Unused embryos can be vitrified and stored in our cryobanks.
This allows patients to have access to embryos in the future if they decide to undergo a new treatment.
Vitrification is a freezing process at -196ºC that keeps the cells completely intact.
Units of the UR Group have their own cryobanks to store embryos, eggs, and sperm samples.
What is the success rate of In Vitro Fertilization?
Clinics within the UR Crea Group have a pregnancy rate of 74% after three attempts.
However, this result also depends on factors such as the woman’s age, as well as the number and quality of eggs retrieved and the sperm sample.
