What Is IVF
Pregnancy is always a matter of chance. A normal couple attempting pregnancy in their 20s has about a 25% chance of getting pregnant in any one month and couples in their 30s have about 15% per month. If pregnancy has not happened within a year or two then it's likely that the monthly chance of pregnancy is less than 5% and tests are recommended.
IVF, or In-Vitro-Fertilization, is a medical process aimed at solving infertility disorders. The treatment involves three main stages: ovarian stimulation set to increase the number of eggs, egg retrieval and fertilization using sperm in a lab environment, and finally embryo transfer into the uterus which will hopefully result in pregnancy. Read more below about the specifics of IVF.
In over 75% of all couples, we can identify the cause for failure to achieve pregnancy. This chapter contains a list of the major disorders, which may originate in either the male or female partner.
Fertility tests look systematically at the steps needed to achieve pregnancy, and usually pin-point the cause of infertility. Although, it often happens that no causes can be clearly identified.
Fertility treatments aim to correct specific problems (if found) or to enhance the chances to achieve pregnancy. The chapter provides an overview of the types of treatments available.
IVF involves retrieving eggs from the ovaries, fertilizing them in the lab and transferring the resulting embryo(s) to the uterus. This chapter explains in detail each of these steps.
IVF is a very safe procedure. Two major complications are involved: multiple pregnancy (avoided by single embryo transfer) and ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (prevented by GnRH agonist trigger of ovulation).
A relatively short list of the major IVF terms and abbreviations used regularly throughout the site. Terms absent from this list are likely to appear in the glossary below.
Review a complete fertility glossary containing over 200 defined terms, illustrated with photos and diagrams. A search panel is included for your convenience. This glossary was created by Dr Tim Appleton, IFC Resource Centre, Cambridge UK, and is used with his permission - © Tim Appleton 2006 tcaguard-glossary@yahoo.co.uk. The Glossary is sponsored by ZanderIVF - www.zanderIVF.com
The first hospital in Israel to offer acupuncture treatment to women undergoing IVF treatment.
