In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) is the most effective treatment for infertility 

Originally developed to assist in cases of abnormal fallopian tube function, IVF treatment can also be chosen as the primary treatment option when infertility has been present for a longer time or when the quality of sperm is poor. IVF is not only the most successful but also the only treatment method that provides information about the quality of eggs, fertilization, and embryo development. Typically, IVF is recommended as the primary treatment method for women over 40 yrs of age.

IVF treatment can be done using both donated sperm and donated eggs.

The IVF Procedure

Normally, during a natural menstrual cycle, one egg matures and is released during ovulation. The purpose of IVF treatment is to stimulate the simultaneous maturation of multiple eggs, which is achieved by administering hormone medications through injections. Even though several eggs are matured at once, it does not affect the normal ovarian egg reserves, and menopause does not occur earlier as a result of this process.

At our clinic, the treatment is primarily carried out using the short or antagonist protocol, which has fewer side effects compared to the long protocol or agonist treatment.

Ovarian stimulation is achieved with hormone medications administered subcutaneously. The injections usually start at the beginning of the menstrual cycle or, in the case of luteal stimulation, immediately after ovulation. Practically all patients can administer their medications themselves after receiving careful instructions at the clinic. Stimulation typically lasts an average of 10 days, during which two ultrasound examinations are usually performed to monitor the response of the ovaries. After stimulation, the eggs are collected from the ovaries using a needle guided by ultrasound through the vagina. The collected eggs are then placed in culture dishes in an incubator. For fertilization, washed sperm is added to the eggs, allowing them to fertilize.

Embryos are typically cultured at Dextra Fertility Clinic for 5-7 days. The best embryo may be transferred to the uterus, and any extra embryos are frozen for future use. Typically, only one embryo is transferred at a time. Very often all embryos are frozen at this time and a frozen embryo transfer is done later.

High Likelihood of Pregnancy with IVF

The most significant factor affecting the likelihood of pregnancy is woman’s age. In IVF treatment, the likelihood of pregnancy per embryo transfer for women under 39 years of age is approximately 30-40%.

After standard IVF treatment, pregnancy care will be carried out in the same way as routine antenatal care at a maternity clinic.