In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) Procedure

Infertility Clinic

Procedure Process

Ovarian Stimulation

Natural Ovulation Method

This method involves retrieving mature eggs according to the natural cycle. However, natural ovulation occurs only once a month, and it is difficult to precisely predict the ovulation day, which means there is a higher chance of not obtaining mature eggs.

Artificial Ovulation Stimulation

By artificially stimulating ovarian hyperstimulation, it is possible to retrieve multiple eggs at once, rather than just one as in a natural cycle, which can increase the chances of pregnancy. Research over several decades has shown that obtaining multiple mature eggs significantly improves IVF success rates, so most IVF procedures now use ovulation stimulants.
Among the various methods of using ovulation stimulants in IVF, the choice of method is primarily based on factors such as the patient’s age, ovarian function, and previous ovulation stimulation results.
Egg Retrieval

If the timing of egg retrieval is too early, the eggs may be immature, and if it is too late, the eggs might have ovulated or become overripe, reducing the success rate. Therefore, determining the timing of egg retrieval is very important. Generally, when the follicles have matured to 18mm or more, human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) is administered in the evening of the same day, and egg retrieval is performed about 35 hours later. After administering a sedative through an intravenous injection, the eggs are retrieved using a needle guided by transvaginal ultrasound while monitoring the ovaries through the vagina.

The procedure takes about 20-30 minutes. After waking from anesthesia and once the patient's condition is stable, they can go home. Since the eggs are retrieved from the ovaries before ovulation, they need to undergo a maturation process before fertilization. They are matured in a culture medium that simulates the conditions of the recipient's body environment for a certain period of time.
Sperm Collection

When the timing of egg retrieval is determined, the husband should begin abstaining from intercourse 2-3 days before ovulation. On the day of egg retrieval, sperm is also collected. The collected semen is washed several times to remove impurities and inflammatory cells, and a suspension of motile sperm is prepared. The reason for washing the sperm in this way is to select high-quality sperm with good fertilization ability.
In Vitro Fertilization and Culture

The eggs and sperm are placed in a culture system that simulates the environment of the fallopian tubes, where fertilization occurs. If the sperm quality is good, approximately 50,000 to 100,000 sperm are added to the culture dish containing the eggs for fertilization to take place. However, if the sperm quality (motility, morphology, or count) is poor, Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI) is performed. ICSI involves directly injecting specially treated sperm into the cytoplasm of the egg.
Embryo Transfer
1. The procedure is performed without anesthesia, with the patient only taking a mild sedative.
2. The embryo is placed in a thin catheter, which is then inserted into the uterus through the cervix.
3. The procedure takes approximately 2-3 minutes.
Confirmation and Maintenance of Pregnancy

11 days after the embryo transfer(For frozen embryo thawing and transfer, the blood test is done on the 9th day after the transfer), a blood test is conducted to confirm pregnancy. If pregnancy is confirmed through the blood test, additional blood tests are performed 2-3 times at 7 day intervals to ensure that hormone levels are increasing. Once pregnancy is confirmed, an ultrasound is conducted 1-2 weeks later to check for the presence of a gestational sac.

From the day of egg retrieval, luteal hormone is administered to stabilize the uterine lining. The luteal hormone preparations include intramuscular injections, vaginal suppositories, and oral medications. Even if pregnancy is confirmed, luteal hormone supplementation is continued until around 8-9 weeks to ensure a safe pregnancy.