In Vitro Fertilisation (IVF)
In vitro fertilisation (IVF)
In vitro fertilisation (IVF) is an assisted reproductive technology that helps facilitate pregnancy through the process of fertilisation outside the body. In IVF, a woman undergoes hormonal medication to stimulate the ovaries to produce more eggs. These eggs are then collected and combined with sperm in a laboratory, resulting in the formation of embryos. Finally, the embryos are transferred into the woman's uterus, where they implant and lead to a successful pregnancy.
Who is suitable for IVF?
- Men with insufficient sperm count, poor sperm quality, or reduced sperm motility that affects conception.
- Women with diminished ovarian function, tubal factors, abnormal uterine lining, or other factors that affect conception.
- Unexplained infertility.
- Couples who carry genetic disease genes and require embryo genetic testing/screening.
- Women over the age of 35 with declining ovarian function, which affects their ability to conceive.
- Couples who have tried other methods such as intrauterine insemination (IUI) but have not been successful.
*According to the Hong Kong legislation, undergoing IVF treatment must be carried out by a legally married couple.
IVF-ET consists of the following steps:
- Ovarian stimulation: Injection of medications to stimulate follicles to grow in the ovaries, usually last 10-14 days. Ultrasound is performed every few days to monitor the follicles until they are mature in size.
- Egg collection: A minor operation to obtain the eggs from the ovaries. A needle is inserted through the vagina into the ovaries under ultrasound guidance. This is done under monitored anaesthesia, and usually lasts 15-30 minutes.
- In vitro fertilisation (IVF): The eggs are fertilised using the husband’s sperms in the IVF laboratory. Fertilised eggs (embryos) are further cultured for a few more days to select the best one(s) for transfer.
- Embryo transfer: The embryo(s) are transferred into the uterus using a small catheter. This can be done two days, three days, or five days after egg collection, depending on the number and quality of the embryos available. This is a simple procedure, no anesthesia is needed. Doctors usually recommend transferring one (or at most two) embryos to minimise the risks of multiple pregnancy (including miscarriage). Pregnancy test is performed about 10-14 days after embryo transfer.
If there are surplus embryos, they will be frozen for future use. Transfer of frozen-thawed embryos is simpler, without the need for another ovarian stimulation and egg collection.
Factors affecting IVF success rates:
It is important to note that the success rates of IVF can vary depending on multiple factors, such as the underlying cause of infertility, the quality of the sperm and eggs, and the woman's overall health.
In addition to age, other factors that can impact the success rates of IVF include:
- Ovarian reserve: The number and quality of a woman's eggs can impact the success rates of IVF. Women with low ovarian reserve may have lower success rates with IVF.
- Sperm quality: The quality and quantity of sperm can also impact the success rates of IVF. If the male partner has poor sperm quality, the success rates of IVF may be lower.
- Previous fertility treatments: Women who have undergone multiple cycles of IVF or other fertility treatments may have lower success rates with subsequent treatments.
With advances in technology and techniques, the success rates of IVF have increased significantly in recent years.
FAQ
Q: Is there an age limit for IVF treatment?
A: There is no official age limit for IVF treatment, as long as the ovarian function is normal. IVF can be performed. However, it is important to note that the quality of eggs tends to decline with age. The earlier the treatment is initiated, the higher the success rate.
Q: How long does the IVF process take?
A: Usually it takes around 4 weeks (from hormone injections to pregnancy test). However, it varies from patient to patient due to differences in the methods of ovarian stimulation and individual responses to medications. Depending on different circumstances, doctors may recommend freezing all embryos first and subsequently transferring thawed embryos.
Q: What is the IVF success rate? Is age an important factor?
A: The success rates of IVF can vary depending on multiple factors, including the age of the woman, the cause of infertility, the quality of the sperm and eggs and the number of embryos transferred. On average, the success rate of IVF ranges from 50-60% per cycle for women under 30, and decreases with age. In general, the success rates of IVF tend to decrease as a woman gets older, as the quality and quantity of eggs decline with age. According to data from the Hong Kong Society for Reproductive Medicine, the success rates of IVF in Hong Kong are as follows:
- For women under the age of 30, the success rate of IVF is around 50-60% per cycle.
- For women between the ages of 30-40, the success rate of IVF is around 30-40% per cycle.
- For women over the age of 40, the success rate of IVF drops significantly, to 20% and below per cycle.
It is important to note that these success rates are based on averages, and individual success rates may vary depending on multiple factors, such as the underlying cause of infertility, the quality of the sperm and eggs, and the woman's overall health.
Q: Who is not suitable for fresh embryo transfer?
A:
- Women who have a higher risk of ovarian hyperstimulation due to a strong ovarian response
- Women with elevated progesterone levels (reduced chances of pregnancy)
- Women who require preimplantation genetic testing (PGT) and need to wait for PGT reports
- Women who need treatment for fallopian tube fluid or endometrial polyps.
In these situations, the embryos will be frozen first for future use.
Package price
IVF package
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Videos
Patient Journey of IVF treatment
