In-vitro fertilisation (IVF)
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IVF treatment in London
Commonly known as IVF, in-vitro fertilisation is one of several techniques designed to help people with fertility issues to conceive. During IVF, sperm is put into the woman’s eggs in a laboratory to produce embryos. In vitro means ‘in glass’, which is why IVF is also sometimes called a ‘test tube baby’ procedure.
Download our IVF informational brochure here.
What does IVF involve?
1. Down-regulation
The IVF procedure starts with ‘regulation’ – we temporarily switch off your natural hormone cycle.
2. Stimulation of ovaries
Hormone injections are given to encourage your ovaries to produce eggs.
3. Egg collection
Your eggs are collected when the follicles (the collection of fluid within the ovary) reach the right size, and the uterus lining is thick enough.
4. Sperm collection and fertilisation
The eggs and sperm, either from your partner or if using frozen/ donor sperm, is prepared and placed together in a laboratory dish to allow fertilisation and embryo growth to happen.
5. Embryo transfer
The embryo is placed in your uterus – usually on the second, third or the fifth day after egg collection, when the fertilised egg has divided and contains two to eight cells. A day-five transfer is known as blastocyst transfer.
Around 10% of cycles are cancelled before the planned egg collection because:
- there’s an excessive response to stimulation and the risk of hyperstimulation syndrome (Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome, or OHSS) is substantial.
- or the response to ovarian stimulation is poor.
When should you seek IVF treatment?
IVF treatment is used in cases of:
- female infertility including:
- tubal damage
- bilateral salpingectomy (both tubes were surgically removed)
- endometriosis
- male infertility
- idiopathic infertility
- immunological infertility
- failure of IUI treatment.