The IVF process helps patients bypass fertility challenges and become parents
Patients at our Tulsa fertility clinic can move past various fertility issues with help from the IVF process. IVF, or in vitro fertilization, is a popular fertility treatment because it allows doctors to transfer a healthy embryo into the uterus. In addition, the steps of IVF allow fertility specialists to test embryos to select a chromosomally normal embryo.
Many types of patients are good candidates for IVF
Issues such as blocked fallopian tubes, ovulation problems and certain inheritable genetic conditions could make IVF the ideal treatment for a patient.
Blocked or damaged fallopian tubes. A woman with blockages in her fallopian tubes will likely need to utilize IVF. Blockages can be due to endometriosis, pelvic inflammatory disease, an infection or a previous surgery in the area.
Diminished ovarian reserve. It could be difficult for some women over the age of 35 to conceive without a fertility treatment like IVF, as egg quality and quantity diminish over time.
Ovulatory challenges. The IVF process can help bypass fertility issues that impact ovulation. One example is polycystic ovary syndrome.
Multiple miscarriages or unsuccessful fertility treatments. IVF can be an ideal choice for women who have had numerous miscarriages. It can also help women who did not find success with other fertility treatments.
Inheritable genetic conditions. If one of the parents has an inheritable genetic condition, IVF with preimplantation genetic testing can help increase the likelihood of having a healthy baby.
Sperm abnormalities. Men with certain sperm challenges can benefit from IVF with intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). ICSI consists of an embryologist injecting a single, healthy sperm into an egg.
Our Tulsa fertility clinic helps patients determine if they should utilize IVF by ordering evaluations like bloodwork and an ultrasound.
The IVF process consists of a series of simple steps
When a doctor determines a patient is a good candidate for IVF, our clinic creates a timeline for the cycle and helps the patient procure the necessary medications. We then walk them through each step of the IVF process.
Ovulation induction. The steps of IVF begin with the woman taking ovulation induction medications. This medication causes multiple eggs to mature.
Monitoring. The woman regularly comes to our clinic for bloodwork and ultrasounds during her IVF cycle. Monitoring helps the doctor determine if they need to adjust the woman’s medication.
Egg retrieval. When the eggs reach an ideal size, the woman receives a trigger shot that causes the body to release the eggs. The doctor then retrieves the eggs during a simple procedure about 36 hours after the trigger shot.
Fertilization. After the egg retrieval, the doctor sends the eggs to the lab. There, an embryologist fertilizes them with sperm from the woman’s partner or chosen sperm donor.
PGT. After fertilization of the eggs, the embryologist can perform preimplantation genetic testing on the resulting embryos. This testing can reveal the healthiest embryos for transfer.
Embryo transfer. One of the final steps of IVF involves the doctor transferring an embryo into the woman’s uterus.
About two weeks after the embryo transfer the woman takes a pregnancy test at our Tulsa fertility clinic. For many patients, IVF results in the birth of a healthy baby. Contact us for more information about the steps of IVF.
