In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) which means ‘fertilization in a glass’ is often more commonly referred to as a test tube baby. The process involves sperm from a woman’s partner or a donor being placed in a dish with eggs that have been removed from her ovaries and fertilizing them before being placed in her womb. In Vitro Fertilization may be recommended for a number of reasons including; age, other techniques have failed, the woman’s tubes are blocked or the infertility cannot be explained.

Techniques of In Vitro Fertilization differ from clinic to clinic but a typical pattern of treatment might go like this: At the start of your treatment your doctor gives you drugs to block the hormones your pituitary gland usually produces during your monthly cycle. This will help them have improved control as to when your eggs will be produced. After this your ovaries are stimulated by drugs to create more than one egg.

Estradiol IVF...

It’s important that levels of estrogen produced by the eggs are monitored so a combination of blood tests and vaginal ultrasound scans are used. Once the time is right, another hormone will be injected to help the eggs mature. This injection is given 34 to 38 hours before the eggs will be collected to the timing of this is very important. To collect the eggs, ultrasound guidance is used and as it takes about half an hour, either drugs or a general anesthetic is given which may make you feel drowsy.

It’s about this time that the man must produce some fresh sperm. This will be stored for a short time before the sperm are washed and spun at a high speed, so that the healthiest and most active can be selected. Sperm which has been donated is kept in a freezer but the same method for preparation is used. Once that has been completed the sperm is mixed with the eggs in a dish and left for between 16 to 20 hours and then checked to see if they have been fertilized. Only those embryos that have fertilized successfully are kept and left for a further day to two days before a final inspection.

Once your eggs have been collected there is a waiting period of two days, then you are given pessaries, an injection or gel to ready the lining of your womb.

Estradiol IVF

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