Our Services
IN VITRO FERTILIZATION (IVF)
In Vitro Fertilization
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IN VITRO FERTILIZATION (IVF)
Frequently Asked Questions
In vitro fertilization (IVF) is one type of assisted reproductive technology. To perform IVF, the ovaries are stimulated with hormones identical to the ones made in the brain. This allows us to obtain many eggs (that would have otherwise been wasted that month), as opposed to a single egg that is normally grown with each menstrual cycle. Once mature, we remove the eggs and fertilize them with sperm in our state-of-the-art embryology lab, creating embryos. The entire process usually takes about 10-12 days.
Once ready to conceive, the embryos are then placed into the woman’s uterus, undergo genetic testing, or kept frozen and preserved for future pregnancies.Dr. Macer uses IVF to treat infertility caused by numerous conditions, including:
- Unexplained infertility
- Individuals desiring genetic testing or gender selection
- Blocked or damaged fallopian tubes
- Banking embryos for the future
- Ovulation disorders
- Same sex relationships
- Ovum donation or surrogacy
- Premature ovarian failure
- Sperm abnormalities
In vitro fertilization follows four steps:
Ovarian Stimulation
You’ll receive injections of two medications: one to stimulate egg maturation inside the ovaries and the second to prevent ovulation. You’ll take the medications for about 8-10 days. During that time, we regularly monitor your ovaries using ultrasounds and blood tests so we can determine when the eggs are mature and ready to be fertilized.
Egg Retrieval
When your eggs are mature, they’re retrieved using a minimally invasive procedure. After being placed in a conscious sedation (you are asleep but breathing on your own), we use an ultrasound to guide a needle through the vaginal wall and into the ovary, then gently withdraw the mature eggs. The procedure takes around 15-20 minutes, is painless, and you can go home within an hour of the retrieval.
Fertilization
Whether you’re using your partner’s sperm or donated sperm, it’s collected while your eggs are retrieved and used to fertilize each egg. For the next 5 days, the fertilized eggs grow into embryos, a process that normally takes place in the fallopian tubes. Once embryos are created, most patients chose to perform genetic testing on them in order to optimize success of getting pregnant as well as identifying gender. The embryos can either be used to get you pregnant that month, or frozen until you are ready to conceive your next baby. The embryos can be frozen for at least 20 years without a decline in their potential to result in a live birth.
Embryo Transfer
For patients desiring to get pregnant immediately, Dr. Macer performs what is called a “Fresh” transfer. For those who desire genetic testing of their embryos, this is typically performed the following month. After optimizing the uterus to make the best “home” for the future baby, we use a long, thin tube to transfer the best quality embryo(s) into the uterus. The transfer is quick, as the tube is simply inserted through your cervix and the embryo(s) is precisely placed in your uterus. Around 11 days after the embryo transfer, you’ll be tested to see if you’re pregnant.
