ivf TREATMENT

INFERTILITY

Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) uses special methods to help infertile couples. ART involves handling both the woman's eggs and the man's sperm. Success rates vary and depend on many factors. ART can be expensive and time-consuming. But ART has made it possible for many couples to have children that otherwise could not have been conceived.

In vitro fertilisation (IVF) is a procedure made famous with the 1978 birth of Louise Brown, the world's first test-tube baby. IVF is often used when a woman's fallopian tubes are blocked or when a man has low sperm count. A drug is used to stimulate the ovaries to produce multiple eggs. Once mature, the eggs are removed and placed in a culture dish with the man's sperm for fertilisation. After about 40 hours, the eggs are examined to see if they have become fertilised by the sperm and are dividing into cells. These fertilised eggs (embryos) are then placed in the woman's uterus, thus bypassing the fallopian tubes.

OUR SERVICES FOR IVF TREATMENT

IUI/ ARTIFICIAL INSEMINATION TREATMENT

Artificial insemination treatment is a form of assisted reproductive technology (ART), which is performed to treat infertility and help achieve pregnancy.

IVF Treatment in East Melbourne

If you are struggling to become pregnant after a year of trying, you might be considering the risks and benefits of IVF. Dr Alex Polyakov is a skilled and experienced physician in Melbourne regarding the IVF process.

In vitro fertilisation (IVF) is a complex clinical procedure that helps to achieve conception by treating existing infertility or genetic problems. IVF is a time-consuming, expensive and an invasive procedure, which takes around 2 weeks for the completion of a single fertilisation cycle. The IVF process involves collecting matured eggs from the ovaries and combining them with the sperm in the laboratory. After fertilisation, the eggs are implanted into the woman’s uterus.

The IVF process can be completed with eggs and sperm from the bodies of the couple trying to get pregnant, but eggs and sperm from donors, or eggs that have been frozen or preserved at a fertility clinic, can be used as well.

Indications for IVF

The most common indications for IVF include:

  • Damaged or blocked fallopian tubes
  • Ovulation problems
  • Premature ovarian failure (loss of normal function of your ovaries before the age of 40)
  • Severe endometriosis (presence of endometrial tissue outside the uterus)
  • Presence of uterine fibroids (benign tumours in the wall of the uterus)
  • Male factor infertility, including low sperm count and low sperm motility
  • Presence of a genetic disorder
  • To preserve fertility for patients with cancer or other health conditions
  • Unexplained infertility

IVF TREATMENT NAVIGATION

IUI/ Artificial Insemination Treatment

IVF Procedures

The steps involved in an IVF treatment are:

  • Ovulation induction: The doctor will administer fertility drugs to boost the production of your eggs. Transvaginal ultrasounds will be conducted to monitor the development of the eggs and blood tests obtained to check hormone levels.
  • Egg retrieval: Your doctor will perform a follicular aspiration, a minor surgical procedure to remove the eggs from your ovaries. An ultrasound probe is inserted through the vagina and into the follicles under ultrasound guidance. Each follicle in the ovary is pierced in order to retrieve the egg.
  • Insemination and fertilisation: The eggs are mixed with the sperm in an environmentally controlled chamber to facilitate the process of insemination. The egg is fertilised a few hours after insemination. If the chance of fertilisation is low, intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) may be used where the sperm is directly injected into the egg.
  • Embryo culture: Division of the fertilised egg forms an embryo. The development of the embryo is monitored and within 5 days, a normal embryo has several actively dividing cells.
  • Embryo transfer: Embryo transfer is performed 3 to 5 days after egg retrieval and fertilisation. A thin tube containing one or more embryos is inserted into the vagina through the cervix and into the uterus. After transfer, if an embryo attaches or sticks to the womb lining, it results in pregnancy.

After the IVF procedure

As the embryo transfer is carried out under the guidance of ultrasound, you will have a full bladder during the procedure. You will be able to empty the bladder after the procedure. For the first two days after an embryo transfer you should refrain from heavy lifting, physical activity like running or aerobics, swimming, alcohol, smoking and intercourse. You can do a pregnancy test 10 days after embryo transfer to confirm pregnancy.

IVF Risks and Complications

As with any surgical procedure risks and complications can occur. The possible complications associated with specific steps of an IVF include:

  • Risk of multiple births
  • Risk of premature and low birth weight
  • Ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) (a condition of ovarian enlargement accompanied by fluid accumulation in the abdominal cavity)
  • Miscarriage
  • Risks of egg retrieval include bleeding, infection, and damage to the bowel, bladder, or blood vessels
  • Possibility of ectopic or tubal pregnancy

If you feel that IVF is right for you and your family, please don’t hesitate to contact Dr Alex Polyakov in Melbourne to schedule an appointment and discuss your options.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of IVF?

The primary advantage of IVF is the achievement of a successful pregnancy and healthy birth. It allows couples who are otherwise unable to get pregnant, to have a baby.

Other advantages include:

  • It is more successful than other assisted reproductive technology methods and these success rates have been increasing since its conception.
  • It can help identify fertilisation problems in those with unexplained infertility.
  • It can help screen for inherited diseases.

The disadvantages of IVF include:

  • You may have to undergo many cycles before you can have a healthy live birth.
  • It is associated with side effects such as ovarian hyper-stimulation syndrome (OHSS), multiple pregnancies and ectopic pregnancy.
  • IVF can cause a lot of stress and affect your emotional and psychological wellbeing.
  • It can be expensive.
What are the outcomes of IVF?

IVF success is not only restricted to the attainment of pregnancy, but also the birth of a healthy child without any related complications. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), IVF results in an average of 29.4% pregnancy and 22.4% live births.


What are the potential complications of IVF?

As with most therapeutic procedures, IVF may be associated with certain risks and complications such as:

  • Multiple births
  • Premature and low birth weight baby
  • Ovarian hyper stimulation syndrome (OHSS): a condition of ovarian enlargement accompanied by fluid accumulation in the abdominal cavity
  • Miscarriage
  • Bleeding
  • Infection
  • Damage to testes
  • Possibility of ectopic or tubal pregnancy
  • Complications associated with surgery such as pain, tenderness, cloudy discharge, haematoma (swelling)
  • Birth defects and chromosomal abnormalities

FAQs

What is the downtime of IVF treatment?

‍IVF is performed in cycles, with each cycle lasting about 6-9 weeks. You are suggested about 3 months for you and your partner to physically and emotionally recover from a failed pregnancy before you start with the next cycle. Some would require 3 such cycles for a positive pregnancy. However, you will be able to continue with your normal activities after the procedure, with caution against vigorous activities.

What is the cost of IVF treatment?

‍Any costs involved will be discussed with you prior to your surgery at our IVF clinic Melbourne.

Am I a candidate for IVF treatment?

‍You are a candidate for IVF if you have the following:

  • Low count of motile sperm (<5 million sperm)
  • Poor sperm structure
  • Failed IUI
  • Presence of antisperm antibodies
How do I prepare for IVF treatment?

‍IVF involves a series of steps that are performed in accordance with your partner's monthly menstrual cycle. It can be a long a laborious process for some, so it is best for you and your partner to be physically and mentally prepared for each stage of treatment as well as its outcomes.

IVF Specialists in Melbourne

‍Dr Alex Polyakov fertility and IVF specialists who is committed to providing you with best possible solutions of achieving a pregnancy.  Visit Dr Alex Polyakov East Melbourne IVF clinic providing personalised care for all. Call today on 03 9998 6093 or enquire here.

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200 Victoria Parade
East Melbourne, 3002

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