Pearl Womens And Fertility Clinic

Step 1: Pre-investigation to assess feasibility
Pre Treatment Investigations
Before subjecting a couple to the IVF procedure they are advised to undergo certain investigations to check the feasibility for the procedure.
The female partner is asked to undergo certain hormonal blood tests and the male partner is asked to undergo basic semen analysis. Both the partners are subjected to certain common tests like blood grouping, HIV, Hepatitis B & C, and blood tests for sexually transmitted diseases as part of the IVF process.
Step 2: Long or Short protocol
Following the pre-assessment, the next step could either be a long protocol or a short protocol. The doctor takes a call on what treatment needs to be followed.
Long Protocol
The duration of the treatment is about one month and can be divided into two phases mainly:
Suppression Phase: The female partner is required to come to the hospital for a daily subcutaneous injection usually from day 22 of the cycle (day 1 is the first day of the menstrual period) for about 15 days.
Stimulation Phase: After about 15 days other set of injection/s is/are added which stimulates the ovaries to produce eggs. These injections are administered by daily injection subcutaneously (sc) or intramuscularly (im) (into the buttock muscle).The daily dose may be increased or decreased depending on how well the ovaries are responding. Stimulation continues until the eggs are mature. This takes approximately 10 – 14 days.
Short Protocol
This usually takes about 15-18 days where injections and medications are administered to the female partner on an everyday basis. This continues until the eggs are mature.
Note: The timing of events during the IVF process is particularly crucial to the success of the pregnancies. Patients are asked to attend The HIVE for an ultrasound scan of the ovaries during the treatment cycle which is usually after Day 5.
Step 3: Egg Collection
Based on the doctor’s assessment, a date is fixed for egg collection and the female partner’s eggs are removed under vaginal ultrasound guidance. There are no cuts on the abdomen.
Step 4: Semen Preparation and Embryo Transfer
The male partner’s semen is taken and IVF (where eggs are just mixed with sperm) or ICSI (where single sperm is injected into the egg) is carried out in the laboratory. This is then inseminated into the female partner’s uterus.