In vitro fertilization (IVF) at the Center for Reproductive Medicine
If you have not had success getting pregnant with medications or conventional infertility treatments, a more advanced modality may be necessary. Known as assisted reproductive technologies (ART), these treatments include in vitro fertilization (IVF) and other assisted laboratory techniques.
The IVF process involves four distinct steps:
- Ovarian Stimulation: First, you will take fertility medications that stimulate the maturation of multiple follicles (egg-containing ovarian cysts). Your provider will use blood tests and ultrasound imaging to carefully monitor the development of the follicles. When enough follicles have matured, the eggs will be recovered through a transvaginal ultrasound procedure. This step of the IVF process is usually performed under intravenous (IV) conscious sedation and involves the use of a special needle to remove the eggs. The procedure generally takes 15-30 minutes, and patients usually go home within two hours.
- Fertilization and embryo development: After your eggs have been collected, they are fertilized in our on-site laboratory with sperm obtained from your partner or donor on the day of the egg retrieval. The fertilized eggs are then incubated for five to seven days. For couples who have male-factor related infertility, intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) may be recommended. During ICSI, a single sperm is injected into each egg by one of our specially trained embryologists. This incubation process may involve preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGT), a diagnostic technique designed to improve the likelihood of successful pregnancy through in vitro fertilization.
At the Center for Reproductive Medicine, our team of experienced fertility doctors leverages the most sophisticated IVF technology along with a fully accredited, on-site medical lab to join the sperm and egg, and a surgical suite for the implantation procedure.
Since 1985, we have performed thousands of successful IVF cycles and achieved among the highest pregnancy rates in the Southeast.
Frequently Asked Questions
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In vitro fertilization, or IVF, is a type of assisted reproductive technology.
First, ovulation is induced through fertility medications that stimulate the release of your eggs. Your doctor monitors your ovulation through blood tests and ultrasound imaging to determine when they can harvest your eggs.
Next, the eggs are retrieved with a special needle via a transvaginal procedure. Once we harvest your eggs, our team fertilizes them with your partner’s sperm or with donor sperm in our on-site medical lab. The eggs must incubate for two to six days as they develop into embryos.
Embryos that successfully develop are cryopreserved (frozen) and will be thawed when you are ready for your frozen embryo transfer. We will continue to thaw any remaining high-quality embryos for subsequent embryo transfers.
Approximately two weeks after your embryo transfer procedure, your provider performs a blood pregnancy test to confirm a successful transfer. If the test is positive, you will have another blood test in 48 hours. If the second test is negative, your provider can discuss your options for moving forward with another IVF cycle.
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