In in vitro fertilization or ICSI, the treatment usually begins with what is known as downregulation. Hormone preparations ( GnRH agonists or GnRH antagonists ) suppress the woman's body's hormone secretion and thus prevent uncontrolled ovulation.
Depending on the treatment regimen targeted hormonal stimulation of the ovaries begins up to 14 days later. It is intended to stimulate the ovaries to mature several follicles at the same time. This increases the chances of obtaining several fertilizable eggs.
Different hormone preparations can be used individually or in various combinations for hormone stimulation. They are injected or taken as tablets. In most cases , a preparation containing the hormone FSH (follicle stimulating hormone) is injected before IVF or ICSI . The woman can do this herself or leave it to her partner. Since hyperstimulation of the ovaries can occur in rare cases, treatment must be closely monitored by a doctor.
In some cases, hormonal stimulation of the ovaries is not necessary. In vitro fertilization then takes place during the woman's natural menstrual cycle (Natural Cycle IVF Cost in Pakistan).
Ovulation is initiated
About a week after the start of hormone stimulation, the doctor checks the size and maturity of the developing eggs several times. To do this, she or he carries out ultrasound examinations and determines the hormone levels in the blood. Once the eggs have matured and appear ready for fertilization, the woman stops taking the hormones. With an injection of the hormone HCG (human chorionic gonadotropin) or a GnRH agonist, ovulation is initiated - around nine to eleven days after the start of stimulation.
Removal of the egg
About 36 hours after initiating the implantation, the doctor uses a fine needle to remove eggs from the mature follicles (follicle puncture). The procedure is usually carried out through the vagina and monitored via ultrasound on the screen. In rare cases, the eggs are obtained via laparoscopy . If necessary, the woman receives sedatives or painkillers and a short general anesthesia. After the puncture, slight bleeding and a feeling of soreness may occur.
Fertilization in the laboratory
On the day of egg retrieval, fresh or frozen (cryopreserved) sperm from the partner is required. To do this, the man masturbates in a special room in the reproductive medicine center. Some men have difficulty ejaculating on demand. You can discuss the problem with the doctor to find another solution. For example, the man can collect his Semen Test Lahore and bring it to the center in a special container, provided the journey is not too far.
If a man has severe fertility problems, sperm obtained through a testicular biopsy and then frozen (cryopreserved) can also be thawed in a timely manner.
Before sperm and egg can be brought together, the seminal fluid is prepared in the laboratory. The aim is to improve the fertilization ability of the sperm cells and to prevent possible allergic reactions in the woman. Egg cells and sperm cells are then brought together in a nutrient liquid and placed in an incubator. This is where the egg cells are fertilized - in vitro fertilization.
The fact that a sperm has penetrated the egg cell can be seen under the microscope by the two “pronuclear” that contain the genetic material of the sperm and egg cell. In this pronuclear stage, the eggs are selected that will later be transferred to the uterus. The other eggs are either destroyed or frozen. This means they can be used for a possible further treatment attempt without having to remove eggs again.
