IVF, ICSI & IUI
Our success rates for IVF and ICSI are among the highest in the UK. Treatment cycles are undertaken in partnership with our associated IVF clinics.
In addition to the skill of our fertility doctors - highly experienced consultant gynaecologists - one of the things that sets us apart is the way we integrate modern techniques with complementary care. We recommend counselling and nutritional advice to improve your likelihood of having a baby, and to offer you greater support during your journey towards pregnancy and parenthood; and support your choice of complementary therapy.
Your consultant fertility specialist will discuss and organise treatment with you.
- There are legal requirements that need to be fulfilled to initiate treatment
- Your likely success rate and posible side effects will also be discussed
- Your specialist fertility doctor will see you frequently and closely monitor your treatment cycle
- Your specialist fertility consultant will see you after the cycle to monitor your care
Preparing you for IVF & ICSI
- Fertility drugs cause you to ovulate many eggs. This increases the likelihood of fertilisation and also increases the number of fertitlised embryos to choose from for transfer into your uterus.
- Protocols for injection of fertilty drugs are designed to fit your unique needs.
- Frequent ultrasound scan monitoring of your ovaries and uterus during the treatment cycle allows us to adjust the doses of the fertility drugs with care. This is to stimulate an appropriate number of eggs with minimum side effects.
IVF (in-vitro fertilisation)
IVF is the original high-tech treatment that resulted in the birth of first IVF baby in 1978.- The eggs in your ovary are collected by the doctor in the IVF unit when you are ready to ovulate. Egg collection is guided by an ultrasound scan while you are sedated.
- In the laboratory, each egg is placed in a separate container and mixed with sperms for fertilization (joining of the egg and sperm chromosomes).
- The embryo develops in the laboratory. It is then placed in your uterus by the doctor who inserts a fine catheter via your cervix a few days after fertilisation.
ICSI (intracytoplasmic sperm injection)
- ICSI is recommended when there is a problem with the sperm.
- Egg collection for ICSI is the same as IVF.
- One suitable sperm is picked up using a microscope with a fine glass needle. The needle then pierces the egg shell (zona pelucida) and transfers the sperm into the egg cytoplasm to assist in fertilization.
- The embryo develops in the laboratory and is then placed in the uterus by the doctor, using a fine catheter inserted via the cervix, a few days after fertilisation.
Blastocyst embryo replacement
- A blastocyst is the fertilised embryo 4-5 days after fertilisation when it is more mature and more robust.
- When embryo transfer is done at the blastocyst stage the pregnancy success rate of that cycle is improved.
IUI (Intra-uterine insemination)
- IUI consists of placing sperm in the uterus around the time of ovulation.
- Ovulation is accurately timed using ultrasound scans, with fertility drugs to stimulate the release of an egg.
- A semen sample is prepared in the IVF laboratory and the sperm is placed in the uterus at ovulation by the doctor, who inserts a fine catheter via the cervix.
Follow up advice & additional support
Your fertility specialist will see you frequently during and after your treatment cycle.
- Your fertility consultant doctor will arrange ongoing ultrasound scans and support during early pregnancy.
- You will be treated until you are ready to transfer your care to an obstetric unit.
Complementary support improves the success rate of IVF, ICSI and IUI and it often makes the treatment more enjoyable.
- At Viveka there is a wide choice of complementary therapies. During fertility treatment, the most popular are acupuncture and homeopathy.
- You may visit a nutritionist for nutritional advice on how to maximise your health during treatment.
- You may spend time with our counsellor, who has many years experience working with couples during fertility investigation and treatment.
Did you know?
Acupuncture has been shown to improve the pregnancy rate when it is used at the time of egg collection and embryo replacement. Find out more from our November '08 newsletter.
