In Vitro Fertilization (IVF)

Its development began in England in 1978, and the first success was the birth of a baby girl named Louise Brown. A few years later, the technique started to be developed in Argentina.

Procedure Steps

It basically consists of 4 steps:

1) Ovarian stimulation, with the purpose of producing a significant number of eggs so as to secure the formation of an adequate number of embryos. We always transfer 2-4 embryos, which will give us a good chance of pregnancy with low chances of multiple pregnancy.

2) Egg retrieval, by means of a transvaginal ultrasound transducer fitted with a puncturing device.

3) Egg insemination with sperm (placing a number of concentrated motile spermatozoa beside the eggs), which is done at the CEGYR laboratory. These inseminated eggs are kept in a heater from 2 to 5 days until the embryos are formed.

4) Embryo transfer, consisting in transferring the embryos into the woman’s uterus through the vagina, with a very fine catheter introduced into the cervix.
As you can see, In Vitro Fertilization is wholly performed through the vagina, thus not requiring an “operation” or “surgery”.

IVF Patients

Different kinds of patients can undergo an IVF treatment.

1) Women who suffer from total or partial bilateral tube occlusion, or different kinds of tubal adhesions.

2) Alterations in sperm quality, quantity or morphology that are severe enough to prevent the achievement of a pregnancy through intercourse or inseminations.

3) Several failed inseminations. This situation makes physicians suggest turning to an IVF.

4) Severe endometriosis.

5) Unexplained infertility.

IVF Pregnancy Rate

These techniques have a 35% success rate per attempt in women under 38. Past this age, chances are significantly reduced.

IVF Risks

Until today, no increase in malformations or genetic disorders have been observed in patients undergoing this technique as compared to general population.
The main complications, ovarian hyperstimulation and multiple pregnancy, derive from ovarian stimulation. In general, we perform a significant stimulation in order to obtain a large number of eggs. However, in some very rare occasions, egg production is much higher than the one we are seeking for. This results in a condition known as ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome, consisting of ovarian enlargement with accumulation of fluid in the belly, multiple kinds of discomfort and disorders in the blood test results. This syndrome is generally cured spontaneously.
The second complication, multiple pregnancies, also derives from an excessive stimulation. It is known that twin pregnancies are not considered a complication, for risks for the mother and babies are only slightly increased. However, pregnancies with triplets and more (high-order multiple pregnancies) really imply serious complications both for the pregnant woman and the babies. The delivery will be pre-term and the babies will be premature, with huge risks involved, weeks or months of NICU (Neonatal Intensive Care Unit) and the possibility of permanent problems for the babies.

Anyway, although stimulation with IVF is significant and all the eggs available in the ovaries are retrieved, only 2-4 embryos are transferred, depending on the woman’s age (2 good quality embryos in the case of women under 38 and 4 in the case of women past this age), and consequently the occurrence of high-order multiple pregnancies with this technique is very unusual.

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