In Vitro Fertilisation (IVF)
In vitro fertilisation (IVF) literally means fertilisation ‘in glass’. Instead of the sperm fertilising the egg within the body (in vivo), fertilisation takes place in a sterile dish (in vitro) in a laboratory. IVF has been available in the UK since 1978 and since then, more than two million babies have been born worldwide following IVF treatment.
Who may benefit from IVF?
- women with blocked Fallopian tubes
- men and women with ‘unexplained infertility’
- men with moderately poor sperm function
For whom is IVF not suitable?
- men with poor quality sperm
- men who are azoospermic
What does treatment involve?
Following an initial consultation, treatment assessment, follow-up appointment and treatment planning appointment:
- daily injections or a nasal spray (usually naferelin or buserelin) ‘down regulate’ the woman’s usually monthly cycle to a temporary menopausal state in preparation for the stimulation phase of the cycle
- gonadotrophin drugs given by daily injections stimulate the ovaries to produce more eggs than occur in a natural cycle. An MFS doctor or fertility nurse specialist will advise on the most suitable method for each client
- the dose of stimulating drugs each patient needs is carefully calculated to optimise the chance of pregnancy
- the woman will need to attend the clinic for ultrasound scans during the stimulation phase to monitor the number and size of the growing follicles
- when the follicles have grown sufficiently she will be advised of the day of her egg collection (usually about two weeks after she first starts taking the fertility drugs)
- egg collection is performed with ultrasound guidance under conscious sedation and with pain relief
- the collected eggs are washed and placed in labelled culture dishes before being put into an incubator where the environment mimics the inside of the body
- a nurse - and a partner or friend - will be with the patient constantly throughout the procedure
- where partner sperm is to be used, the sample must be produced at the clinic immediately before egg collection, in a private room at the clinic, close to the laboratories
- at the time of the egg collection an embryologist prepares the sperm
- IVF using the standard insemination technique needs approximately 150,000 good quality sperm for each egg. The inseminated eggs are placed in an incubator overnight and are checked the following morning for signs of normal fertilisation. The fertilised eggs (embryos) are then cultured before the embryo transfer, two to six days after fertilisation, where one or two of the best quality embryos will be placed into the uterus
- any remaining good quality embryos can be frozen and stored for any future attempts to conceive
- a pregnancy test may be done 14 days after the IVF embryo transfer to confirm if the treatment has been successful
What is included in the IVF treatment cost?
- treatment planning
- ultrasound monitoring scans
- teaching how to give injections
- egg collection
- sperm preparation
- standard insemination of eggs
- embryo transfer
- embryo freezing and storage for first year (if suitable)
- pregnancy test
- six week scan and/or follow-up to review the treatment cycle
What is not included in the IVF treatment cost?
- initial consultation or follow-up consultation (as appropriate)
- treatment assessment or repeat screening (as appropriate)
- cost of fertility drugs
- fee for freezing sperm (if required)
- fee for donor sperm (if required)
- the HFEA levy for the creation in vitro, or transfer of, embryos, OR
How long does IVF treatment take?
An average of five to eight weeks from the beginning of the treatment cycle to pregnancy test, depending on the drug protocol.
Costs
Cost of IVF at MFS: £2,600