Who Is IVF Treatment Suitable For?

IVF Treatment is a procedure where the egg cells of the mother are fertilized with sperm samples taken from the father outside the womb in a laboratory environment, and then the resulting embryos are placed into the mother's uterus.

IVF treatment is a therapy that must be tailored individually for each patient. Although the treatment process is standard, any additional procedures or treatments should be decided based on the couple's condition.

What Is IVF Treatment?

IVF treatment is a reproductive method applied to couples who cannot conceive through sexual intercourse. There are many different treatment methods that can be applied in IVF.

Which method is appropriate for the couple should be determined according to the causes of infertility and the genetic characteristics of the couple. Among various techniques such as insemination, IUI, IVF, ICSI, embryo freezing, sperm freezing, or surgical methods, the most suitable one for the couple is chosen.

Who Is IVF Suitable For?

IVF treatment is a method applied to couples who have regular unprotected intercourse for one year but do not become pregnant. Candidates who may be suitable for IVF treatment include:

• Couples under 35 years old who have not conceived despite one year of regular intercourse,
• Couples aged 35 and over who have not conceived despite 6 months of regular intercourse,
• Couples over 40 years old for whom IVF treatment is appropriate.

In some cases, couples should not wait to start treatment. These cases include:

• Ovulation problems such as polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS),
• Blocked tubes or removal of tubes due to ectopic pregnancy, infection, etc.,
• Genetic reasons,
• Absence of connection between tubes and ovaries due to abdominal adhesions,
• Vaginismus and ejaculation problems,
• Absence of sperm in semen analysis,
• Problems in sperm ducts,
• Unexplained infertility,
• Endometriosis, where the couple needs to consult an IVF specialist.

What Are the Stages of IVF Treatment?

IVF treatment is applied in 5 stages. Additional treatments and different techniques are decided according to the couple's condition.

• Initial Consultation

During the first consultation, conditions that can lead to infertility are explained to the couple wishing to become parents, and necessary examinations and tests are performed. If the couple has previously undergone these tests or treatments, all related results should be brought to the doctor. Based on the results, the appropriate treatment method is decided.

• Ovarian Stimulation

In the second stage of treatment, the ovaries are evaluated by ultrasound on the second or third day of the menstrual cycle. If necessary, the patient's hormone levels are also examined. Based on these results, IVF treatment is started.

• Egg Retrieval

In the third stage, when the eggs developed by hormone medications reach the desired size, they are aspirated under anesthesia by inserting a needle into fluid-filled structures called follicles, and the egg cells are collected. The egg cells from the woman are combined with sperm samples taken from the man to allow fertilization. It is important to select the highest quality sperm cells during this process.

• Embryo Transfer

In the fourth stage of IVF, the embryos are transferred to the mother's uterus. Embryo transfer is performed on the 3rd or 5th day after egg retrieval. It is a painless and short procedure. After cleaning the cervix, the embryos are placed into the uterus under ultrasound guidance using a catheter.

• Testing Stage

After the embryo transfer in IVF, no further procedures are done. The couple waits for 12 days, then a pregnancy test is performed. If the test is positive, the pregnancy sac is checked 3 weeks later and the baby's heartbeat is listened to. If pregnancy occurs, IVF treatment successfully ends; if it fails, the causes are investigated and the process may be started again.