Your questions answered
What exactly is IVF?
IVF (in vitro fertilisation) is most common type of assisted reproductive technology that is used in cases of fertility challenges such as blocked fallopian tubes or irregular ovulation in women and some sperm abnormalities in men. It involves collecting eggs and combining it with sperm in a lab to create embryos. The embryos are allowed to grow for 2 to 5 days and are then transferred to the woman’s uterus.
If you want to find out more about IVF and whether it is right for you, click here.
When should I consult a fertility doctor?
Most couples will get pregnant after 1 year of trying so if you’ve been trying unsuccessfully for 1 year or more, you should see a fertility doctor. However, women aged 35 and over should see a fertility doctor after 6 months of trying to get pregnant.
Am I a candidate for IVF?
There are several reasons why you may be a candidate or consider IVF which include but are not limited to:
- Blocked/damaged fallopian tubes or problems with the uterus
- Ovulation challenges e.g. PCOS (polycystic ovarian syndrome)
- Endometriosis
- Male infertility e.g. low sperm count
- Advanced maternal age
- Unexplained infertility
- Fertility preservation
- Genetic disorders
How successful is IVF?
Various factors impact on the success rate of any IVF cycle such as the woman’s age and weight, the diagnosis, sperm count and reproductive history. However, at Bridge Clinic our success rate is …. % for gold standard clients.
Are there any risks to IVF?
IVF is a safe process but like any medical procedure, there are some risks. The most common ones are:
- Multiple births (i.e. twins, triplets)
Having twins or triplets is more common with IVF than a spontaneous pregnancy. This can be reduced by choosing to have a single embryo transferred but some women may choose to have more than 1 embryo transferred for various reasons.
- OHSS (ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome)
This occurs due to an overreaction to fertility medications, and it is rare. Symptoms include nausea and vomiting, abdominal pain and bloating, breathlessness, reduced urination and feeling unwell. Careful medication management and diligent monitoring can reduce this risk.
- Birth defects
Some studies suggest that the risk of birth defects in children conceived through IVF is slightly higher than in children conceived naturally however it depends on several factors including the type of treatment used, maternal factors and genetic factors. Also, some studies have found that couples with fertility challenges have the same increased risk of birth defects whether they conceive on their own or through other non-IVF treatments.
What are my options if my eggs are not viable?
It can be hard to hear that your own eggs are not suitable to use in an IVF cycle for reasons such as reduced quantity or quality but using donated eggs has enabled thousands of women to become pregnant and carry a pregnancy. The protocol is the same as a normal IVF cycle, but you will select a donor whose eggs will be used to create the embryo (with your partner’s sperm or donor sperm).
Bridge Clinic provides egg donation services for those who require it.
What are my options if I cannot carry a pregnancy?
Some medical conditions or personal circumstances may make it impossible for you to carry a pregnancy, but you can still become a parent with the help of a surrogate.
A surrogate is a woman who carries the pregnancy for you. IVF is required to create the embryo(s) using you and your partner’s genetic material (eggs and sperm) or from donors, as needed. The resulting embryo is transferred to the surrogate’s womb. The surrogate does not contribute any genetic material to the creation of the embryo(s).
Some reasons for needing a surrogate include but are not limited to:
- Absent womb/abnormal womb
- Recurrent miscarriages
- Medical conditions that would make pregnancy dangerous for mother and child
- Recurrent failed IVF cycles
Bridge Clinic provides surrogacy services for those who require it.
What is PGT and do I have to do it?
Pre-implantation genetic testing (PGT) is a process in which embryos created by IVF are tested for their genetic makeup and chromosomal abnormalities and then only healthy embryos are selected for transfer into the woman’s womb.
Some reasons for requiring PGT include but are not limited to:
- To reduce the risk of having a baby with genetic disorders such as Down’s syndrome
- Recurrent pregnancy loss/recurrent implantation failure in IVF cycles
PGT is not mandatory, and your fertility doctor will discuss if it is right for you.
Bridge Clinic provides PGT services for those who require it.
What happens to my spare embryos after an IVF cycle?
Spare embryos arising from any IVF cycle can be frozen and stored securely in our laboratory for future use. The embryos should be of a high grade and quality to give them a better chance of success when they are required. You will need to go through a frozen embryo transfer (FET) cycle which can involve either taking hormonal medications to prepare your womb or using your natural menstrual cycle to prepare your womb for the embryos. The frozen embryos are thawed out once your womb is ready for the transfer.
What is egg freezing?
Egg freezing is procedure that allows women to preserve their fertility, thereby allowing them to plan their reproductive future without having to worry about age related effects on their eggs.
It involves undergoing an IVF cycle to collect your eggs, freeze them and store them securely in the laboratory for up to 10 years. When you are ready to have a child, the eggs are thawed out and fertilised with your partner’s or donor sperm to create embryos which are then transferred to your womb.
Various factors will affect the chance of a successful outcome, namely your age when you froze the eggs as well as the number of eggs frozen. Your fertility doctor will discuss with you if this is right for you.
