In Vitro Fertilization (IVF)
Springmedo offers you a bouquet of IVF treatments to couples from any part of the world struggling with fertility issues. We ensure couples get all kinds of support in this respect. Our round-the-clock support since the day of contact will make things easier and less stressful. You will safely fly back home with a baby in your arms.
IVF (In Vitro Fertilization) is required when fertilization cannot be achieved through normal intercourse. The fertilization of the male sperm and female egg happens outside the body in a culture dish under suitable laboratory conditions. 3-5 days after fertilization, the embryo is placed in the mother’s womb. Advanced maternal age, damages in the fallopian tube, uterine fibroids, premature ovarian failure, low sperm count or poor sperm motility are the possible reasons that couples may need IVF.
IVF treatments at our partner hospitals
Artificial insemination or IUI
Also known as intrauterine insemination, this process involves the artificial insertion of male sperms into the woman’s uterus to facilitate fertilization. The process is done during the ovulation period where a matured egg released from the ovary is ready to be fertilized. IUI helps couples with unexplained infertility issues or minor male infertility to conceive. The process is done during the normal menstrual cycle of the woman or combined with the Ovulation Induction (OI) process in case of irregular ovulation cycles. Repeated failed IVF attempts may call for IVF or ICSI treatments.
ICSI
ICSI or Intra-cytoplasmic Sperm Injection, another specialized IVF treatment facilitates fertilization in case of severe male infertility. A sperm is injected into the female egg in a laboratory to form the embryo. The best quality sperm is selected before it is injected into the cytoplasm of the female egg or oocyte. Since this is a highly technically advanced procedure, the costs associated with IVF are more. Unless there is a severe male infertility factor, ICSI has no specific advantage over IVF. Fertilization rates in this process range from 50-80%.
PGD/PGS
Prei-mplantation genetic diagnosis is a screening process to determine any genetic disease or chromosomal disorder in the embryo done prior to embryo transfer. It gives doctors the option to pick the disease-free healthy embryo that would result in healthy babies. Diseases tested with PGD are Cystic fibrosis, Thalassemia, Myotonic Dystropy, Fragile X and Tay Sachs. This also helps in sex determination for couples looking for healthy gender balance in families.
Surrogacy
It is an arrangement often legally supported where a woman bears the child of another couple with the purpose of handing over the child to the couple after birth. Surrogacy can be traditional and gestational. In the former, the egg of the surrogate is used for fertilization whereas, in the latter, the surrogate is implanted with a fertilized embryo resulting from IVF. Gestational surrogacy is permitted in most legal contracts. Legal formalities on surrogacy vary widely across the world
Egg freezing
Egg freezing or mature oocyte cryopreservation is a procedure to preserve a woman’s fertility for future pregnancy. Matured eggs are retrieved from the ovaries after a series of medications which is then frozen to subzero temperature, a process known as vitrification. High concentration of cryoprotectants is used to prevent the formation of ice crystals on eggs. Women planning to have a child at the later age or undergoing cancer treatments or suffering from any disorder that can affect fertility can opt for egg freezing.
Egg donation
This is the process of retrieving eggs from a healthy female donor which are later fertilized through IVF using sperm from the male partner of the intending couple. The resultant embryo is then transferred into the recipient’s uterus for conception. Women unable to use their own eggs may be due to ovarian failure, congenital deformities in the egg or advanced age can seek donor eggs. Donors need to go through a series of screening tests and medication before the eggs are retrieved. Egg retrieval takes place in a clinical setting and normally takes 30 min.
Assisted Hatching
This is an additional procedure that might be needed for a couple undergoing IVF to increase the chances of pregnancy. Hatching involves breaking the thick outer shell of the embryo known as zona pellucida to get implanted into the uterus. Often, an excessively thick outer layer prevents it. A laser is applied to make a hole on the zona pellucida to make it feasible for hatching. Women aged above 37 years or with previous IVF failures may need assisted hatching.
Ovulation Induction (OI)
It is another fertility treatment where medications are used to facilitate ovulation or regulate ovulation cycles to increase the chances of pregnancy through normal intercourse or artificial insemination. It can also be done to increase the number of eggs. Women with irregular menstrual cycles might need to go for this treatment.
Sperm freezing
This is also a freezing and storage procedure where sperms are stored for future use. A special medium liquid nitrogen at -196C is used to store sperm for many years even for 20 years. Common reasons for sperm freezing are advanced age and deteriorating sperm quality.
Embryo freezing
Embryo freezing, almost a similar process to egg freezing is done to store embryos for future use. Often IVF procedures result in more than one embryo where extra embryos can be preserved. This also has a direct benefit for the couple to use another in case of a failed IVF attempt. The process of embryo freezing is known as cryopreservation. After the embryo gets frozen, it is stored in liquid nitrogen. The success rate of using thawed embryos is much higher than normal embryo transfer after IVF.