Fertility, Gynecology and Obstetrics Clinic
One of the treatments couples use to induce ovulation without insemination is an oral medication, either Femara (letrozole) or Clomid (serophen), as prescribed by the doctor. This pill is taken on days 3-7 of each cycle.
By reducing estrogen levels or blocking estrogen receptors, this medication causes more follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) to be produced by the body. FSH stimulates the ovaries directly, boosting FSH levels. At around days 10-12 you will receive your first ultrasound, to see how your ovaries are responding and to give you and your partner an idea of when your ovulation/fertility window will be.
Patients take Femara (letrozole) or Clomid (serophen), depending on the treatment prescribed by the doctor. The pill is taken on days 3-7 of each cycle. An ultrasound will be given around days 10-12 to see the ovarian response and determine the best time for insemination.
An injection of Ovidrel (choriogonadotropin alfa, or human chorionic gonadotrophin, known as hCG) is one component of a fertility treatment used by women with ovulation dysfunction. It helps follicles mature and triggers ovulation, the release of mature eggs from the ovaries. Your nurse will explain the process thoroughly after your ultrasound.
Next is insemination: we insert the sperm into the uterus using a small tube. The sperm is first "washed" using lab techniques to ensure only the best are used. Insemination occurs about 36 hours after ovulation begins.
Conception rates are 40-45% over 3 or 4 cycles among women age 35 and younger with unexplained infertility without a male factor. Usually we try 3 or 4 cycles of this treatment.
We follow two reproductive assistance protocols: Superovulation with Gonal F or Modified Natural Superovulation with Femara or Clomid. The doctor will discuss the best treatment with you based on your medical evaluation.
An injection of Ovidrel (choriogonadotropin alfa, or human chorionic gonadotrophin, known as hCG) is one component of a fertility treatment used by women with ovulation dysfunction. It helps follicles mature and triggers ovulation, the release of mature eggs from the ovaries. Your nurse will explain the process thoroughly after your ultrasound.
Next is insemination: we insert the sperm into the uterus using a small tube. The sperm is first "washed" using lab techniques to ensure only the best are used. Insemination occurs about 36 hours after ovulation begins.
Conception rates are 40-45% over 3 or 4 cycles among women age 35 and younger with unexplained infertility without a male factor. Usually we try 3 or 4 cycles of this treatment.
For In Vitro Fertilization (IVF), the ovaries must be stimulated to cause multiple egg cells to mature at the same time. Hormone injections are usually necessary at this stage. These injections boost the growth and maturation of the eggs. This stimulation stage is monitored with blood tests and ultrasounds.
An ovulation-inducing injection is given 36 hours before the eggs are to be retrieved. Ovum pickup generally takes place under light or local anesthesia. The sperm is collected the same day, or sometimes before, if it is frozen. The sperm is “washed” of its seminal plasma and prepared in order to recover only the most motile and typical (normal) spermatozoa. This high-quality sperm is then combined with the woman’s eggs in a specially authorized medical laboratory.
Fertilization takes place in about twelve hours. The embryo begins to develop through cell division. Embryos are cultured for 48 hours to 6 days. Two, three or five days after fertilization, one or several embryos (blastocysts) are transferred to the woman’s uterus.
The embryos are graded based on the quality of their cells, i.e., number of cells, regularity of cell size and fragmentation. Embryos with the right chronology of cell division, with regular cells and no fragmentation are prioritized, as these metrics seem to indicate the best chances of conception.
During the embryo transfer, one or several embryos are placed inside the uterine cavity. In most cases this is done by inserting a catheter into the uterus through the cervix. Embryo transfer is not painful and does not require anesthesia.
After the transfer, it takes about 10-12 days to be sure of successful conception. This is how long it takes for the blood to present a detectable concentration of β-hCG, the hormone secreted by the embryo and used to confirm pregnancy.
