Different types of IVF treatments
There are various types of IVF & Assisted Reproductive Techniques available, but not all of them are ideal for every couple due to characteristics taken into account throughout the selection process. During the selection process, you and your partner will be asked a series of questions regarding your medical history and your current state of health. You will also undergo preliminary tests and examinations which will help determine the underlying cause of infertility.
These questions are designed to aid doctors in determining which sort of therapy would be best for you. This also aids them in deciding whether you, as a couple, are fit for IVF and how best to customise the treatment for your individual needs. Let’s have a look at the various types of Assisted Reproductive Techniques available.
INTRAUTERINE INSEMINATION (IUI)
Intrauterine insemination or Artificial Insemination is a process in which the male partner’s sperm is collected, processed, and then introduced into the woman’s uterus. This process is timed according to the woman’s cycle to coincide with ovulation so as to have the highest chances of fertilisation. It may be carried out in a natural cycle with follicle monitoring or after Ovulation Induction with certain drugs. Fallopian tube patency is an important prerequisite for IUI. IUI raises the chances of fertilization by allowing a higher concentration of semen to reach the Fallopian tubes.
IUI is widely regarded as the least invasive form of assisted reproduction. It is safe, relatively easy to perform and less expensive.
CONVENTIONAL IVF
A conventional IVF cycle consists of several steps. The female partner is thoroughly evaluated and given some medications and injections to stimulate ovarian follicles. These follicles are then monitored by serial ultrasounds and once mature enough, the timing of Oocyte pickup is determined. Once retrieved, the best eggs are selected and are placed in an artificial medium with the sperm. The sperm and egg are thus allowed to interact naturally and achieve fertilisation. The fertilised egg is cultured and subsequently placed into the woman’s uterus for implantation.
Farah Khan, a Bollywood actress, adopted this treatment and said of her decision, “When the choice is between being childless or having a child through IVF, there is no room for doubt. When I had my children, I was 43 years old, and my biological clock had long since stopped ticking.”
INTRACYTOPLASMIC SPERM INJECTION (ICSI)
ICSI is a sort of assisted reproductive technology done under a microscope. ICSI is utilized when the absence of fertilization during IVF treatment is due to male infertility or sperm malfunction. ICSI uses a single, meticulously chosen sperm for fertilization, unlike standard IVF. This is particularly useful for the severe decrease in sperm count or malformed sperm.
IVF WITH DONOR EGG
Donor eggs can be utilized during IVF treatment if the woman’s ovarian function has declined, or the egg quality is poor and the eggs can’t be used. One can obtain a donor egg from someone other than the woman attempting to conceive from the Donor Egg Bank. The egg is fertilized with its partner’s sperm. The resulting embryo is put into the uterus of the woman, who will carry it throughout the pregnancy.
INTRACERVICAL INSEMINATION (ICI)
The sperm is inserted straight into the cervix during ovulation in this type of artificial insemination. This approach ensures that the maximum semen reaches the uterus and Fallopian tubes.
ICI has not been found to be more effective than natural insemination in terms of fertilization. Because ICI has similar results as IUI, it is not a very widely used procedure.
GAMETE INTRAFALLOPIAN TUBE TRANSFER (GIFT)
The eggs and sperm are placed in a catheter and injected into the Fallopian tubes in the GIFT procedure. The catheter is guided by ultrasonography to ensure that the gametes are properly placed. Fertilization in the Fallopian tubes is possible thanks to GIFT.
Traditional IVF treatments result in conception at a slower pace than this technique. It is beneficial when used with other reproductive therapies like gonadotropins or Clomiphene citrate. GIFT is less invasive than regular IVF treatment, but it is also more expensive.
TESA/TESE
Testicular Sperm Aspiration (TESA) or Testicular Sperm Extraction (TESE) is a technique used in cases of severely low or absent sperm in the semen. Sperms are directly retrieved from the testes of the male partner and meticulously processed so as to obtain the best possible sample. It is a daycare procedure performed under anaesthesia so that patient comfort is not compromised. It is a boon for any couple with severe male factor infertility who want to conceive a child that is biologically and genetically their own.
Choosing the best IVF therapy might be difficult. There are so many factors to consider that it’s simple for one or two to go through the cracks. Many parameters, including the number of viable embryos generated after fertilization, should be considered while deciding the best IVF procedure and IVF treatment cost is affordable at Dr Sunita’s IVF.
You can speak with one of our fertility specialists to determine which sort of IVF treatment is ideal for you.
