What is IVF?
In Vitro Fertilization is the union between the egg and the spermatozoon in a dish at the laboratory in order to obtain inseminated embryos to be transferred back into the woman’s uterus.
It is necessary to do a follicle tap to extract some eggs and to treat the semen sample for it to be of use.
In vitro fecundation can be carried out through any of two different processes: the conventional in vitro fecundation or IVF, where egg and spermatozoon join spontaneously at the laboratory; and the Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection or ICSI, where the fecundation is carried out by injecting a spermatozoon in each egg.
Types of in vitro Fecundation
In vitro fecundation with patient’s partner semen is recommended in the following cases:
- Fallopian tube obstruction.
- Ovulation alteration.
- Women suffering from endometriosis.
- When defects regarding speermatozoons quantity or quality exist.
- Sterility of unknown origin.
- Failure of previous treatments such as artificial insemination.
- Couples who had permanent birth control procedure done (tubal ligation and/or vasectomy).
In vitro fecundation with a donor’s semen is recommended in the following cases:
- Failure of previous fecundation with patient’s partner semen.
- Males carriers of genetical illnesses that cannot be detected in embryos.
- Severe masculine factor, such as sperm of bad quality.
- Bad embryonic quality or repetitive insertion failure due to suspected masculine factor as the main cause.
- Women without partner.