When many people think of fertility treatments, they think of in vitro fertilization (IVF). IVF is an assisted reproductive technique (ART) involving the collection of eggs and sperm for fertilization in a lab. Once fertilized, the embryo is inserted into the uterus, hopefully resulting in a pregnancy. IVF is the most effective type of ART, though it’s important to note that many patients get pregnant with less invasive fertility treatments.
At The Reproductive Medicine Group, our board-certified fertility specialists diagnose and provide all appropriate treatment modalities to overcome infertility, including IVF. Our fertility specialists have been selected by their peers as the Best Doctors in America by US News and World Report and have served Tampa Bay for over 38 years. When you partner with RMG, you can trust that you’re in the best of hands.
IVF has proven to be a highly effective solution for many patients who cannot conceive on their own, whether because of medical or situational factors, including:
IVF has several set stages, but it’s not always a straightforward process. Every infertility treatment plan is unique, fertility problems are different, and adjustments are made through each cycle to give patients the best chance to conceive.
You'll take fertility medications to stimulate multiple mature follicles (egg-containing ovarian cysts). During this time, you'll undergo frequent monitoring using sonograms and blood tests. Once these diagnostic methods indicate that the time is appropriate, you will take a trigger injection to mature the eggs. The matured eggs are then recovered through a transvaginal ultrasound procedure, which is usually performed under intravenous (IV) conscious sedation and involves the use of a special needle. The process typically takes 15-30 minutes, and most patients can go home within two hours.
After the retrieval procedure, your eggs will be fertilized in a laboratory with either your partner’s sperm or a donor’s sperm. The resulting embryos will then be incubated for about a week. In cases of male factor-related infertility, an intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) may be performed. During ICSI, a skilled embryologist directly injects a single sperm into each egg, which improves the chances of a successful pregnancy.
The embryo will be inserted into your uterus via a small catheter. Because the embryo transfer procedure is similar to an insemination procedure, little discomfort is involved, and no anesthesia is required.
Two weeks after the embryo transfer, you’ll come back to the clinic for a blood pregnancy test. If the test results are positive, you’ll come in 48 hours later for a repeat blood pregnancy test.
Assisted hatching is an additional procedure that can be performed in patients undergoing IVF to help with embryo implantation. Embryos created using IVF are surrounded by a hard outer layer of cells called the zona pellucida. To successfully implant into the uterus, the embryo must break free of this “shell.” Assisted hatching involves creating a small crack in the zona pellucida, helping the embryo break free and implant. This can lead to higher pregnancy rates in some patients.
Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI) enables men with poor sperm quality to father children. ICSI can also be used in some cases of unexplained failed fertilization in a prior IVF cycle, sperm obtained through TESE (testicular extracted sperm), and for all cycles involving PGT (preimplantation genetic testing).
During this procedure, a microscopic hole is placed in the egg membrane with an instrument that resembles a needle. Then, a single sperm from the male is inserted into the egg. There is no difference between the offspring produced by ICSI and those conceived by other methods.
Because many of the steps must align with a menstrual cycle, the entire IVF process typically takes 4-6 months.
The Reproductive Medicine Group is proud of our IVF success rates which are above the national average. As a member of the Society for Assisted Reproductive Technology (SART), we submit all of our data for confirmation and review. Our IVF statistics are also reviewed and reported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). You can review our most recent data here.
We understand that finances play a significant role in fertility care. There are many variables that affect the cost of IVF, primarily insurance coverage and specific treatment plan requirements. If your insurance does not include fertility benefits or your benefits are limited, fertility loan options are available to assist you with financing your treatments.
If you have concerns about conceiving via IVF, you can rest assured that long-term studies show no negative effects on children.
IVF success depends on several factors, but in general, it is most successful for patients 35 and younger. However, many patients in their late 30s and early 40s are able to successfully get pregnant through IVF.
We pride ourselves on delivering exceptional, personalized care to the Greater Tampa Bay area. To schedule an IVF consultation with one of our fertility doctors, contact us today.
