IVF means In Vitro Fertilization. This is where the fertilization of the egg by the sperm takes place literally in glass (In Vitro) outside the body, in our laboratory.

Dr. Dalton, the Director of Ballarat IVF will discuss your infertility with you in detail. If the decision has been made to proceed to IVF or a related procedure you will be given information during the consultation about the procedure you will have, the likely effects and the likely success rates.

We aim to use a combination of drugs to stimulate the ovaries so that you may develop a number of follicles. We can then recover eggs from these follicles for fertilization and embryo development.

We will require one, or in some cases, more than one semen sample from the man. The aim is to inseminate the egg with the most viable sperm.

The day after insemination, the eggs are checked to confirm that fertilization has occurred. Approximately 70% of eggs will usually become fertilized eggs. Approximately 90% of these fertilized eggs will divide over the next day to form a 2 to 4 cell embryo, but some will not go on to form embryos.

Embryo transfer may be performed 1, 2, 3 or 5 days after egg fertilization, depending on your history and responses to your IVF cycle.

Day 5 embryos are known as blastocysts.   These embryos have a higher chance of achieving pregnancy in some women, but in others, the chances of conceiving with day 1, 2, or 3 embryos may be the same.   A "blastocyst" IVF cycle may increase your chances of becoming pregnant, so feel free to discuss this with Ballarat IVF doctors and nurses.

Ultrasound guided embryo transfer

The final step in your fertility treatment process is embryo transfer.   As the name suggests, embryos are transferred into the cavity of the uterus using a very fine tube which is passed through the cervix (neck of the uterus).   This procedure is performed in a similar way to a Pap smear.   Depending on your age and history, either one or two embryos may be placed in your uterus.   We recommend single embryo transfer for women having their first embryo transfer if they are under 35 years of age.   By having a single embryo transferred, the chances of pregnancy are slightly reduced but the risk of having twins is reduced by 95%.

To give healthy embryos the best chance of leading to a pregnancy, they must be accurately placed in your uterus.   The length of a women's cervix and her uterus can vary.   To help with the accurate placement of embryos into your uterus, Ballarat IVF doctors use an ultrasound to guide placement.   Whilst there is some debate amongst experts as to the amount of benefit that ultrasound guided embryo transfer offers, in our hands it seems to be beneficial, particularly in women who may have had a number of unsuccessful embryo transfers, those who have fibroids or a misshapen uterus.

Arrangements will be made for you to have a pregnancy test performed on about the 14th day after embryo transfer.

How long can my sperm or embryos be stored for?
Because of the strict guidelines set by the ITA (which regulates the practices of all ART clinics in Victoria) gametes (ie. eggs and sperm) can be stored for a maximum of 10 years.

Embryos can be kept in storage for a maximum of 5 years from the date of freezing. However, the storage period may be extended but it requires an application by the patients to the ITA. This can be discussed with co-ordinators of Ballarat IVF.

Can freezing damage my embryos?
Yes. It is possible for embryos to be damaged despite our best efforts when freezing and thawing them. This is because embryo cells contain water which crystallises as it freezes and damages cell membranes.

Highly specialised laboratory techniques are used to minimise the risks, but damage to individual cells within an embryo can occur. Some embryos when examined after the thawing process are not able to be used for transfer.

Approximately 75% of embryos survive thawing.   The pregnancy rate from frozen embryos is approximately 15 - 20% per embryo transfer.

It is important that you have a realistic view of your chances of success with IVF treatment.

For full details on IVF procedure refer to our patient information book or contact us.