Advances in ART since the first IVF procedure

Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) offers hope for millions of couples facing fertility issues. Since the first successful IVF procedure in 1978, there have been numerous advances the process. Continuous research has led to constant upgradation of methods with increasing success rates. The first IVF treatments had a meagre 6% success rate. The advanced procedures today provide around 50% success rate.

The advanced ART procedures:

The first IVF procedure involved retrieving a mature egg and fertilising it with sperm in a petri dish in a laboratory. The embryo was then transferred to the uterus of the woman. Advances in technology enabled better culture mediums and higher production of eggs per cycle and greatly improved the success of IVF.

Intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI)

ICSI procedure is helpful in men who have very a smaller number of sperm production. In this procedure good quality Sperm selected under microscope and injected into the egg. ICSI needs one only sperm cell per oocyte, meanwhile IVF needs between 50 and 100 thousands. This procedure is very useful if sperms are retrieved surgically from testis where we get a smaller number of sperms.

Assisted Hatching

Hatching is the process by which the outer covering of the embryo opens to release the genetic material inside in the uterus. This step is crucial for the embryo to implant in the endometrium. To increase the chances of implantation in older women, this opening is created in the laboratory before embryo transfer to the uterus of the woman.

Blastocyst Transfer

The embryos are allowed to develop in the lab for an additional 2 days than the conventional IVF procedure of developing 2-3 days. This additional development helps embryologists to determine which embryos are most likely to survive. This also gives the woman extra days for better development of the uterine lining. As well-developed embryos are transferred, fewer number of better-quality embryos are used thereby reducing the chances of multiple pregnancies and increasing the chances of success.

Cryopreservation

Cryopreservation involves freezing embryos for later use. This allows women undergoing cancer treatment and other surgical or medical treatment to freeze their embryos till they are healthy to undergo IVF. This also gives women undergoing IVF the option of storing their embryos for later if their uterine lining is not suitable for implantation immediately. cryopreservation of embryos and transfer of embryos later can prevent ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome in patients with PCOS.

PGS AND PGD procedures

If there is a genetic condition present in the family and there is a chance of transmission to the baby, we can find out whether embryo has genetic disease or not by doing genetic analysis of cells which are collected from the embryo.

Donor programme

Couples with genetic problems or having egg or sperm production problems can opt for donor programme. Donor eggs or sperm can be used as required. Donor embryos can also be used when there is a problem with both the man and the woman.

Rela Hospital is one of the best fertility centres in India. Our success rate of between 50 to 60 % in IVF procedures is one of the highest in the world. We offer the latest procedures according to your specific need. If you have a fertility problem Fertility Help line NO: 9384061582