IVF
What is IVF?
IVF (In Vitro Fertilization) is a supportive reproductive technique used to prevent infertility-related issues in either the male or female partner, allowing couples to have a baby. It is successfully applied in all infertility diagnoses today.
This IVF treatment method, applied to couples wishing to have a child, involves the fertilization of an egg collected from the woman with a sperm sample taken from the man, in a laboratory setting under the supervision of doctors. After fertilization, the resulting embryo is transferred into the woman’s uterus.
There is no difference between the pregnancy resulting from this procedure and a pregnancy achieved through conventional fertilization.
How Long Does IVF Treatment Take?
When the first step of IVF treatment is taken, the road ahead may seem uncertain for many prospective parents. Although the goal is to bring a healthy baby into the world, it is much harder for candidates to know what to expect on this journey. Since every case is unique, it is impossible to predict exactly how the woman’s cycle will progress. At this point, it is also important for parents to fully understand what IVF and the IVF process involve.
IVF treatment is a complex series of procedures used to aid fertility or prevent genetic issues, helping individuals or couples to have a child. The process has certain stages that proceed differently for each candidate. There are many subjective factors that affect how quickly the body responds to treatment. The cause of infertility is often the factor that gives the most clues about the progression of the process. However, for women, the IVF process actually begins weeks earlier. IVF is not a single treatment, but a series of procedures. An average IVF cycle lasts around 6 to 8 weeks from consultation to transfer, but depending on each patient’s specific conditions, the path is similar for everyone. What changes is how your body responds at each stage.
Which patients are suitable candidates for IVF treatment?
When Should Couples Who Cannot Have a Baby Despite Regular Sexual Intercourse Consider IVF Treatment?
Some people can get pregnant very quickly, while for others, the process may take longer. Generally, it is expected that about 84% of couples who engage in regular, unprotected intercourse every 2 or 3 days will conceive within a year. If there is still no result after a year, infertile couples should consult a specialized practitioner.
Infertility, commonly known as “sterility” in the public, is the condition where a couple cannot conceive despite engaging in regular, unprotected sexual intercourse. IVF treatment is a frequently preferred treatment for couples suffering from this condition, but it is also preferred in many other cases, especially for couples who have difficulty getting pregnant due to age. Therefore, to achieve a positive result in IVF treatment, understanding in which situations or for whom it can be applied is of great importance.
How is IVF Treatment Performed?
IVF (In Vitro Fertilization) is one of the various techniques that help individuals with fertility issues to have a baby. IVF is a method commonly sought by couples wishing to have a child. The treatment process involves collecting the eggs and sperm, which are the reproductive cells of the mother and father, and bringing them together outside the body to be fertilized. The resulting embryo is then transferred to the woman’s uterus with the goal of achieving pregnancy.
During IVF, an egg is taken from the woman’s ovaries and fertilized with sperm in the laboratory. The fertilized egg, known as an embryo, is then sent back to the woman’s uterus to grow and develop. This process can be done using your own eggs and your partner’s sperm, or with eggs and sperm from donors.
This is the basic summary of IVF treatment. However, it is important to keep in mind that this process can vary for each individual. Although it consists of 6 main stages, the process has many more details.
Are There Risks of IVF Treatment?
IVF treatment is one of the healthiest options available for couples who are unable to have a baby. However, like all medical treatments, there are some risks involved. Serious complications arising from the medications and procedures used during the treatment process are quite rare.
In the IVF process, injectable fertility medications (gonadotropins) are typically used. These medications help stimulate the ovaries to grow a number of follicles. Although rare, the potential side effects of these injectable fertility drugs include:
- Mild bruising and pain at the injection site (using different injection sites may help)
- Nausea and sometimes vomiting
- Temporary allergic reactions such as skin redness and/or itching at the injection site
- Breast tenderness and increased vaginal discharge
- Mood swings and fatigue
- Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome (OHSS)
Most symptoms of OHSS (nausea, bloating, ovarian discomfort) are mild. They typically resolve within a few days after egg retrieval without the need for further treatment. In severe cases, OHSS can lead to a significant accumulation of fluid in the abdomen (belly) and lungs. This can cause very enlarged ovaries, dehydration, shortness of breath, and severe abdominal pain. Very rarely (in less than 1% of women undergoing egg retrieval for IVF), OHSS can lead to blood clots and kidney failure.
However, it is important to note that all these side effects are rare occurrences. While past studies suggested a connection between the use of fertility drugs and ovarian cancer, recent advancements in technology and medicine have shown no clear relationship between the use of fertility drugs and ovarian cancer.
What Are the Factors Affecting IVF Treatment Prices?
While prospective parents who choose IVF treatment primarily consider emotional, physical, and medical aspects, the financial aspect of this process is also an important factor for many couples. In this context, breaking down the price of IVF treatment into its components and understanding the many factors that can affect the total cost will help you know what to expect.
Considering all the factors, the price of IVF treatment can vary, and in 2022, it generally ranges from 14,000 to 16,000 Turkish Lira.
There is no ‘general’ or ‘typical’ process in IVF treatment. Each case is different, and the specific procedures required for an individual’s treatment may vary. In certain situations, additional procedures, technologies, and services that may assist in achieving pregnancy, as well as several other factors, can also affect the total cost of one IVF cycle.
How Is the Most Suitable IVF Price Determined?
Since IVF is not just a treatment but a series of procedures, many doctors, nurses, and technicians are involved at each stage of the process. Instead of charging separately for each step, most clinics prefer to set a basic price per cycle, as individual pricing would make the process much more complex. The amount that includes most of the costs may vary depending on factors such as the clinic’s equipment, its location, and the personalized treatment protocol created based on the findings of the prospective parents’ tests. These factors can generally be listed as follows:
- Laboratory tests
- Ultrasounds
- Egg retrieval
- Sperm preparation
- Embryo culture
- Embryo transfer
- Medication treatment
- Anesthesia
- Embryo storage
What Is the Success Rate of IVF Treatment?
Today, infertility, which affects 15% of couples who wish to have children, raises the question of whether IVF treatment is worth attempting due to various factors such as emotional and physical costs. One of the most common questions at this point is what the chances of success are with IVF treatment. The good news is that IVF is generally successful, especially for women under the age of 35 or those using donor eggs.
IVF success rates are typically reported based on the woman’s age. As age increases, unless donor eggs are used, the success rates of IVF tend to decrease. When a high-quality 5-day embryo is transferred, the reported success rates by age are as follows:
| Female Age | IVF Treatment Success Rate |
| Aged 30 or below | % 58-60 |
| 30-34 years | %54-56 |
| 35-37 years | %52-54 |
| 38 years | %40-45 |
| 39 years | %35-40 |
| 40 years | %22-25 |
| 41 -43 years | %15-20 |
| 43-45 years | %10-15 |
| Over the age of 46 | 0% |
What Determines the Pregnancy Chances in IVF?
The success of IVF depends on a variety of factors, some of which you have little control over, while others can be improved with healthy lifestyle changes. Some of the most important factors considered when calculating the likelihood of pregnancy resulting from treatment are:
- Age
- Height and weight
- The number of previous full-term pregnancies
- Total number of pregnancies (including pregnancy losses)
- Whether you plan to use your own eggs or donor eggs
- The cause of infertility (if known)
Additionally, achieving success in IVF treatment also depends on these factors as well as the choice of clinic. NOVAART IVF Center in Ankara offers personalized treatments tailored to the needs of couples who wish to have children, with advanced diagnostic methods and a top-tier embryology lab, alongside a team of expert IVF specialists, providing the best treatment options and continuing IVF treatments.
Are There Signs of Implantation After IVF Treatment?
Couples who struggle with infertility often turn to fertility treatments like IVF to overcome their difficulties. However, for many prospective parents, the waiting period can be the most challenging aspect of the procedure, as pregnancy symptoms may take up to two weeks to appear.
A healthy embryo typically hatches from its shell 5-7 days after fertilization and implants in the uterine lining within hours of hatching. Therefore, the actual implantation of the embryo occurs about 2-5 days after a day-3 embryo transfer or 1-3 days after a day-5 embryo transfer. What’s important to note is that the waiting period after the embryo transfer may vary for each individual.
In this regard, IVF candidates may not be able to definitively determine whether the embryo has implanted without necessary tests. However, some early pregnancy symptoms, and in certain cases, cramps, may indicate that the embryo has successfully implanted in the uterus. This may or may not be accompanied by spotting or
What Are the Methods to Increase Success in IVF?
Today, IVF has become one of the most popular and successful methods frequently chosen by couples who want to have children. Thanks to the rapidly advancing technology, obstetricians are now able to offer a much more individualized and personalized treatment process to their patients, which has significantly increased the success rates of IVF.
However, while new information continues to emerge regarding the factors that enhance success in IVF, only some of these have been proven to have an effect, while others remain unproven or are still debated. All of these new developments aim to achieve the maximum pregnancy chance by transferring the highest quality embryo at the most optimal time and conditions.
In addition to all these factors, choosing the right clinic and doctor is also crucial. Since IVF is a team effort, the selection of the clinic and team is a critical decision for candidates. For a successful outcome, the coordination and collaboration between the patient, the doctor, the embryologist, the nurse, and other staff members in the chosen clinic are essential and can also be a key factor influencing the success of the treatment.
What Measures Should Be Taken to Avoid IVF Failure?
IVF, a safe, efficient, and accessible reproductive treatment, has a success rate of over 50% due to advancements in technology and clinical developments. However, IVF may still fail in some cases. The key factor to consider here is that good habits lead to good results, and therefore, it is essential to take certain precautions and follow the doctor’s instructions to avoid the failure of the treatment.
Other Articles
