IVF

Once you have embarked on a program of IVF treatment, one of the major concerns is how to pay for IVF. If you are lucky and you have a mild infertility problem, this can often be resolved at low cost. However, with the current pregnancy rate after IVF in the region of 30%, it is possible that you will have [...]

  Since the birth of the first child with assisted reproduction technology, the analysis of morphology (i.e. visual characteristics of sperm, eggs and embryos) has been used to determine the best embryos to select for the transfer procedure. The technique of intracytoplasmic morphology-selected sperm injection (IMSI) continues this philosophy. Traditionally, it was embryo morphology that interested the [...]

The IVF Revolution   In 1978, a baby, and a new field of medicine was born!!   The first baby conceived with IVF or in vitro fertilization (outside of the body or ‘in glass’) was born.    IVF is very simple in that sperm and eggs are simply mixed and maintained in culture (in a specialized laboratory). [...]

  After a year of trying to conceive, couples should visit a clinical infertility specialist to start to examine the causes of infertility. A year of unprotected intercourse is usually determined as the best startpoint since each embryo formed appears to have an approximately 10% chance of implantation and therefore pregnancy. Therefore, after 12 attempts [...]

One of the many ironies of life is that many women who want to have a baby of their own must overcome infertility problems, while women who are unprepared for pregnancy end up with a bun in their oven.  If you are a couple experiencing difficulties conceiving, then there are a few steps you can [...]

      For years men have been under attack - first there was sperm donation and cryopreservation, then the ‘artificial testicle’.   Now, it seems – men are starting to rebel!!   At last, scientists (males) have developed the ‘artificial womb’.   This elegant structure is in reality what makes women so special (or one [...]

The technique of pICSI (physiological ICSI) has been developed to try to return to nature during ICSI (as much as possible of course!). The idea of the technique is to select the best sperm for your ICSI procedure, with as little bias from the embryologist. Image courtesy of Biocoat   The technique relies on a [...]

  What is normal fertility?   Normal fertility is defined as the achievement of pregnancy within 12 months of trying to conceive. Basically, this means 12-13 attempts since the menstrual cycle is about 28 days in duration. When a pregnancy doesn’t occur during this period, couples should consider seeking medical advice and fertility tests. So, [...]

Tips and tricks to unlock that door…     Have you recently completed an IVF cycle, ICSI or IUI? Waiting for the pregnancy test?   Bear in mind that, although you do not need to do anything else till the pregnancy test, an embryo is growing in your uterus and will try to implant and [...]