IVF

When it came time for me to finally get pregnant, it wasn't to happen naturally.  For me, I had to use ART to get pregnant.  I thought it would be IVF but it was ICSI to be exact.  There was the FSH drugs, and I had a lot of pain with my first OPU.   So are you going mad with all these acronyms?  Well read on for a bit of clarity...

IVF is the term used by most people when in fact they are referring to Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART). ART encompasses a whole range of treatments including ovum pick up (OPU), stimulated cycle, natural or Clomid cycle, artificial insemination, In Vitro Fertilization (IVF), Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI), Gamete Intrafallopian Transfer (GIFT), fresh and frozen embryo transfer.

  Ovum Pick Up (OPU) This occurs during the woman’s cycle when the eggs (oocytes) are mature. This is done in the hopes of becoming pregnant. The mature eggs are taken from the ovaries with a needle through the vagina.  

Stimulated Cycle During a stimulated cycle, follicle stimulating hormones (FSH) are used to stimulate the woman’s ovaries to produce multiple mature eggs (oocytes) in the hopes of increasing the odds of becoming pregnant.  

Natural or Clomid Cycle During a natural cycle, the woman’s hormones are monitored to indicate when she will be ovulating. The egg is then collected via OPU. During a Clomid cycle, Clomid is taken orally which increases the FSH produced by the body to increase the number of mature eggs and the hormones are monitored to indicate when she will be ovulating and the egg/eggs are then collected via OPU.  

Artificial Insemination Semen is placed into the uterus via artificial means (as opposed to after having sex) at ovulation in the hopes of becoming pregnant.  

In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) This literally means fertilizing in glass. The woman’s egg and the man’s sperm (collected from a semen sample) are put together in a culture dish in the hopes of fertilization occurring.    I

ntracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI) In this case, a single sperm is injected into an egg for fertilization to occur.  

Gamete Intrafallopian Transfer (GIFT) During this procedure, the woman has undergone an OPU and the male partner has given his semen sample for preparation. The egg and sperm sample are then placed into the fallopian tube with the hopes of fertilization.  

Fresh and frozen embryo transfer During a fresh transfer, an embryo of 2-3 day gestation is implanted into the woman’s uterus. With a frozen transfer, an embryo of 2-3 day gestation that has been previously frozen is thawed and then placed in a woman’s uterus. 

I hope this has been of some help to you and at least a little enlightening.