What You Should Know About the Insemination Stage of IVF Treatment
Starting the family that you have always wanted can be more challenging than you think. Many times there are impediments to natural conception, such as male infertility issues and female infertility issues. Thankfully there have been many steps forward with regard to assisted reproductive technology. The latest advances in reproductive medicine can help you start the family of your dreams.
One of the most popular options for fertility treatment out there is in vitro fertilization (IVF). Right now, we'd like to go over the insemination phase of the IVF process. In order to do that, it's important to provide a general overview of the entire IVF process.
About In Vitro Fertilization (IVF)
In vitro fertilization (IVF) is one of the most well-known options for fertility treatment, having helped countless couples have children when they were unable to conceive naturally. IVF involves the fertilization of a woman's eggs in a lab setting, which helps increase the chances of successful pregnancy.
IVF can involve other reproductive medicine treatments as well, such as egg donation, sperm donation, and surrogate carriers. Each of these additional processes will address various needs of patients. All of these matters and many more can be discussed in greater detail during the consultation process.
The Stages of In Vitro Fertilization (IVF)
The basic breakdown of stages in the in vitro fertilization (IVF) process are as follows:
- Ovulation induction using fertility drugs
- Retrieval of eggs from the ovaries
- Insemination/fertilization of the eggs
- Incubation of the embryos
- Transfer of the embryos to the womb
What does the insemination stage of in vitro fertilization (IVF) involve?
Once the eggs have been retrieved, they are isolated in a petri dish. Sperm is placed in the petri dish and allowed to fertilize the egg by natural means.
Insemination Option: Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI)
There are some cases in which traditional insemination is not an idea option. This generally refers to cases in which the sperm has poor motility or is in an insufficient quantity. This is when intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) may be used. ICSI means that an individual sperm that is deemed healthy is injected directly into the egg in order to ensure fertilization.
What happens after the insemination stage is completed?
After the insemination process is completed, the petri dishes with the inseminated eggs are placed in an incubating unit to help promote/facilitate fertilization and development. The egg will begin to go through cellular division, and after about two or three days of incubation, the embryo transfer phase is performed. Fertility specialists will assist in monitoring patients (or surrogates) for signs of pregnancy and successful in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatment.
In some cases, patients will elect to have their embryos cryopreserved so that they can be used at a later time. As with the previously mentioned processes, this can be discussed in greater detail during your consultation.
Learn More About Advanced Fertility Treatments
If you would like to learn more about all of your options for fertility treatment and starting the family that you have always wanted, be sure to contact our Omaha, Nebraska fertility specialists today. Our entire team looks forward to meeting you in person and helping you make the best possible choices when it comes to your fertility treatment options.
