Embryo Culture Is an Integral Prerequisite to a Successful IVF Procedure
Highly trained staff members meticulously handle the embryo culture process at our Omaha, NE, practice for patients undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF). Embryo culture is an integral part of a successful assisted reproduction procedure that will dramatically increase your chances for conception and a healthy pregnancy. Without a precise embryo culture, IVF transfer may not be effective. As a board-certified reproductive endocrinologist Heartland Center for Reproductive Medicine, Dr. Stephanie L.F. Gustin is passionate about helping even the most challenging infertility cases achieve a positive outcome. Whether meeting with Dr. Gustin or one of our other excellent fertility specialists, your treatment will be catered solely to your needs and desires with the highest level of care.
About Embryo Culture
Embryo culture is a crucial prerequisite to IVF. It refers to the process during which the eggs removed from the ovaries are combined with the partner or donor sperm in an artificial medium to create a fertilized egg. Once the eggs are fertilized, the culture process will continue to encourage embryo formation under the careful monitoring of one of our highly trained staff members until they are ready for uterine transfer. Depending on you and your partner’s reproductive history, embryo culture generally takes between two to five days and will help promote successful embryo implantation and increased pregnancy rates.
Without a precise embryo culture, IVF transfer may not be effective.
The Embryo Culture Process
If you have had a failed pregnancy or difficulty conceiving, the team at Heartland Center for Reproductive Medicine can provide the comprehensive care you need. Our expertise in the field of infertility medicine, combined with the latest in modern technology, can help you achieve a positive pregnancy through IVF and the embryo culture process.
- Egg Retrieval: Before egg retrieval, the woman will be given medication injections to produce a healthy amount of eggs. The eggs are then retrieved from the ovaries through a minimally invasive surgical procedure.
- Egg Washing and Examination: Once the eggs are retrieved, they will be carefully washed in a special solution to remove any impurities and examined to determine the number of eggs retrieved. The specialist will then transfer the eggs into the next medium containing carbon dioxide until ready for fertilization.
- Sperm Processing: While the eggs are undergoing examination, the partner’s sperm will undergo special processing to remove seminal fluids and cellular debris in order to provide the purest sample.
- Fertilization: After about two to six hours, each egg will be combined with some of the sperm in a special medium containing proteins, salts, sugars, amino acids, and other essential nutrients to help maintain a healthy pH balance.
- Embryo Formation: Over the next two to five days, the embryos will be carefully monitored to see which ones survive to the cleavage and blastocyst stage. Each embryo will be cultured in a special medium at ideal temperatures to ensure optimal growth and survival. Those that survive will be transferred to the uterus and monitored for implantation.
Contact Us Today
As leaders in the field of reproductive medicine, Heartland Center for Reproductive Medicine has developed a reputation in the community for helping women and couples expand their family. Contact our practice today to meet with one of our highly qualified fertility specialists to begin your fertility journey.
