What is the Embryo Transfer Process?
Embryo transfer a process within the IVF or ART, Aided Reproductive Technology process. Generally, embryo transfer is completed forty eight hours after the egg has been inseminated by the sperm cell. At this point, cell division is already occurring and there will be a minimum of four cells visible inside the embryo once it's examined under the microscope.
How Does Embyro Transfer Work?
After a lengthy build up and several complicated procedures to get to this point, embryo transfer will virtually look like it's too simple. For the bulk of women tho', transferring the embryo is simple and painless. it's done once the woman is conscious, therefore no anaesthetic is needed. A vaginal speculum is used to open the walls of the vagina that the cervix may be clearly seen. A fine plastic tubing is then fed up through the vagina and thru the centre of the cervix into the uterus. Some doctors can use ultrasound to assist them guide the top of the tubing to the perfect location within the uterus before the embryo is injected.
It may be tough to pass the tubing through the cervix if it's scarred or if the lady has had previous surgery that has caused her cervical opening to become restricted. A dilatation is typically necessary before the embryo transfer stage. This then permits the catheter to be pushed gently through the cervix.
How Many Embryos Are Transferred?
Most clinics can currently only transfer two embryos. This will increase the possibilities of a successful pregnancy however limits the chance of triplets and multiples. In previous years there was very little regulation round the numbers of embryos that may well be transferred. currently there are generally more responsible practices being conducted in fertility clinics.
The other issue is that the chance of successful pregnancies from fertility treatments overall has increased.
Embryo Transfer Options
Generally there are two options for embryo transfer; either a natural cycle or programmed frozen embryo transfer. for women who are ovulating normally, the embryo transfer is timed to take place 2-3 days after they need ovulated, depending on how old the embryos were after they were frozen.
With a programmed frozen embryo transfer, natural ovulation is suppressed through taking oestrogen. This has the additional benefit of thickening the female internal reproductive organ lining in preparation for an embryo to implant. Progestin pessaries or gel also are wont to facilitate to create up the female internal reproductive organ lining. It's common for ladies to use these for around two weeks before the transfer procedure. Around 4-5 days once using the progestin pessaries, the embryo transfer is finished.
What is Freezing Embryos?
The process of freezing embryos for later use isn't simply a matter of putting them in an exceedingly deep freeze and hoping for the best. First they're dehydrated so the chance of damage from ice crystals forming is minimised. Then the embryos are cooled to minus one hundred forty degrees and cryopreserved in liquid nitrogen until they're required.
Thawing takes around 1-2 hours. It's important that the embryos are frozen at a precise time in their development. This can be commonly after they are at a four or eight cell stage of cell division. This can be because they have become a little more stable by this stage and there's less probability of them being broken during the freezing and thawing stages.
Embryo Transfer Myths Revealed
You could be forgiven for imagining the uterus is sort of a huge empty space where the embryo rattles around until it finds somewhere soft to nestle in. However those pictures of a pear formed “hollow” area aren’t entirely correct. The back and front walls of the uterus actually meet once there's not a baby forcing them apart. this means that the tiny embryo is really well encircled by soft nourishing tissue and blood. once the embryo is transferred on day two of its development, it will continue to divide for a couple more days before it'll implant.
Try to not change your normal daily activities once you've got had an embryo transfer. The temptation may be strong to just rest up and take it very easy. however bear in mind that in normally conceived pregnancies, women aren’t even aware they're pregnant at this stage and simply set about their lives as per normal.
What is Next?
Check out our information on success rates with Embryo transfers.
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