IVF IN VITRO FERTILIZATION
SPECIALISTS EN PERSONALIZED ASSISTED REPRODUCTION
WHAT IS IN VITRO FERTILIZATION LIKE?
In vitro fertilization or IVF is a technique based on rescuing the largest number or eggs produced by the ovaries in each cycle, to later join them with the male’s sperm optimized in the laboratory, thus obtaining embryos. Subsequently, the development of the embryos produced is strictly controlled, selecting the best to be transferred into the uterus of the mother-to-be, thus achieving the desired pregnancy.
In vitro fertilization consists of 4 phases: ovarian stimulation, ovarian puncture, fertilization of the eggs and embryo transfer.
PHASES
Ovarian stimulation
In normal conditions of all the eggs that begin to develop in each cycle in the ovaries, only one will ovulate. In the cycles of in vitro fertilization by a hormone treatment, it is possible to stimulate the growth of the ovules available in that cycle.
When menstruation arrives, a visit to our center is scheduled to perform a basal ultrasound. If the ultrasound is correct, ovarian stimulation is started with drugs containing follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH). This hormone is administered subcutaneously and the physician indicates the dose in an individualized manner depending on each patient’s characteristics. Afterwards, the controls are performed with a specific periodicity for each case, adjusting the dose to the response observed. This process lasts approximately from 8 to 12 days.
Ovarian Puncture
It consists in the retrieval of oocytes from the ovarian follicles, produced with the stimulation, by puncture with an adapted needle. It is performed under anesthetic sedation and with transvaginal ultrasound guidance. The ovarian follicles are located and then, with an aspiration system, the follicular fluid is collected where the oocytes are to be stored in test tubes with culture media. These tubes are immediately handed over to the the biologists for them to be identified and the oocytes are isolated.
The puncture is an outpatient procedure, it does not require general anesthesia or hospital admission; it last 15-30 minutes, and 1 to 2 hours later the patient is discharged, recommending bed rest for the rest of the day. The number of oocytes retrieved per cycle is highly variable depending on each woman, but in general it ranges from 6 to 12 per puncture. It can be fewer in patients with low ovarian reserve.
The sperm should be obtained shortly after the ovarian puncture, with a period of prior sexual abstinence of 3 to 5 days. In our laboratory, the sperm sample is processed to optimize its fertilizing capacity.
fertilization of the ovules
There are two methods of fertilization of the ovules:
- Conventional in vitro insemination or IVF
The insemination of the ovules is performed with some 100.000 mobile spermatozoa for each one. The ovules and the sperm are kept together in the incubator until the following day, when it is determined if fertilization has occurred.
- Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection or ICSI
Intracytoplasmic microinjection of sperm is the introduction, by a microinjector, of a sperm in the cytoplasm of the ovule.
The rate of fertilization by conventional IVF or ICSI is approximately 70-80%. On the day following the puncture (referred to as day +1), the center will get in touch with you to let you know how many ovules have been fertilized.
From that moment on, the embryo begins to divide. Embryo transfer is performed 2 to 5 days after the puncture.
Embryo culture
The embryos obtained are placed in incubators that maintain the conditions necessary for their development. In our center we have state-of-the-art incubator technology, which allows not only optimal conditions at all times for each and every one of the embryos, but also continual control of the development of these embryos, impoving the selection of those with the best chances of producing a healthy child.
Embryo transfer
Embryo transfer is performed 2 to 5 days after the puncture. Our team of embryologists selects the embryos with the best quality to be transferred. Two or three embryos are usually transferred; the rest may be frozen to be used in later cycles, improving the probability of pregnancy per each cycle started.
The embryo transfer process is performed in the operating room, without the use of anesthesia, and you can go home on that same day. You should start a treatment with progesterone to improve the process of embryo implantation, and two weeks after the transfer you will have a control with us to confirm the pregnancy by a blood test and subsequently an ultrasound.
TESTIMONIALS
“Fuimos por recomendación de otras amigas, y la verdad es que nos dieron la confianza que necesitábamos”.
“Si no hubiésemos tenido mellizos, habríamos repetido. Encantadas con el Dr. Herrero, las enfermeras y todo el equipo”.
“Siempre os agradeceré lo bien que me atendisteis. Gracias al Dr. Herrero he conseguido hacer realidad mi sueño de tener en brazos a mi hija Daenerys”
“Somos una feliz pareja que consiguió su sueño en CRA Clínica Sagrada Familia. Lo conseguimos a la primera con FIV. Hay que normalizar una realidad que afecta a muchísimas personas. Ya estoy de 20 semanas y estamos esperando un niño!! 
“
“Han logrado cumplir nuestro mas preciado sueño…. Seremos papas de gemelos…. Gracias a todo el equipo, a Montse, y en especial al Dr Herrero”
One year ago mi twins were born, double hapiness. Thanks to Dr. Julio Herrero and his team.
They have managed to fulfill our most precious dream …. Our twins are on the way…. Thanks to all the team, to Montse, and especially to Dr Herrero.
We felt supported by everyone. Dr. Herrero was very personal and knowledgeable. Went over everything and he was extremely patient with all the questions we had.
“Mario ha venido al mundo gracias a la profesionalidad y dedicación del Dr. Carbonell y todo el equipo médico. Nació el 12 de junio y está hecho todo un campeón ? .
¡ Mil gracias !”
Hace un año y medio aproximadamente que buscamos ser padres y no había manera. Nos hicimos un control y los resultados fueron devastadores. Una hormona antimulleriana de risa (0,4) y unos pronósticos bastante negativos (a pesar de que el Dr. Julio Herrero nunca nos hizo deprimirnos).
Gracias a él y a su equipo hoy nos dan el alta embarazada de 6 semanas después de un proceso que empezó en febrero.
Un milagro que ha sido posible gracias al Dr. Herrero y su equipo que en cuestión de 5 meses con una hormona de 0,4 han echo posible la extracción de 8 óvulos que se convirtieron en 4 embriones sanos, y que ahora se ha traducido en este embarazo y 3 embriones más que nos esperan!
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