1. What are the factors affecting the fertility of women?
The most important factor is age. As a woman’s age increases, the chances of conceiving decrease. After the age of 44, the chance of pregnancy practically is negligible. Previous sexually transmitted infections, infections affecting the ovaries and tubes also negatively affect the chance of pregnancy.
2. How often should women have a gynecological examination?
Gynecological examinations should be performed annually in sexually active women. Along with these examinations, the PAP test (smear) should also be performed for cervical cancer screening.
3. Do fibroids and clogged tubes affect pregnancy?
If fibroids put pressure on the inner layer of the uterus, that is, where the baby will develop, it affects the chance of pregnancy. Fibroids that have grown out of the uterine wall, on the other hand, do not affect the chance of pregnancy unless they are very large. The clogged tubes make pregnancy impossible.
4. When should couples who cannot have children despite a regular relationship seek treatment?
If the woman is younger than 35 and there is no problem in the history that may affect the formation of pregnancy, examination and treatment should be started after 1 year.
5. Until what age can IVF be applied? How long should older patients wait?
IVF can be applied up to the age of 45. However, it should be known that the chance decreases after the age of 40.
6. What is microinjection?
Microinjection is an in vitro fertilization method in which a single sperm is injected into the egg and fertilization is achieved.
7. What is IVF?
Unlike microinjection, sperms are deposited around a certain number of eggs and one of the sperm enters the egg spontaneously.
8. What is the difference between microinjection and in vitro fertilization method?
In microinjection, a sperm is directly injected into the egg with a special device (micromanipulator) to help fertilization.
9. Who is IVF or microinjection applied to? How is it applied?
These methods are applied in cases where you cannot conceive and classical treatment methods are ineffective.
10. What stages does IVF treatment consist of?
It consists of the stages of stimulation of the ovaries, collection of eggs, fertilization of eggs with sperm, and transplantation of fertilized eggs (embryo transfer).
11. What is done if the sperm count is very low or there is no sperm in the sperm analysis?
If the sperm count is low, microinjection is performed. In cases where there is no sperm in the semen, it is necessary to surgically search for sperm in the testis.
12. How are eggs collected? Is it a painful procedure?
Eggs are collected by vaginal ultrasound. It is not a painful procedure. In our clinic, we use light general anesthesia for egg collection in all IVF applications.
13. How does the person feel after the egg collection process?
Usually, he can go home some time after the procedure and even return to work in the afternoon of the same day.
14. Is the ovarian reserve depleted as a result of these treatments?
Stimulation of the ovaries for IVF does not reduce the reserve.
15. Is every egg fertilized?
For eggs to be fertilized, they must be mature and structurally normal. Not all eggs are suitable for fertilization. Not every fertilized egg turns into a healthy embryo.
16. How are the embryos placed in the uterus after the eggs are fertilized?
Embryo transfer is a simple procedure. It is inserted into the uterus under ultrasound guidance with a thin plastic catheter through the cervix.
17. Will there be any embryos left after the transfer? If so, what to do with them?
High-quality embryos remaining after transfer can be frozen and stored.
18. How is embryo selection done? How can multiple pregnancy be prevented?
Selection is made according to the age of the woman, embryo quality, number of applications and the presence of embryos to be frozen. 6. March. With the regulation that entered into force in 2010, the number of embryos transferred was limited to 1-2.
19. Should I rest after the transfer?
The benefit of rest has not been shown. We recommend continuing a normal life.
20. When will the person return to their normal activities after the transfer?
It can return to normal activities other than sexual life and sports immediately after transfer.
21. Does it affect a person’s sex life?
We do not recommend intercourse until the day of the pregnancy test, but this is not a proven practice.
22. Do hormone drugs used in IVF treatment increase the risk of cancer? Do these drugs have side effects?
There is no increased risk of cancer. Overstimulation of the ovaries (hyperstimulation) is the most important risk.
23. Will ectopic pregnancy occur as a result of these treatments?
The probability of ectopic pregnancy is around 1-3%. The probability of it being both inside and outside the uterus is 0.5%. This is called a heterotopic pregnancy.
24. How are the pregnancy results obtained from the frozen embryo?
These rates vary a lot from center to center. At Anatolia IVF Center, we achieve a pregnancy rate of around 45-50%.
25. Is there a difference in the risk of disability between the frozen embryos and the babies born with the normal in vitro fertilization method?
There is no difference.
26. If pregnancy cannot be achieved even though there is no medical problem in both of the couples, what is the procedure?
If there is no pregnancy with IVF, a detailed research should be done. If there is a reason to prevent pregnancy, it should be treated. However, there is often no obvious cause.
27. How long does IVF treatment take?
It takes about 30 days from the beginning of the treatment to the day of the pregnancy test.
28. Is the risk of miscarriage higher in IVF pregnancies?
The risk of miscarriage is not higher.
29. How many times can IVF be tried?
After three attempts, the chance of pregnancy drops. Pregnancy can be achieved in subsequent attempts, but the chance is less.
30. Do the sperm and eggs used belong to the spouses?
Yes
31. Can we determine gender in IVF treatment?
It can be determined, but this is not possible in Turkey due to ethical and legal reasons.
32. Are there any precautions that can be taken for genetic problems before pregnancy occurs?
If there are genetic diseases in the family and there is a preimplantation diagnosis of these diseases, embryos can be examined.
33. To whom is genetic examination of embryos recommended?
Genetic diagnosis is possible in embryos in Mediterranean anemia, sickle cell anemia, and many similar diseases inherited from a single gene.
After pregnancy occurs, some genetic diseases can be diagnosed by chorionic villus sampling or amniocentesis.
34. What are the chances of success in the IVF procedure?
Success depends on the woman’s age and embryo quality. Pregnancy rates under the age of 30 are around 55-60%, and after the age of 40, it drops to 15-20%.
35. What are the factors affecting the success of IVF?
The age of the woman, the quality of the embryo, the integrity of the uterus affect the success.
36. What are the factors that negatively affect the success of IVF treatment?
Problems such as adhesions, fibroids or polyps that will prevent the embryos from adhering to the uterus, and clogged tubes and being filled with water negatively affect the success of IVF.
37. What are the risks that may occur during the IVF procedure?
The most important risks are multiple pregnancy and overstimulation syndrome.
38. Is it necessary to stay in hospital during IVF treatment?
No hospitalization is required at any stage of the procedure.
39. Is there a difference between babies born from pregnancies obtained through in vitro fertilization and babies born normally?
There is no difference. In cases where only the sperm taken from the testicles are used for fertilization, there may be an increase in some anomalies, albeit a little.
40. What is important for choosing the right IVF center? What should the patient pay attention to when making this choice?
IVF center selection, 6. March. With the new IVF Regulation that came into force in 2010, it gained even more importance. The legal restriction on the number of embryos transferred and the aggravation of state support conditions made the choice of center more important.