Fertility Treatment FAQs: IUI, IVF, ICSI, and Egg Donatio (2024)

Table of Contents
Intrauterine Insemination (IUI) FAQ’s 1. How long does it take for the procedure? 2. How much rest is required after the procedure? 3. Can I carry my normal activities after the procedure? 4. Is it done under anesthesia? 5. Is it painful? 6. Is it ultrasound guided process? 7. Do I need to take leave from work after the procedure? 8. Do you check rupture before IUI? 9. Can we get a sem*n sample from home? 10. Is there any probability of error in sem*n egg mismatch? In vitro fertilization (IVF) FAQ’s 1. What is the difference between IVF & ICSI? 2. How many times can one try IVF? 3. Is IVF harmful? 4. Is the incidence, of multifetal pregnancy high? 5. Is the incidence of birth defects high? 6. What Is the gap period required between 2 unsuccessful cycles? 7. It is said that the success is difficult in the first attempt! Is it true? 8. Is complete bed rest advised after embryo transfer? 9. How much of rest is required immediately post transfer, before one leaves the hospital? 10. When does the[block]1[/block] start and how long does it take? 11. Which protocol is better? 12. Can embryo transfer be done under anesthesia? 13. Does one need to take many injections even post transfer? 14. How many times do I need to visit the hospital for ultrasounds? Intracytoplasmic sperm injection(ICSI) FAQ’s 1. Is the fertilization rate of ICSI better than IVF? 2. What is the rate of fertilization of ICSI? 3. Does ICSI technology always need to be coupled with testicular sperm retrieval? Frozen Embryo Replacement Program FAQ’s 1. For how long one can freeze the embryos? 2. Which is stage freezing carried out? 3. Any complications of the procedure? 4. Are the results not as good as the fresh cycle? 5. How long does the process take? Egg Donation Program FAQ’s 1. What is the age criterion for donor selection? 2. What are the screening criteria? 3. Do you follow a shared donor program? 4. Can we get our own donor? 5. Can we get a Donor according to our preferences? 6. Are the donors married? 7. How many eggs are usually targeted from a donor egg program? 8. How long does it take for a donor selection? 9. Do you have a Caucasian & African donor program? 10. How long does one need to stay in India (overseas patients)?

Intrauterine Insemination (IUI) FAQ’s

1. How long does it take for the procedure?

The sem*n processing takes approx 45 mins to 1 hour, after submission of the sem*n sample, which is most often by masturbation. It is preferred that the sample is procured within the hospital premises. After the sample is processed its takes 5-10 min for insemination.

2. How much rest is required after the procedure?

We commonly advise a rest of 10-15 min post insemination in the hospital.

3. Can I carry my normal activities after the procedure?

Of Course, there are no restrictions at all after the procedure.

4. Is it done under anesthesia?

The majority of the time, it is without anesthesia, but however, in a selected group of patients, the provision of anesthesia can be made available.

5. Is it painful?

In most of the cases, it’s painless.

6. Is it ultrasound guided process?

Usually not, but in selected cases, like history of difficult transfers, patient request.

7. Do I need to take leave from work after the procedure?

You may commence work the very same day.

8. Do you check rupture before IUI?

It follow the dynamics of body physiology that once a triggering injection for rupture is given, in the majority of the cases the follicles would rupture between 36- 48 hours. The inseminated sem*n sample would have viable sperms for at least minimum 48-72 hours and the viability of egg is 24 hrs. Since follicle rupture is a dynamic procedure, the exact time of rupture is very difficult to predict, however, I take the help of the LH surge kit, wherein if there is a surge on the day of Inj HCG (hormone injection for egg rupture), the IUI is performed in the next 24 hours.

9. Can we get a sem*n sample from home?

sem*n can be brought from home, provided you reach the hospital within 30-45 mins of ejacul*tion. In such conditions, the doctor should be informed, so that a sterile container can be made available prior. The container containing the sample should be kept at body temperature.

10. Is there any probability of error in sem*n egg mismatch?

There is no room for error as all the samples are doubled witnessed.


In vitro fertilization (IVF) FAQ’s

1. What is the difference between IVF & ICSI?

Both are forms ofin vitro fertilization, differing in only the method of fertilization in the embryology lab. In IVF, the sperms and the egg are allowed to fertilize in a small petri dish and this method is very similar to the natural form of fertilization. IVF is deployed when sperm parameters are normal. ICSI, is the form of Fertilization, mainly for Male Factor fertility, where each egg is injected with the help of a fine needle with the sperm. Indicated when the sperms parameters are deranged in count, motility, morphology.

2. How many times can one try IVF?

There are many parameters which decide this, like the age of the female partner, clinical profile of the patient, previous response to IVF cycle, Financial implications. In most of the cases, IVF can be attempted 3-4 times, if all the parameters are in range.

3. Is IVF harmful?

Basically, any surgical procedure has its inherited risk, but overall the rate of surgical complication during egg collection is minimal, as it is guided by ultrasound. As far as the egg making injections/hormones are concerned, they are excreted daily in urine and stools, provided the renal and kidney parameters, are normal. As far as the OHSS is considered, the incidence of severe form is only 1-2%, which requires hospitalization. The mild and moderate cases can be handled on OPD basis.

4. Is the incidence, of multifetal pregnancy high?

On an average the twin pregnancy rate is 20%, of the triplet is 5%, and singleton is 75%, when day 3 embryos (3), are transferred.

5. Is the incidence of birth defects high?

Till date, millions of babies have been born across the globe, through this technology and the evidence is backing that there is no statistically significant increase in the incidence of the defects.

6. What Is the gap period required between 2 unsuccessful cycles?

In the case of fresh cycles, at least 2 months and in the case of a frozen cycle, 1 month.

7. It is said that the success is difficult in the first attempt! Is it true?

The overall pregnancy rate is 30-50%, across the globe, which means around 30 -50 cases per 100 get pregnant in the first attempt.

8. Is complete bed rest advised after embryo transfer?

The recent evidence is not backing this; however, we advise rest for 2-3 days after which they can carry their routine non-strenuous activity.

9. How much of rest is required immediately post transfer, before one leaves the hospital?

Usually 10-15 mins.

10. When does the[block]1[/block] start and how long does it take?

There are 2 commonly used protocols, long and the short (antagonist). The short protocols start within first 3 days of the menses and the conventional long protocol starts on day 21 of the previous cycle.

11. Which protocol is better?

Depending on the clinical case, the short protocol is preferred in donor cycle andPCOS.

Must Checkout:Difference Between PCOS and PCOD

12. Can embryo transfer be done under anesthesia?

Yes, we do have the provision to be done under anesthesia.

13. Does one need to take many injections even post transfer?

This depends on the clinic to clinic. In our clinic; we do not routinely encourage injections, except in selected cases.

14. How many times do I need to visit the hospital for ultrasounds?

On an average 4 times.


Intracytoplasmic sperm injection(ICSI) FAQ’s

1. Is the fertilization rate of ICSI better than IVF?

Yes, in the case of male factor infertility.

2. What is the rate of fertilization of ICSI?

70-80%.

3. Does ICSI technology always need to be coupled with testicular sperm retrieval?

Yes, because testicular sperms are poor in the count, motility.


Frozen Embryo Replacement Program FAQ’s

1. For how long one can freeze the embryos?

As long as 10 yrs. The results are not affected by the duration of freezing.

2. Which is stage freezing carried out?

Day 2/3/5 embryos can be frozen. However, freezing, the embryo at the blastocyst stage is recommended.

3. Any complications of the procedure?

In expert’s hands, they are negligible.

4. Are the results not as good as the fresh cycle?

This is a myth. In Fact, the results are equal or better, when indications & expertise, are optimally matched.

5. How long does the process take?

2-3 weeks.


Egg Donation Program FAQ’s

1. What is the age criterion for donor selection?

Preferably 21-29 yrs.

2. What are the screening criteria?

We strictly adhere to the ICMR guidelines. A detailed medical, family history is undertaken along with blood test to assess the physical fitness and for the screening of infectious diseases like HIV, HbsAg, HCV, VDRL.

3. Do you follow a shared donor program?

Usually no. We use one donor for one patient only.

4. Can we get our own donor?

No, we strictly adhere to the anonymous donor egg program.

5. Can we get a Donor according to our preferences?

Usually, we try to select the donor profile as close as to the recipient. Certain preferences as religion, educational status etc can be catered to.

6. Are the donors married?

We select donors who are married and have at least one normal living child.

7. How many eggs are usually targeted from a donor egg program?

Usually 10-15 eggs.

8. How long does it take for a donor selection?

Usually 2-3 weeks, however, we do have a premium Donor egg program running too, wherein we have prescreened donors.

9. Do you have a Caucasian & African donor program?

Yes, we do have the affiliation with Donor agencies that do provide such a facility.

10. How long does one need to stay in India (overseas patients)?

We can limit the stay to as short as 7-10 days, by being in touch via emails.


Fertility Treatment FAQs: IUI, IVF, ICSI, and Egg Donatio (1)

Fertility Treatment FAQs: IUI, IVF, ICSI, and Egg Donatio (2024)
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