Consultation

Before embarking on treatment, you will need to have an initial consultation so that your medical history can be reviewed and additional information.

Investigations

Unless previously performed, tests and investigations to assess your ovarian function, sperm and hormone levels are usually performed.

Diagnosis

Once the results of investigations are available, the best course of treatment personalized for you will be discussed, including success rates, risks and side effects. According to the indication, the proposed treatment may be:

Ovulation Induction (OI)/

Intra-Uterine Insemination (IUI)

In-Vitro Fertilisation (IVF)/

Intra-Cytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI)

Starting Stimulation

Controlled ovarian stimulation (COS) is achieved with medication that stimulate your ovaries into producing eggs for collection. You will be required to self-inject over a period of 11-14 days.

Progress Monitoring

During your stimulation further regular scans and blood tests to monitor your response to the treatment (typically every 2-3 days).

Trigger Injection

When your follicles are ready, the stimulation period ends with a ‘trigger injection’ which will further mature your eggs so that they are ready for collection. The egg collection procedure will follow after 34-36 hours.

Egg Collection & Semen Sample

The egg collection is done while you are under sedation and under ultrasound guidance. Your partner will also be required to produce a semen sample on the same day. He needs to have an abstinence period of not less than two and not more than 7 days.

Egg Fertilisation

Once the eggs are collected and according to the quality of the semen sample, they will be inseminated (IVF) or injected (ICSI) with your partner’s sperm and place them in our incubator to fertilise. The developing embryos are closely monitored to check fertilisation has occurred and to make sure that the embryos are growing.

Embryo Transfer

The best quality embryos are transferred back into the uterus in a procedure whose steps are similar to a smear test. Any additional unused embryos of good quality can be frozen for future use. Typically one or two embryos will be transferred back into your uterus.

Post-treatment – the ‘two week wait’ & pregnancy scan

After treatment, you will be asked to wait for 14-16 days before performing a pregnancy test. If it is positive you will normally carry out your first pregnancy scan 2 weeks after a confirmed pregnancy test and again after 4 weeks.