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Fertility services

IVF Treatment in Durham, Ontario

In-Vitro Fertilization (IVF) is a specialized and highly successful treatment procedure for assisted reproduction. In this procedure, the eggs and the sperm are fertilized in a laboratory before one or more embryos are implanted in the uterus.

CReATe Durham Fertility has a team of highly qualified and specialized fertility experts that will support and guide you through your IVF journey. Your fertility specialist and the team of reproduction medicine experts may evaluate your medical history and blood/physical tests to confirm your suitability for In-vitro Fertilization (IVF). This procedure is recommended as per age, pre-existing medical conditions, parenthood planning preferences, or when pregnancy through natural fertility treatment and Intra-uterine insemination has not been successful. The team of specialists collaborates with CReATe Fertility Centre Toronto, one of Canada’s top and most prominent IVF institutions, to give you the best medical expertise and knowledge to make your parenting dreams a reality. To save you time and effort, post-IVF, all subsequent cycle monitoring is performed at the CReATe Durham Fertility clinic.

This procedure is recommended as per age, pre-existing medical conditions, parenthood planning preferences, or when pregnancy through natural fertility treatment and Intra-uterine insemination has not been successful. If one or more of the following cases are associated with you, you may be recommended In-Vitro Fertilization (IVF) as the first line of treatment for assisted reproduction:

  • When the use of a gestational carrier (surrogate) is required.
  • When a donated egg is needed for pregnancy
  • If a woman (who decides to be pregnant) has obstructed fallopian tubes
  • In cases when the male infertility factor is severe.
  • When previously frozen (cryopreserved) eggs are being used
  • When a woman suffers from ovulation difficulties (infrequent or no eggs for fertilization), uterine fibroids, endometriosis, or a genetic condition, causing infertility.

The success rate of In-Vitro Fertilization (IVF) depends on various factors, including age and the reason for infertility. If you are about to begin your fertility journey, it’s essential to know that IVF can be a lengthy, invasive, and costly treatment plan. Hence, discussing with your fertility specialist the risks and complications associated with IVF is necessary.

What are the risks associated with In-Vitro Fertilization (IVF)?

In-vitro fertilization (IVF) is a specialized, highly effective, and successful treatment procedure for assisted reproduction. However, despite its high success rate, IVF has some risks and complications. If you are about to begin your fertility journey, it’s essential to know that IVF can be a lengthy, invasive, and costly treatment plan. Hence, discussing with your fertility specialist the risks and complications associated with IVF is necessary.

Some of the risks associated with In-Vitro Fertilization (IVF) are:

  • Multiple pregnancies: Most IVF rounds include the transfer of one healthy embryo (single embryo transfer). Yet, there are situations when fertility experts recommend transferring more than one embryo to increase the probability of success or pregnancy. In these circumstances, more than one embryo may implant and become viable. Multiple pregnancies pose a higher risk of premature labor and low birth weight.
  • Premature and low birth weight newborns are more likely to result from multiple pregnancies
  • Ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome: Using fertility medicines might cause your ovaries to swell and cause discomfort. In the case of pregnancy, abdominal discomfort, bloating, nausea, and diarrhea might continue for up to a week or more.
  • Complications in the egg retrieval procedure: You may encounter bleeding, infection, or injury to the bladder, blood vessels, or colon during the procedure.
  • Ectopic pregnancy: In rare cases, the fertilized egg may implant itself in the fallopian tube outside the uterus. In this case, the egg cannot survive, and the pregnancy must be terminated surgically.
  • Stress: Due to the time-consuming, costly, and invasive nature of treatment associated with IVF, it can negatively impact your and your partner’s mental health.

What is the success rate of in-vitro fertilization (IVF)?

IVF is a well-known, recognized, and highly effective treatment line for assisted reproduction. According to a study of approximately 156,000 women, the average live-birth rate for the first cycle was 29.5%.1 This is comparable to the success rates for a natural cycle in couples with healthy fertility.

Based on your medical history, your fertility specialist may recommend repeated cycles to give you the best chance of success. This same study found that the cumulative live-birth rate was 65.3% after six IVF cycles. These six cycles usually took place over 2 years.1

Age, as well as the cause of your infertility, are crucial factors in your success. Using an egg donor might also have an impact on your success.

CReATe Durham Fertility has a team of highly qualified and specialized fertility experts that will support and guide you through your IVF journey. The team of specialists collaborates with CReATe Fertility Centre Toronto, one of Canada’s top and most prominent IVF institutions, to give you the best medical expertise and knowledge to make your parenting dreams a reality. To save you time and effort, post-IVF, all subsequent cycle monitoring is performed at the CReATe Durham Fertility} clinic.

What can you expect during an In-Vitro Fertilization (IVF) procedure?

In-Vitro Fertilization (IVF) is a process that includes ovarian stimulation, egg retrieval, sperm retrieval, fertilization, and embryo transfer. These processes can take longer than 2-3 weeks, and in some cases, more than one cycle may be necessary for success. The following steps constitute an IVF treatment plan:

1. Induction of Ovulation

If you have decided to use your eggs in IVF, you will be prescribed medication to stimulate your ovaries to produce additional eggs. You and your fertility specialist will determine which drugs to take and when. Medication is for:

  • egg production by ovarian stimulation
  • egg maturation
  • prevention of premature ovulation
  • to aid the thinning of the uterine lining and make it more receptive for embryo implantation

Your fertility specialist may recommend a vaginal ultrasound and blood tests to assess whether you are ready for the egg retrieval. Please note that the egg retrieval process may be canceled or postponed for a variety of reasons, including:

  • Early or premature ovulation
  • Overstimulation of the ovaries leads to the growth of numerous follicles, increasing the risk of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS)
  • Additional medical conditions that may pose a risk
  • Depending on your medical reports and condition, your doctor may advise you to repeat the ovarian induction or use a donor egg.

2. Egg Retrieval

Based on your medical condition, the fertility experts at CReATe Durham may recommend performing this procedure at CReATe Fertility Toronto. This step in the IVF treatment plan is critical and needs to be performed cautiously at the ovulation timing to ensure that the mature eggs are accessible for retrieval.

  • To perform this procedure, you will be requested to lie on the examination table, and an anesthetic will be administered.
  • A transvaginal ultrasound is utilized to detect the follicles, and the ultrasound guides a tiny needle into the vagina and into the follicles to extract the eggs. An abdominal ultrasound may also be utilized in some instances.
  • The eggs are extracted using aspiration and a suction device. This procedure might take up to 20 minutes to complete.
  • You may have cramps and bloating after the egg retrieval procedure.
  • The retrieved eggs are then put in a culture medium, artificially incubated, and prepared to be fertilized with the sperm.

3. Sperm collection

If your partner or a known donor has decided to provide the sperm for the IVF procedure, a fresh sperm sample should be provided on the day of the egg retrieval. In some instances, the sperm may be extracted straight from the testicle using a needle or surgical technique. In the laboratory, the sperm is cleaned and isolated from its fluid before being prepared for fertilization.

4. Fertilization

In this step for IVF, the recovered egg(s) and collected and processed sperm are combined on a Petri dish for fertilization. This technique can be carried out in two ways:

  • Traditional insemination: Collected and processed sperm is combined with mature eggs and incubated overnight.
  • Intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI): A single sperm is injected directly into each mature egg. ICSI may be preferred over traditional insemination if the sperm quality or count is an issue or the last IVF cycle failed.

For a higher IVF success rate, your fertility specialist may recommend Preimplantation Genetic Testing after fertilization and before embryo transfer. Post fertilization, the embryos are allowed to incubate until they reach a stage when a tiny sample may be examined for genetic disorders and chromosomal abnormalities. Embryos with affected genes or chromosomes are separated and are not transplanted into the uterus. While Preimplantation Genetic Testing may increase the chances of pregnancy and can reduce the possibility of a hereditary transfer of a genetic disorder or chromosomal abnormality, it cannot altogether remove the risk. Prenatal testing may be recommended to ensure and confirm no hereditary transfer to the embryo.

5. Embryo Transplantation

Your fertility specialist or assisted reproduction technique will request you lie on an examination table. The specialist will use a long thin tube to guide the laboratory-processed, selected fertilized embryo through the cervix and into the uterus. At the same time, a speculum may be gently used to open your vagina and examine your cervix.

You will be asked to remain at the examination table for 10 to 30 minutes.

You may also be prescribed medications to maintain hormone levels to support your pregnancy.

6. Pregnancy

Your fertility specialist will test your blood sample 12 days following the egg retrieval to confirm if you’re pregnant. If you’re pregnant, your doctor will send you to an obstetrician or another pregnancy expert for prenatal care. If not, you may be advised to undergo another IVF round or to consider alternative assisted reproduction treatments.

References

  1. Smith ADAC, Tilling K, Nelson SM, Lawlor DA. Live-Birth Rate Associated With Repeat In Vitro Fertilization Treatment Cycles. JAMA. 2015;314(24):2654-2662. doi:10.1001/jama.2015.17296