In Vitro Fertilization (IVF)

What is In Vitro Fertilization (IVF)?

IVF is the uniting of egg and sperm in vitro (in the lab). Standard IVF treatment involves the use of fertility drugs, monitoring of the menstrual cycle, retrieval of eggs, mixing eggs and sperm together and then the reinsertion of the embryo back into the uterus for implantation. Usually a blood test is done 11 days post transfer to confirm the pregnancy.

Who is a good candidate for IVF?

The average couple will need 3 attempts before obtaining a pregnancy through IVF, all depending on their diagnosis.

Tubal problems can mean a woman’s fallopian tubes are blocked or damaged.
Male factor can include a low sperm count, motility, or morphology.
Endometriosis
Ovarian issues which prevent the release or production of eggs.
Abnormal uterus shape, fibroid tumors, or exposure to diethylstilbestrol (DES) as a fetus.
Unexplained infertility

IVF Procedure:

The following is an approximate timetable of events for IVF:

Day 0	Egg retrieval Sperm collection and preparation Insemination
Day 1	Check eggs for fertilization (the presence of two pronuclei or PN’s)
Day 2	Embryos at the 4-cell or more stage of development
Day 3	Embryos at the 8-cell or more stage of development
Day 4	Embryos at the compacted morula (16-32 cell) stage
Day 5	Embryos at the blastocyst stage of development

Critical points in development are (1) fertilization, (2) 4 to 8 cell stage and (3) morula to blastocyst stage.

Numeric grading systems for multicell embryos usually have 4 levels:

Grade 1	Even cell division, no fragmentation
Grade 2	Even cell division, small fragmentation
Grade 3	Uneven cell division, moderate fragmentation
Grade 4	Uneven cell division, excessive fragmentation

Blastocysts are graded differently with a number and two letters.

Side Effects of pre and post transfer of the eggs:

Pain-abdominal and pelvic
Bleeding
Nausea and vomiting-usually 24 hours after egg collection
Hyperstimulation
Abdominal distension and bloating
Emotional outbursts
Headaches

What is the success rate of IVF?

Procedure	Live birth rate per embryo transfer cycle
IVF	31.0%
ICSI	28.6%
GIFT	24.5%
ZIFT	29.2%

Data adapted from SART report 2002

Chinese medicine treatment for IVF:

In April 2002, Fertility and Sterility published a study done in Germany showing that the use of acupuncture both pre and post transfer in an IVF procedure increases the success rate to 42.5% versus 26.3% when no acupuncture was used. Multiple research studies have been conducted showing that acupuncture, herbs, diet, nutrition and Reproductive Organ Massage done both pre and post conception effects the success rate by:

Improving egg quality and quantity
Increasing uterine lining
Relaxing the nervous system
Improving blood flow to the reproductive organs
Preventing hyper stimulation of the ovaries and addressing its side effects
Diminishing side effects of Clomid, Gonal f and other ovulation and hormonal support agents.

Serving patients in Palo Alto, Los Altos, Los Gatos, Silicon Valley, and the San Francisco Bay Area