What is IVF and ICSI?

IVF is the process of combining egg and sperm in a petri dish and allowing sperm to penetrate the egg in a process called fertilisation.  A fertilised egg is called an embryo and is placed back into the women’s womb to create a pregnancy.    
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In cases of severe male infertility, fertilisation may not occur with conventional IVF. To assist the sperm, intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) may be suggested, whereby a single sperm is injected into a single egg. 

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Why do couples have IVF?

Female factors

• Absent or blocked fallopian tubes that prevents sperm from reaching the egg
• Advanced maternal age 
  • Age affects the quantity and quality of your eggs. The fertility pool of eggs of a healthy woman begins to decline sometime in her early 30’s. This can happen earlier in women who smoke, with premature ovarian insufficiency or other medical conditions.
  • The estimated chance of natural pregnancy with your own eggs is around 5% per menstrual cycle at the age of 40, compared to 20% per menstrual cycle before the age of 40

Male factors

• low sperm count or slow moving sperm.
• absent or blocked vas deferens (the tube that transports sperm to the outside). 

Other reasons

• For the purposes of pre-implantation genetic diagnosis and screening of embryos
• When ovulation induction and intrauterine insemination treatments are unsuccessful
• Extended periods of unexplained infertility

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The value of IVF

IVF attempts to optimise the chance of pregnancy each month by enhancing the opportunity of several eggs and sperm to meet, as opposed to just one egg and one sperm during natural ovulation.  ​​

Embryos are created in the process of IVF and the healthiest and best looking embryo is transferred to you. The remaining embryos are carefully assessed if they are suitable to freeze.

Although there are many factors that can influence the success of IVF/ICSI, maternal age is by far the single, greatest predictor of success, as observed by the decline with age the:

• numbers of eggs retrieved
• percentage of fertilisation
• live births as miscarriages are more common in older mothers

Embryo freezing is rare, but if possible, it opens the possibility of another baby in the future without having to go through egg collection again. The chance of pregnancy from IVF or ICSI is determined by your age at the time of egg collection. 

Is it taking longer than expected?

We recommend consulting a fertility specialist if you are:

below 35 years old and have been trying for 12 months or more

OR

above 35 years old and have been trying for 6 months or more

QUICK LINKS TO UNDERSTANDING IVF

IVF PROCESS
From injections to pregnancy

EMBRYO SELECTION
​How embryos are graded

SIDE EFFECTS
Risks & potential complications