In vitro In vitro fertilisationfertilisation

(I.V.F)(I.V.F)

What is In vitro fertilisation??

I.V.F is a process in which the egg is fertilised by sperm I.V.F is a process in which the egg is fertilised by sperm outside of the human body. outside of the human body.

I.V.F is used most commonly to overcome female I.V.F is used most commonly to overcome female infertility (due to menopause, problems in the fallopian infertility (due to menopause, problems in the fallopian tubes etc.). tubes etc.). --Process: After the females ovulatory Process: After the females ovulatory process has been monitored, some eggs are removed process has been monitored, some eggs are removed (due to fertility drugs taken that increase the number (due to fertility drugs taken that increase the number of eggs produced) and fertilised by sperm in a shallow of eggs produced) and fertilised by sperm in a shallow Petri dish, then 2 embryos are implanted back into the Petri dish, then 2 embryos are implanted back into the woman's uterus/womb to develop naturally.woman's uterus/womb to develop naturally.

Also, if the males sperm count is low or the sperm has Also, if the males sperm count is low or the sperm has trouble penetrating the egg, the ICSI (sperm injection) trouble penetrating the egg, the ICSI (sperm injection) can be used. can be used. --Process: The sperm is injected straight into the Process: The sperm is injected straight into the egg to fertilise.egg to fertilise.

What is What is In vitro In vitro fertilisationfertilisation?? As a result of the expensive price that is associated As a result of the expensive price that is associated

with I.V.F, it is usually one of the last infertility with I.V.F, it is usually one of the last infertility treatment options used after other inexpensive treatment options used after other inexpensive treatments have failed.treatments have failed.

Each try is called a cycle.Each try is called a cycle.

In New Zealand a maximum of 2 embryos per cycle In New Zealand a maximum of 2 embryos per cycle are transferred into the female’s uterus- there is an are transferred into the female’s uterus- there is an exception for female patients over 40 years of age.exception for female patients over 40 years of age.

InvitroInvitro means ‘in glass’ in Latin. means ‘in glass’ in Latin.

ResultsResultsPregnancy rates:Pregnancy rates: The rate of the embryos surviving and developing decreases The rate of the embryos surviving and developing decreases

quite significantly in women over 38.quite significantly in women over 38.

In 2009-2010 the UK average for an I.V.F live birth from In 2009-2010 the UK average for an I.V.F live birth from <35 <35 year old was 33%.year old was 33%. For a For a 38-39 year old38-39 year old female the birth rate female the birth rate had decreased to had decreased to 19%19% and was just and was just 5% for 43 year olds5% for 43 year olds and and older.older.

Multiple births:Multiple births: The chance of having twins, when naturally conceived, is The chance of having twins, when naturally conceived, is

approximately approximately 1 in every 80 pregnancies1 in every 80 pregnancies. But with I.V.F the . But with I.V.F the chance of having a twin pregnancy are increased because 2 chance of having a twin pregnancy are increased because 2 embryos had been implanted, so the chance of twins is embryos had been implanted, so the chance of twins is approximately approximately 1 in 4 pregnancies.1 in 4 pregnancies.

However, it is still possible to have a triplet pregnancy even However, it is still possible to have a triplet pregnancy even only when 2 embryos were transferred. In this situation an egg only when 2 embryos were transferred. In this situation an egg would have spilt meaning there would be 2 identical foetuses.would have spilt meaning there would be 2 identical foetuses.

How is I.V.F related to How is I.V.F related to DNA, chromosomes or DNA, chromosomes or genes?genes? The favourable result of I.V.F is a healthy baby. The favourable result of I.V.F is a healthy baby.

This baby will still have 46 chromosomes- 23 This baby will still have 46 chromosomes- 23 from it’s mother egg and 23 from it’s father from it’s mother egg and 23 from it’s father sperm- even though it was fertilised outside of sperm- even though it was fertilised outside of the human body. It’s gender is determined by the human body. It’s gender is determined by these 46 chromosomes. The genes the baby these 46 chromosomes. The genes the baby received from it’s parents will decide it’s received from it’s parents will decide it’s characteristics and traits.characteristics and traits.

All males have 1 X chromosome and 1 Y chromosome, while females have 2 X chromosomes. So this baby’s mother must have contributed 1 X chromosome and her father must have also contributed 1 X chromosome.

WebographyWebography

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IVFhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IVF Google imagesGoogle images http://www.ivfcliniclondon.comhttp://www.ivfcliniclondon.com