A fertility specialist might recommend you to use assisted reproductive methods like IVF when you’ve been trying to get pregnant for more than a year and have discovered certain fertility concerns. Many people would view IVF as a painful process, but practically it is painless. Embryo transfer is considered the crown of the IVF treatment. Find out more about “What is embryo transfer” by exploring this blog.
What is embryo transfer?
In IVF, the eggs are combined with sperm outside of the human body, in a lab. After egg retrieval (egg collection) in the IVF process, embryos (baby) are formed under the optimal condition in culture media (test tube baby). The good embryos grown are replaced inside the mother’s uterus (womb) when the uterine lining (Endometrium) is favorable.
Types of embryo transfer
After fertilization, there are a few alternative methods for transferring the embryo which are as follows
Fresh embryo transfer
When the created embryos are put back in the same cycle of IVF stimulation (injection cycle) this is called fresh embryo transfer.
Frozen embryo transfer
When the woman’s endometrium is unfavorable or if there is a hormonal imbalance like ovarian hyperstimulation, then the embryos are frozen and replaced inside the uterus in a subsequent cycle.
How embryo transfer is done?
Embryo transfer is a relatively painless procedure. The woman lies on her back in a lithotomy position (the woman is positioned face up with the arms at the sides, but the legs are separated, lifted, and supported in a stirrup or boot posture.) and after gently cleaning the vagina and cervix, a soft catheter is introduced into the cervix (uterus mouth).
The embryos which are loaded in this delicate embryo transfer catheter are placed inside the uterine cavity, under ultrasound guidance. The woman can enjoy watching this on the scan monitor as a white spot of air/fluid level with the embryo. Further, an extremely anxious woman can even opt for general anesthesia for embryo transfer.
To Conclude
You may now be aware of what is embryo transfer and how it is carried out today. The success rates can differ for individuals and it may depend on the reason for infertility, ethnic background, and genetic abnormalities. Moreover, fertility specialists may decide to freeze more embryos if the chance of pregnancy is low to try an embryo transfer again at a later time. Thus, don’t get panic and move forward towards achieving your dream into reality.
