The Basics
Consider In-Vitro Fertilization at Care Fertility Centre
In-vitro fertilization (IVF) often makes headlines, but the media can sometimes oversimplify or overcomplicate the procedure. At Care Fertility Centre, we view IVF as a vital option when first-line fertility treatments are insufficient. Based in Ottawa, our dedicated team is committed to providing exceptional care for IVF and other fertility treatments, ensuring women and families receive the support they need.
Learn the Basics of In-Vitro Fertilization
IVF involves retrieving eggs from a woman’s ovaries and fertilizing them with sperm in our lab. The fertilized embryos are then incubated for a few days before being transferred back into the mother’s uterus. During this time, we can test the embryos for genetic health to optimize success rates and reduce the risk of multiple pregnancies. The entire IVF process takes about two to four weeks, aligning with a typical ovulation cycle. At Care Fertility Centre, we tailor each treatment plan to meet your unique preferences and goals, ensuring the best possible care.
Understanding the IVF Treatment Process
IVF is a detailed procedure with several phases, each crucial for its success. At Care Fertility Centre, here’s what you can expect:
Initial Consultation: Your healthcare team will review your medical history and conduct preliminary tests to tailor an IVF plan suited to you.
Ovarian Stimulation: Medication is administered to enhance egg production. You'll be monitored throughout this phase, and an HCG (human chorionic gonadotropin) injection will help mature the eggs.
Egg Retrieval: Once eggs are ready to be retrieved (usually about 36 hours after the injection, we’ll perform an outpatient surgery called a vaginal ultrasound egg retrieval. Worry not—this surgery is minor, and you can leave Care Fertility Centre after just an hour. Your partner will provide a semen sample during this appointment as well.
Embryo Development: Using the semen sample, our team fertilizes the eggs and transfers them to incubators. The embryos are left to develop for the next few days.
Embryo Selection: We’ll continue to monitor the embryo development for about five days. Then, we’ll identify which embryos are the healthiest and least likely to carry a genetic disorder.
Embryo Transfer: Our team transfers the healthiest embryos back into the uterus. We typically recommend single embryo transfer (eSET) for most couples. Again, you’ll be able to go back to life, as usual, the day after the procedure.
Post-Transfer: We ask that patients continue progesterone therapy for at least two weeks after the embryo transfer to make implantation easier. In the following days, we’ll monitor you for pregnancy symptoms. If your pregnancy is successful, you’ll continue progesterone therapy for another few weeks.
Reasons to Consider In-Vitro Fertilization
Making the decision to try in vitro fertilization is often an emotional one. There are plenty of reasons to choose IVF beyond simple difficulties with conception. We’ve worked with all kinds of couples, including LGBTQ couples who can’t conceive a child. Our fertility clinic is happy to help patients struggling with the following:
Unsuccessful previous treatments
Age-related infertility
Low ovarian reserve
Recurrent miscarriages
Family history of congenital disabilities
Damaged fallopian tubes
Lack of ovulation
Pre-existing conditions such as polycystic ovary syndrome or endometriosis
Poor sperm quality
What Is Single-Embryo Transfer (eSET)?
We frequently recommend single-embryo transfer (eSET) for couples undergoing in vitro fertilization. eSET involves implanting just one high-quality embryo into the uterus, which reduces the risks of miscarriage, multiple births, preeclampsia, and premature birth. Contrary to what some might think, transferring more embryos does not necessarily increase the chances of success.
Deciding If eSET Is Right For You
At Care Fertility Centre, we aim to help you make informed decisions about your fertility treatment. We often recommend single-embryo transfer (eSET) for many patients. Ideal candidates include women under 35 who have previously had success with IVF, those with multiple high-quality embryos, or those using donor eggs. Our team is dedicated to guiding you through the benefits and considerations of eSET, so please discuss all your questions and concerns with us.
A Respected Source of In-Vitro Fertilization
With years of experience, Care Fertility Centre has successfully assisted countless patients with IVF. We are known for our expertise and commitment to maximizing your chances of a successful pregnancy, whether you face challenges like lack of ovulation or conditions such as endometriosis.
Set Up Your First Appointment With Care Fertility Centre
If you're ready to start your consultation or have questions about in-vitro fertilization, don’t hesitate to reach out to our team. The experts at Care Fertility Centre specialize in conception and pregnancy and will work with you to develop a personalized treatment plan. Contact us today to schedule your first appointment.
Predict Your Success Rate
SART has created this calculator using data from nearly 500,000 IVF cycles involving over 320,000 women in the United States since 2006. This tool estimates your chances of achieving a live birth based on your individual situation. Please note that the calculations assume no previous IVF treatments.
Considering IVF
IVF offers a valuable opportunity for those facing challenges that might otherwise reduce their chances of pregnancy. Here are some common reasons individuals or couples might consider IVF treatment:
Reasons to Choose IVF
Unsuccessful attempts with simpler treatments, like IUI
Age-related infertility
Low ovarian reserve
Recurrent miscarriages
Genetic defects or family history of genetic disorders
Blocked or damaged fallopian tubes
Inability to ovulate
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)
Endometriosis
Poor sperm quality or quantity
Unexplained infertility
LGBTQ individuals and couples
Have a Question?
We’re here to provide the information and support you need to make informed and confident decisions. Contact us by phone or email if you have any questions!
IVF Treatment Process
At Care Fertility, the in vitro fertilization (IVF) process involves several key stages:
Initial Consultation
Your healthcare team will review your medical history and conduct preliminary tests to tailor an IVF plan suited to you.
Ovarian Stimulation
Fertility medications stimulate your ovaries to produce multiple eggs instead of the usual single egg per cycle. This stimulation phase lasts about seven to ten days, during which we monitor your progress with ultrasounds and blood tests. Once the eggs reach a suitable size, an injection of hCG (human chorionic gonadotropin) is administered to trigger their final maturation and ovulation.
Egg Retrieval
Once eggs are ready to be retrieved (usually about 36 hours after the injection, we’ll perform an outpatient surgery called a vaginal ultrasound egg retrieval. Worry not—this surgery is minor, and you can leave the fertility centre after just an hour. Your partner will provide a semen sample during this appointment as well.
Embryo Development
In our lab, the eggs are fertilized with sperm and the resulting embryos are incubated. If fertilization chances are low, we may use Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI) to directly inject sperm into the egg. The embryos develop for several days before evaluation.
Embryo Selection
Our embryologists will regularly monitor your embryos to make sure they’re growing properly. Within about five days, a normal embryo develops into many cells that are actively dividing. At this point, individuals or couples with a risk of passing on a genetic disorder to their child or women with a history of failed IVF or miscarriage may consider and participate in genetic testing (PGS or PDG).
Our embryologists then assess embryo quality and decide which embryos are healthiest. Genetic testing of embryos (PGS – Preimplantation Genetic Screening) affords embryologists another layer of information about the embryos for the selection process. To ensure your best chance at a successful, healthy pregnancy, the highest quality embryo is selected.
Embryo Transfer
We typically recommend elective single embryo transfer (eSET) for many patients, transferring just one high-quality embryo to minimize the risk of multiple pregnancies. The transfer procedure, done in-clinic using a catheter, occurs three to five days after egg retrieval. You can usually resume normal activities the next day. Any unused embryos can be frozen for potential future use.
Post-Transfer
Following the embryo transfer, you will continue progesterone therapy for two weeks to support implantation. A blood test will confirm pregnancy after a few days. If successful, progesterone will be continued for an additional three to four weeks. If pregnancy is not achieved, you may discuss with your doctor the possibility of another IVF cycle.
Basics of eSET
IVF success rates are closely linked to the careful selection of embryos, aiming to implant the embryo with the highest potential for a successful and healthy pregnancy.
Elective Single Embryo Transfer (eSET) involves implanting just one high-quality embryo into the uterus instead of multiple embryos. For patients with a good prognosis and who meet the recommended criteria, eSET offers the same success rate as traditional IVF methods, while reducing the risks associated with multiple pregnancies.
How It Helps
The greatest advantage of Elective Single Embryo Transfer (eSET) is the significantly reduced risk of multiple births, such as twins or triplets. Our goal is to achieve a singleton pregnancy per cycle, ensuring a healthy baby and a positive experience for parents. By using embryos conservatively, we work towards this goal effectively.
At Care Fertility, we prioritize educating our prospective parents to help them make the most informed decisions about their treatment. If IVF is part of your fertility plan, our team will discuss whether eSET is the right option for you, guiding you on your path to growing your family.
eSET Background
Traditionally, IVF involved transferring multiple embryos to increase the chances of implantation and pregnancy. The assumption was that more embryos meant a higher likelihood of success. However, recent research and advancements in fertility treatments have proven this approach to be less effective than previously thought.
With modern techniques for growing and selecting high-quality embryos, transferring fewer embryos significantly reduces the risk of multiple births. This not only lowers the risk of complications but also improves the chances of achieving a successful pregnancy.
What Is eSET?
A single-embryo transfer (eSET) is an IVF technique that allows our team to identify and implant one high-quality embryo into a woman’s uterus.
Risks of Twins and Triplets
While some patients may perceive ‘multiples’ as a time-saving and safe outcome in an IVF cycle, there are a number of complications to be mindful of, for both the baby and mother. Transferring multiple embryos often leads to multiple pregnancies, which can result in:
Higher risks of miscarriage
Higher chances of premature birth
Preeclampsia
Gestational diabetes
Higher rates of C-section delivery
Postpartum depression
Is eSET for me?
“One size does not fit all” when it comes to the number of embryos we transfer.
At Care Fertility Centre, we tailor our approach to each patient to maximize outcomes. Elective Single Embryo Transfer (eSET) is an option for patients with at least one chromosomally normal embryo, as determined through Preimplantation Genetic Screening (PGS).
eSET is recommended for women:
Under 35 years of age
Starting their first IVF cycle
With previous IVF success
With a large number of high-quality embryos
With embryos available for freezing
Receiving donor eggs
The first step in determining if eSET is suitable for you is to discuss the option with your fertility doctor at Care Fertility Centre.
Selecting an Embryo
High-quality eggs typically produce high-quality embryos, which are more likely to implant successfully. As a woman ages, her egg quality declines, affecting the quality of her embryos and the chances of a successful pregnancy.
To identify the best embryo for transfer, our lab evaluates each one based on factors like cell number, cell size, and development rate. We now grow embryos to the blastocyst stage (day 5 of development) in improved lab conditions. Embryos at this stage have hundreds of cells and are more likely to implant successfully.
While no method can guarantee which embryo will result in a live birth, eSET allows us to select the embryo with the highest potential for successful implantation and pregnancy.
