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Treatments In-vitro fertilisation (IVF) This begins with deliberate, carefully monitored stimulation of the woman's ovaries to encourage a number of eggs to develop. When the eggs are mature, they are collected through the vagina.This requires a minor procedure and a light anaesthetic. The eggs are collected, examined and inseminated (placed) with the partner's sperm to produce embryos. Healthy embryos (usually no more than two) are transferred after 2-3 days using a fine tube which is inserted into the woman's uterus via the vagina. If requested, any additional healthy embryos are cryopreserved (frozen) and stored. Intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) This treatment is used when the number or quality of sperm is low. It is also used if fertilisation of eggs fails to occur in a previous IVF cycle. ICSI allows a single healthy sperm to be selected for injection into each oocyte (egg) collected as described above for IVF. Embryos resulting from sperm injection are transferred in the same manner as IVF. Testicular sperm aspiration This provides a means of obtaining sperm from a man who has no sperm in the ejaculate. This can occur because of obstruction to the flow of sperm, or because of arrest in sperm development. Sperm are collected through a fine needle inserted into the testis. A light anaesthetic and a local nerve block is used. Sperm obtained in this way are used in an ICSI cycle. The timing of sperm collection is coordinated with the collection of mature oocytes from the man's partner. Frozen embryo transfer This treatment is available for women who have embryos cryopreserved (frozen). The menstrual cycle is monitored using blood tests and ultrasound to determine ovulation. Two to three days after ovulation, frozen embryos are thawed and transferred to the woman's uterus. It is common practice to transfer one or two only in a treatment cycle. Ovulation Induction This involves stimulating the ovary using tablets or injections. The aim is to develop a single egg in the ovary and initiate its release ("ovulation") for fertilisation within the woman's fallopian tube. Usually fertilisation occurs following intercourse. It is designed to treat women with irregular or absent menstrual cycles. Blood tests and vaginal ultrasound are required to monitor ovulation. Donor insemination This treatment is offered where the male partner has poor quality or completely absent sperm. The woman's cycle is monitored with blood tests until ovulation occurs. Donor sperm is thawed and placed at the cervix through the vagina at the time of ovulation, when conception is most likely to occur. Known donor oocyte donation Is the recruitment of an egg donor when a woman is unable to achieve a pregnancy using her own oocytes (eggs). Embryo donation Is the use of donated embryos when a couple are unable to produce embryos which are capable of achieving a pregnancy.  PRINT THIS PAGE
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