In Vitro Fertilization Cyprus

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This is the most common procedure in assisted reproduction treatments and involves 5 consecutive steps:

(i)                  Controlled Ovarian Stimulation 

The aim of this phase is to induce the ovaries to respond to hormonal medication so that a satisfactory number of follicles can develop. A collection of different ovarian stimulation protocols exist and each patient receives an individualized regimen. This is prescribed after careful consideration of several parameters including the baseline characteristics, the hormonal profile, the fertility manifestation and previous clinical history of the female partner. The duration of the injection administration can vary between patients. Usually it lasts 10 days and is associated with minor side effects.  

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(ii)                Monitoring of Ovarian Response

It is imperative that the dosage administration of the hormonal injections produces neither an exuberant nor an inert response. The monitoring phase which can be commenced as early as from the 4^th day of stimulation aims to the subsequent harvest of a satisfactory number of mature eggs at retrieval. Along with the ultra sound scan monitoring it is advised that blood tests are performed so that the findings of the ultra sound are consistent with the number and maturity of the follicles growing. According to the findings of the monitoring scans and blood tests the initial dosage of hormonal injections may be amended. Once the follicles had reached a satisfactory size a final injection is administered to induce final maturation and the time of the egg collection is scheduled to approximately 34-36 hours thereafter.  

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(iii)               Egg Retrieval 

The egg collection is undertaken in a surgical suite under light general anaesthesia and therefore the patient is advised to fast previously for at least 6 hours. Eggs are aspirated from their follicles with the aid of a very fine needle under ultrasound guidance. The follicular fluids are immediately screened for the presence of an egg by the scientist in the adjacent to the theater embryology lab. Once retrieved, the eggs are washed several times and stored in specially defined culture media in incubators.  

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(iv)              Egg  Fertilization and Embryo Culture 

Following their retrieval the eggs are left in incubation for approximately 4 hours at optimal conditions (36.8 °C, 6% Carbon Dioxide in air and absolute humidity). Each egg is mixed with a specific number of motile sperm and let to fertilize back in the incubator. Normally the fertilization process is complete within 16 hours post insemination and after inspection the fertilized eggs (zygotes) are placed in fresh culture media. Embryo development is inspected every 24 hours post egg fertilization. Assessment is performed according to the capacity of each embryo to divide consistently with its time in culture, the relative size and shape of the constituting cells and the degree of fragmentation observed within each cell (intracellular) and between the cells (extra cellular).  

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