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In vitro Fertilization
One out of 100 babies born in the United States are the result of in vitro fertilization (IVF). The Center for Advanced Reproductive Care, the first Iowa-based program, established in 1987, is a nationally recognized leader in this field. The Center is recognized as an innovative, international leader with the ability to culture and select embryos most likely to lead to a pregnancy. This has resulted in fewer multiple births while maintaining exceptional pregnancy rates.
Therapeutic options and components of IVF at UI Hospitals and Clinics include:
Embryo Transfer
The ovaries are stimulated to produce multiple eggs, which are retrieved and inseminated in a culture dish in the laboratory. If fertilization is confirmed the next day, the resulting embryos are incubated for an additional two to four days. Embryos are then selected for non-surgical transfer.
While multiple embryos can improve success rates, IVF also carries a risk of multiple births (twins, triplets, etc.) which are high-risk pregnancies. University of Iowa has developed guidelines to limit the numbers of embryos transferred while maintaining a highly successful pregnancy rate.
Embryo Cryopreservation (Freezing)
The use of cryopreservation technology for preservation of early human embryos has been shown to enhance the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of establishing pregnancy through in vitro fertilization. When in vitro fertilization yields more good quality embryos than the desired number to be transferred, the excess, quality embryos may be cryopreserved.
Advantages of embryo cryopreservation include:
- The elimination of the pressure to transfer a greater number of embryos that increases the risk of multiple pregnancy
- It gives patients the option to attempt to conceive in a frozen embryo transfer cycle at approximately one-fifth the cost of a fresh in vitro fertilization cycle
Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI)
Intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) helps fertilization for couples with male-factor infertility unresponsive to other forms of treatment. The procedure involves injecting a single, live sperm directly into a mature oocyte, or egg. ICSI is recommended for couples who have no or very low rates of fertilization during previous treatment cycles or when the number of normal motile sperm available is less than that required for traditional in vitro insemination.
Microsurgical Sperm Retrieval
Sperm may be obtained from the epididymis or directly from the testicle. Microsurgical sperm retrieval is used for men who have an obstruction that cannot be repaired, such as absence of the vas deferens, congenital obstruction, or failed vasectomy reversal and for men who have untreatable testicular failure.
Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis
Preimplantation genetic diagnosis involves the removal of a single cell from a three-day-old embryo and testing the cell for certain inherited diseases (such as cystic fibrosis and muscular dystrophy). This service is available for couples at risk for passing on a genetic disease to their children. |
