IVF: Treatment Step By Step

I like the following link on its simplicity and clarity to describe the IVF procedure, one of popular way to treat infertility on some server structure disorders. Remember this does not include treatment of acupuncture or Chinese Medicine. Both could enhance the successful rate of the procedure.

http://infertility.about.com/od/infertilitytreatments/ss/ivf_treatment.htm

or
“BEYOND IN VITRO FERTILIZATION – NEW TECHNIQUES OFFER RENEWED HOPE TO THE INFERTILE COUPLE” by Eliran Mor, MD and Michael Vermesh, MD

http://www.infertilityspecialist.com/beyond_ivf.html

Ganirelix acetate (or diacetate) is an injectable competitive gonadotropin-releasing hormone antagonist (GnRH antagonist). It is primarily used in assisted reproduction to control ovulation. The drug works by blocking the action of GnRH upon the pituitary, thus rapidly suppressing the production and action of LH and FSH. Ganirelix is used in fertility treatment to prevent premature ovulation that could result in the harvesting of eggs that are too immature to be used in procedures such as in vitro fertilisation.

Menotropin (also called human menopausal gonadotropin or HMG) is an active substance for the treatment of fertility disturbances. It consists of gonadotropins that are extracted from the urine of postmenopausal women,[1] usually luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH).Often, it contains human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) as well.[1][4] Menotropin medications include Menopur, Menogon, Repronex, Pergonal and HMG Massone.[5] HMG (Human Menopausal Gonadotropin)[citation needed] is used for stimulating hormones by triggering FSH and LH production in the body. This drug was originally designed for use in women where it stimulates the ovaries.

birth control pill prior to ivf


Doctors start the IVF treatment from the moment a woman gets her period. But the use of birth control pills, for 10-14 days after a period, allows the treatment to be adjusted without compromising the “ovarian response to stimulation,” . This way, egg-harvesting can fall on a date mutually convenient to both the clinician and patient.

Birth control pills or, more correctly, oral contraceptive pills (OCPs) can be used as a part of the IVF stimulation protocol in several different settings. First, in patients who are known or suspected to be high responders, OCPs may help mitigate the risk of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS; see Question 67).

Second, in patients without predictable regular menstrual cycles, OCPs can be used in combination with Lupron to initiate an IVF cycle. In our practice, we usually start OCPs in such cases after confirming with a blood test that the woman has not recently ovulated. Then, after 1 week, doctor add Lupron. After 1 more week, doctor stop the Lupron and wait for withdrawal bleeding. Once a patient has bled, dr begins the gonadotropin stimulation.

Third, some clinics use OCPs for microdose Lupron (MDL) flare, traditional flare, or patients who are taking Antagon in the hope that pretreatment with OCPs will prevent one follicle from growing faster than the other follicles once the stimulation has begun. Dr have not routinely use OCPs with MDL flare patients, as dr has rarely had problems with the emergence of a single dominant follicle compared with the more common problem of oversuppression and a cancelled cycle. Given that prolonged OCP use can lead to oversuppression in low responders, dr use these medications very carefully.