ARE THERE ANY PROCEDURES PERFORMED ON THE EMBRYOS BEFORE RTANSFER?

"Hatching" procedure is performed routinely on the embryos in the third day of development. This procedure is performed in cases that are over 37, who have high basal hormone levels, cases for which pregnancies had not been achieved in the previous attempts despite the good quality of the embryos, for the embryos having thick zona pellucida, for the embryos on which defragmentation has to be carried out, and in cases that biopsies are required for genetic studies.

IS IT POSSIBLE TO FREEZE THE EMBRYOS?

If the number of the embryos formed is more than the number needed for the transfer and if they are of good quality, embryo freezing procedure is performed in our center. Freezing procedure is carried out if there are at least 3-4 more embryos present with a similar quality of the embryos transferred. Embryos can be frozen and stored as early as on the day when fertilization is assessed or on the 2nd , 3rd, 4th and 5th days. In our center, according to the regulation issued by the Ministry of Health, frozen embryos are stored for a maximum duration of 3 years.

WHAT IS LASER METHOD? DO YOU USE IT?

Laser device is used for assisted hatching which is applied to "shave" the outer wall (zona pellucida) of the embryo. In order to obtain a pregnancy, embryo must escape from this protective wall and implant in the uterus. Together with mechanic procedures and acid during the "thinning" procedure, we have been using laser device since the early 1998. It has been shown that it is a safe and easy procedure; no differences exist between these three assisted hatching methods.

HOW MANY TIMES CAN IVF BE REPEATED?

Although there are no definite limitations for this treatment, it can be repeated as many as 7-8 times. More than two attempts in a year are not recommended and performed.