Treatments
Introduction
Ovulation induction
Via oral pills or subcutaneous injections.
In Vitro Fertilization Treatment Procedure
Intrauterine Insemination (IUI)
Oocyte Cryopreservation (egg freezing)
Oocyte Donation
PGS / PGD
In Vitro Fertilization Treatment Procedure
When the patient’s menstrual cycle has begun, gonadotropin injections are used to stimulate her ovaries to generate more follicles. Sonography and blood tests are used to monitor the growth of the follicles and changes in hormones. Finally, the physician will decide when the follicles are mature and the best time for oocyte retrieval. The total treatment will take a total of 14 to 18 days, depending on each individual patient’s response to medications.
During the first few days of menstrual cycle, the size of the primodial follicles are about 5mm. The follicles are stimulated by follicle stimulation hormone (FSH) and reach a diameter of about 8mm and begin to secrete estrogen. When the follicles become 15mm, they can secrete even more estrogen, and trigger the pituitary to release luteinizing hormone (LH). Medications can be used to suppress the release of LH and prevent premature ovulation in order to continue to collect more follicles. Finally, human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) or gonadotropin releasing hormone agonist (GnRHa) is used to trigger the finial maturation of the oocyte. Around 36 hours after the trigger shots, transvaginal oocyte retrieval will be arranged.
Oocyte retrieval is performed under the guidance of transvaginal ultrasound. The fluids aspirated from each follicle is sent to the laboratory and the embryologists then transfer the aspirated oocytes to another culture medium.
For the husband’s semen specimen, the embryologists wash and process the sperm, in preparation for the oocyte to be fertilized. After fertilization, embryo culturing is continued for three or five days, resulting in day 3 eight-cell embryos or day 5 blastocysts. Depending on your condition and discussion with you physician, the embryo may be transferred back into the uterus or cryopreserved to be transferred in a following cycle. If the embryo is transferred, progesterone supplement will be given for the implantation of the embryo.
Intrauterine Insemination (IUI)
- Eligible candidates:
- 1. Having at least one patent, adhesion-free fallopian tube
- 2. Male factor infertility due to asthenospermia or oligospermia
- 3. Mild endometriosis
- 4. Unexplained infertility
- Procedures:
Oocyte Cryopreservation (egg freezing)
Studies have found that, as women age, the number and quality of oocytes decrease exponentially. Unfortunately, more and more women nowadays are desiring fertility at a later age. Oocyte freezing thus provides a great way for young women to preserve quality oocytes, which increase the likelihood of achieving viable embryos and pregnancies in the future.
Oocyte Donation
Infertile couples, especially those with poor ovarian reserve, sometimes must rely on oocyte donation in order to achieve pregnancies. Oocyte donation is a process by which oocytes are retrieved from a donor and given to infertile couples in need. According to the current laws and regulations in Taiwan, donors are eligible to receive compensation of up to $99,000 New Taiwan Dollars.
- Eligible candidates for oocyte donation:
- 1. Women aged 20 to 33
- 2. Women deemed eligible after thorough evaluations at our hospital.
- 3. Women who have previously donated oocytes but did not result in live births.
Pre-implantation Genetic Screening (PGS)
Pre-implantation Genetic Diagnosis
(PGD)
PGS and PGD are screening methods for genetically normal embryos prior to implantation. They are used in conjunction to in-vitro fertilization in order to increase implantation and pregnancy rates.
- Eligible candidates:
- 1. Women aged > 35
- 2. Recurrent pregnancy loss (≧ 2 times)
- 3. Recurrent in-vitro fertilization failure
- 4. Women with prior chromosomally abnormal births (i.e. Down Syndrome)
- 5. Those who wish to prevent passing on abnormal chromosomes or genes (i.e. BRCA)
- 6. Women with sex chromosome abnormalities
In preparation for your procedure :
- For oocyte cryopreservation patients :
- 1. (For Taiwanese citizens) National ID – front and back photocopy
- 2. Pre-operative anesthesia evaluation before oocyte retrieval surgery. [Available Monday through Friday 9:00-12:00 and 13:00-17:00 at Anesthesia department 3F]
- 3. On day of oocyte retrieval, a family member or friend must accompany the patient for surgery with anesthesia.
- For intrauterine insemination patients :
- 1. (For Taiwanese citizens) National ID of both patient and spouse – front and back photocopy, with registered spouse’s name
- 2. (For foreign patients) Alien resident card [ARC] or passport – front and back photocopy
- 3. (For foreign patients) Marriage certificate photocopy
- 4. On the day of intrauterine insemination, fresh semen must be provided or frozen semen must be confirmed to have been previously delivered.
- For in vitro fertilization (IVF) patients :
- 1. (For Taiwanese citizens) National ID of both patient and spouse – front and back photocopy, with registered spouse’s name
- 2. (For foreign patients) Alien resident card [ARC] or passport – front and back photocopy
- 3. (For foreign patients) Marriage certificate photocopy
- 4. Both patient and spouse’s blood type
- 5. Both patient and spouse’s HIV and VDRL test results from the past 6 months
- 6. Pre-operative anesthesia evaluation before oocyte retrieval surgery. [Available Monday through Friday 9:00-12:00 and 13:00-17:00 at Anesthesia department 3F]
- 7. On day of oocyte retrieval, a family member or friend must accompany the patient for surgery with anesthesia.
