Currently, the factors causing infertility in each family include marrying later or being ready to have children at an older age, especially women over 35 years old. This group has more difficulty conceiving due to various factors such as the quality and quantity of eggs in the ovaries, other health factors, and behavioral factors such as alcohol consumption, heavy smoking, and stress, all of which are signs of infertility.
Infertility is defined as a couple who has been married for 1 year, having regular sexual intercourse 3-4 times per week without contraception, and no pregnancy occurs, indicating infertility problems. However, if the couple is concerned and wants to have children, they can consult a doctor without waiting for 1 year, especially women over 35 years old. Time should not be wasted because increasing age affects the success rate. They should see a doctor to plan appropriate treatment to enhance the completeness of the word “family” with “your lovely little child”.
Fertility Technology Center, Phyathai 2 Hospital is open daily to meet the needs and fully facilitate service users by a team of specialized doctors, nurses, and scientists using advanced and comprehensive techniques and technology. There is also an embryo culture laboratory and an operating room equipped with modern equipment to ensure complete infertility treatment, including gynecological laparoscopic surgery to diagnose causes and treat abnormalities in women.
Services at the Fertility Technology Center, Phyathai 2 Hospital
Fertility assistance techniques include both natural methods and advanced technologies such as artificial insemination injection, IVF, ICSI, Blastocyst culture, embryo chromosome screening before implantation using NGS (Next Generation Sequencing) and CGH (Array Comparative Genomic Hybridization) techniques, and egg freezing, among others.
Steps for “In Vitro Fertilization (IVF)”
- Women with pelvic adhesions, endometriosis, blocked or damaged fallopian tubes, anovulation or delayed ovulation due to certain conditions or diseases causing hormonal imbalances
- Men with sperm quality problems such as low count, abnormal shape, poor motility, etc.
Before undergoing IVF
- Couples must be examined to find the causes of infertility. For men, a semen analysis is required, and smokers should quit. For women, a pelvic exam, cervical cancer screening, and ultrasound are performed to detect abnormalities that may affect IVF success. If abnormalities are found, treatment must be done first.
- Couples will be explained the IVF procedure, success rates, and risks. If unclear, they should ask the doctor for more information and then sign a consent form for IVF.
Steps for “In Vitro Fertilization (IVF)”
Embryo culture occurs after fertilization when embryos are cultured in the laboratory until they grow and divide into 6–8 cells, which takes about 3 days after fertilization, and then develop into the blastocyst stage, which takes about 5 days after fertilization.
Embryo transfer is the process of transferring embryos into the uterine cavity using instruments through the vagina, similar to a pelvic exam. This step does not require anesthesia or sedation. Ultrasound is used to guide the appropriate position for placing the embryos in the uterus. Usually, embryos are transferred at either 3 or 5 days old from fertilization. This step typically takes about 30 minutes.
Post-embryo transfer care
- Rest for about 1–2 hours, then continue resting at home for another 12–24 hours
- Light work is allowed, but avoid abdominal straining
- Avoid sexual intercourse and do not douche the vagina
- The doctor will schedule a pregnancy test about 2 weeks later
- Do not take any medications other than those prescribed by the doctor
- If any abnormal symptoms occur, consult the doctor without waiting for the appointment
Factors affecting the success of pregnancy from IVF
- Response to ovulation stimulation
- Embryo quality
- Age, for example, women over 40 have lower embryo survival rates than younger women
- Physical readiness of the female partner
- Financial readiness of the couple, as multiple attempts may be necessary
- The success rate of IVF is approximately 40 percent per cycle
Possible complications
- Twin pregnancy due to transferring 1–3 embryos into the uterus to increase pregnancy chances
- Ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome caused by excessive ovarian response to stimulation hormones, which may cause abdominal pain due to fluid accumulation in the abdomen
- Miscarriage
- Infection
Currently, these complications occur less frequently because doctors identify individual risk factors for complications, find preventive measures, and provide appropriate treatment.
