How to increase the chances of IVF success? .

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Genetic burden, premature cessation of ovarian function, miscarriages or loss of fertility after oncological treatment - the causes of infertility related to the absence or dysfunction of female gametes can be many. In practice, it often turns out that the option of oocyte adoption from an anonymous donor is the only chance for many patients to have a child. When is this option worth considering? How to increase the chance of IVF success with a donor cell?

When IVF with your own gametes fails....

IVF is an opportunity for couples who are struggling to get pregnant. However, when successive IVF attempts end in failure or miscarriage, it is worth looking for another solution. One of these may be the adoption of an egg cell from an anonymous donor (so-called in vitro with kd, in vitro with donor cell). This allows the embryo created from the combination of a female gamete and a male gamete (of the woman's partner or an anonymous sperm donor) to be carried by the child's future mother.

Who are the egg cell donors?

To become egg donor, young women have to fulfil a number of conditions.

They should have become biological mothers of at least one healthy child in the past.
They are young women, aged 32 years or less.
Before donating a cell, they must undergo virological, genetic and psychological tests.
They must not be burdened with genetic diseases.
They are not dependent on alcohol or drugs.
They are in good physical and mental condition.

In this way, couples are assured that their adopted egg cells will be of the highest quality. Interestingly, the selection itself is made not only on the basis of test results and, for example, genetic compatibility with the partner, but also similar phenotypes of the future mother of the child and the donor.

- Appropriate selection of oocytes offered by donors is expected to increase the chances not only of obtaining correctly structured embryos, but also the success of the IVF procedure itself - says Dr Łukasz Sroka of the InviMed infertility clinic in Poznań.

- Ensuring high quality oocytes translates into effective treatment. With the IVF procedure with gametes from a donor, we achieve pregnancies in as many as 68% patients. In comparison, in the first attempt IVF with own ova in women under the age of 35 results in 59% cases, and after the age of 39 in only 32%. And these are still relatively very good results - adds the doctor.

According to the law, only anonymous donation is possible. The donor's details will not be disclosed to either the future parents or the future child. The father and the recipient also remain completely anonymous. Therefore, no contact between the two parties is possible. However, the donor may agree to be contacted in the event of a serious illness of the child to be born, e.g. in a situation where a bone marrow donor is needed.

For more on this topic of IVF with kd, see: Egg cell adoption programme with guaranteed embryo numbers

Sperm in the IVF procedure

Preparation for IVF with a donor cell also includes sperm testing and selection. It is not only the quality of the ova, but also the quality of the sperm that is crucial to the success of the IVF procedure. - In the case of IVF with donor gametes, we do not have to worry about the condition of the egg cells, while we can make sure that the sperm used to fertilise them will be properly structured and capable of conceiving a child, explains Dr Sroka.

How can sperm quality be assessed?

In addition to extended semen examinationSome clinics also use special tests, such as the Fertile Chip, which imitates the conditions and path that sperm must take in the woman's reproductive tract. This method, developed by three universities in the United States, makes it possible to select the most efficient and healthy sperm.

- At Invimed, we have been using very precise sperm selection techniques for years, which help us to obtain more promising embryos. In practice, this means that our patients have a better chance of pregnancy, as only healthy embryos can successfully implant in the uterine cavity - adds Dr Łukasz Sroka.

How to take care of sperm quality?

A man who will be a sperm donor and a future father can take care of the quality of his semen himself. Good performance is determined by many lifestyle factors. Therefore, the first step should be to eliminate bad habits. First and foremost, drinking alcohol and smoking must be given up or reduced. The next step is to eliminate fast food, sweetened drinks and processed foods from the diet. These should be replaced by foods rich in zinc, selenium, folic acid, vitamin D3, omega-3 fatty acids and protein. An important note for those working with a computer - it is strongly discouraged to hold a laptop on one's lap to avoid overheating the reproductive organs. Stress is also a factor that negatively affects semen quality. If you are unable to cope with it yourself, it is worth seeking help from a psychologist.

Vitrification, the big moment for egg cells

Egg cells taken from a donor can wait to be matched with a recipient for an indefinite period of time. This is thanks to vitrification, i.e. freezing them with liquid nitrogen. With temperatures close to -200°C, the cells are frozen in a very short time, avoiding any damage to their structure.

Before the fertilisation procedure begins, the cells are defrosted. How does this process affect them? After the frozen cells have been warmed, their number is usually somewhat lower than at the time of vitrification, and their quality also decreases - albeit slightly. Fortunately, it is possible to prepare for this by freezing a larger number of gametes, e.g. 10-12, so as to obtain at least six oocytes after thawing - Lukasz Sroka from Invimed explains. As with the standard IVF procedure, once healthy embryos are obtained, a transfer of one embryo is performed into the woman's uterus.

In vitro with donor cell - post-transfer recommendations

The first days after the embryo has been placed in the recipient's uterus are crucial for the outcome of the IVF procedure. Therefore, several recommendations should be followed by the woman during them.

Above all, it is recommended to abstain from physical activity and avoid stress. It is also recommended not to have intercourse until pregnancy tests have been performed.

The first may take place around 12 days after the transfer. Depending on the level of HCG hormone in the blood, a biochemical pregnancy can be confirmed to confirm the success of the IVF procedure after 5 weeks with an ultrasound.