Nashville Fertility

IVF Process

Discover how the IVF process helps women and men become parents

For many women and men who receive support from our Tennessee fertility center, the IVF process is one of the most successful paths to parenthood. IVF, or in vitro fertilization, has high pregnancy rates because it bypasses several fertility challenges. Doing so allows our doctors to transfer a healthy embryo directly to the uterus.

Learn more about who needs IVF

There are many reasons a patient could be a good candidate for IVF. From blockages in the fallopian tubes to ovulatory challenges, this effective treatment can help patients move beyond issues that have been preventing pregnancy.

Blocked or damaged fallopian tubes. Issues with the fallopian tubes are a common reason that a woman would need in vitro fertilization. These issues could prevent the sperm from reaching the egg or keep the fertilized egg from entering the uterus.

Fallopian tube blockage or damage can result from endometriosis, pelvic inflammatory disease, an infection or previous surgery in the abdomen or pelvis.

Diminished ovarian reserve. The quality and quantity of a woman’s eggs decrease with age. As a result, some women over the age of 35 have difficulty conceiving without fertility treatments like in vitro fertilization.

Ovulation challenges. IVF can treat issues like polycystic ovary syndrome, which can affect the regulation of reproductive hormones and ovulation.

Multiple miscarriages or unsuccessful fertility treatments. If a woman experiences several miscarriages or failed IUI cycles, she’s likely a candidate for in vitro fertilization.

After helping patients discover the cause of their fertility challenges, the doctors at our Tennessee fertility center work with them to determine whether in vitro fertilization is a good option.

What can you expect from the IVF process?

If a patient elects to move forward with the IVF process, the specialists at our Tennessee fertility center walk them through each step. For many, a positive pregnancy test is the last part of this popular treatment.

Ovulation induction. An IVF cycle begins with the woman taking ovarian stimulation medications. The woman self-administers these injectable medications in the abdomen.

Monitoring. While the woman takes these medications, she will regularly receive blood tests and ultrasounds at our clinic. These evaluations allow our doctors to monitor the growth of the eggs and adjust the medications if needed.

Egg retrieval. After enough eggs mature, the woman takes a shot that tells her body to release the eggs. Soon after, the doctor retrieves the eggs during a simple, outpatient procedure.

Fertilization. Following the egg retrieval, an embryologist fertilizes the eggs with sperm from the woman’s partner or a sperm donor. This process creates embryos.

PGT. If the patient selects PGT, or preimplantation genetic testing, the embryologist performs this test on the embryos.

Embryo transfer. The doctor and the embryologist determine which embryo to use, before transferring it to the woman’s uterus.

The IVF process offers many patients a faster path to pregnancy and parenthood. Contact us for more information about fertility treatments.

(615) 321-4740