In-Vitro Fertilisation (IVF)

IVF is an advanced fertility treatment designed to help individuals and couples conceive when natural conception is challenging. 

In this process, eggs are retrieved from the ovaries and fertilised with sperm outside the body in a controlled laboratory environment to create embryos. 

Once the embryos develop, they are carefully transferred into the uterus with the goal of achieving a successful pregnancy.

IVF is suitable for couples who are facing significant fertility challenges, including:

• endometriosis
• blocked or damaged fallopian tubes
• severe male factor infertility
• couples who require donor eggs
• couples with advanced maternal age
• couples with inherited genetic disorders, such as Thalassaemia
• unexplained infertility

At Sunfert, we would recommend IVF if:

• simpler treatments, such as timed-intercourse or IUI, have failed or are unlikely to succeed
• patient’s fertility assessment indicates significant issues with egg, sperm, or embryo quality
• patient wants to reduce the risk of passing on inherited genetic disorders to the baby
• patient aims to reduce the risk of recurrent miscarriage
• patient wants to lower the risk of chromosomal abnormalities, such as Down’s Syndrome

It can be done in 6 main steps.

Step 1: Fertility Evaluation

During a fertility assessment, we conduct a comprehensive evaluation for both partners to identify potential factors affecting fertility and guide a personalised treatment plan.

• Both Spouses: Review of medical history, reproductive history, and previous fertility treatment outcomes.
• Female Spouse: Hormonal profile testing, ovarian reserve assessment, and evaluation of the pelvic organs (uterus, ovaries, cervix, fallopian tubes).
• Male Spouse: Semen analysis to assess sperm quality and reproductive potential.

Step 2: Ovulation Stimulation

Hormonal medications will be given by our doctors which used to stimulate the ovaries to produce multiple eggs.

This stage usually starts at Day 2 or Day 3 of the patient’s menstrual cycle and typically lasts about 10 to 12 days depending on the treatment protocol the patient undergoes.

Step 3: Oocyte Pick-Up (OPU)

Also known as egg retrieval, this is a minimally invasive procedure in which our fertility specialist collects eggs from the patient’s ovaries. The procedure typically takes about 20 to 30 minutes to complete.

During OPU, patients are given light anaesthesia or monitored sedation by an anaesthetist, ensuring that they remain comfortable and pain-free throughout the procedure.

Before concluding the procedure, our fertility specialist will carefully examine the vaginal puncture site to ensure there is no bleeding.

After OPU, patients are observed for 1 to 2 hours in our day ward before being discharged home. 

Most patients experience only mild bloating, cramping, or minimal bleeding, and many are able to return to their normal routine the next day.

Step 4: Fertilisation in the Lab

The eggs we retrieve will be fertilised with sperm by our embryologists in the laboratory. 

Techniques that commonly use by our embryology team to fertilise the egg are as below:

Intra-Cytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI): 

• A single healthy sperm is carefully injected directly into the egg to achieve fertilisation. 
• This technique is commonly recommended for couples with male factor infertility, low sperm count, poor sperm motility, or previous fertilisation failure.

Physiological Intra-Cytoplasmic Sperm Injection (PICSI): 

• PICSI helps embryologists select more mature and functionally competent sperm by allowing them to bind to hyaluronic acid before injection into the egg.
• This technique may benefit couples with poor sperm quality, repeated IVF failure, or a history of poor embryo development. 

Intra-Cytoplasmic Morphologically Selected Sperm Injection (IMSI):

• IMSI uses a high-magnification microscope to allow our embryologists to select sperm with the best possible morphology before injecting it into the egg.
• This technique is often considered for couples with severe male factor infertility or those who have experienced repeated failures through ICSI.

At Sunfert, our fertility specialists and embryologists will carefully evaluate each patient’s condition and design a personalised treatment plan, selecting the most suitable fertilisation technique to help improve the chances of pregnancy.

Once fertilised, the eggs develop into embryos, which our embryology team carefully cultures for 5 to 7 days until they are ready to be transferred into the patient’s uterus.

Some patients may choose to undergo Pre-implantation Genetic Testing (PGT), such as PGT-A or PGT-M, to screen their embryos before transfer.

To know why some patients choose to have PGT with their IVF treatment, click the link here to learn more.

• PGT-A (Preimplantation Genetic Testing for Aneuploidy)
• PGT-M (Monogenic/Single Gene Disorders)

Step 5: Embryo Transfer

The embryo with the highest chance of success, based on quality and development, will be selected for transfer into the patient’s uterus.

Any remaining embryos will be frozen to give the patient another opportunity at attempting pregnancy in the future.

Step 6: Post-Transfer Support

Patients receive guidance and hormone support while awaiting Beta hCG pregnancy testing.

At every stage, Sunfert provides personalised care, clear instructions, and continuous support to ensure comfort and confidence.

If you are facing fertility challenges, start with a consultation with our specialists. We will guide you through your fertility journey with expertise and compassionate care. 

Make an appointment with our Fertility Specialist today and take the next step toward your parenthood goals.

Question #1: Is IVF painful?

• Most patients experience mild discomfort during egg retrieval. Other steps are minimally invasive and carefully managed.

Question #2: How long does an IVF cycle take?

• A typical IVF cycle lasts 4 to 6 weeks, including ovulation stimulation, egg retrieval, fertilisation, and embryo transfer.

Question #3: How soon can I know if IVF was successful?

• Pregnancy testing is typically done two weeks after embryo transfer for accurate results.

Question #4: What is the difference between IVF and ICSI?

• In conventional IVF, eggs and sperm are combined in the laboratory to allow natural fertilisation to occur.
• ICSI (Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection) is a specialised technique where a single healthy sperm is directly injected into an egg to assist fertilisation. ICSI is often recommended in cases of severe male-factor infertility or previous fertilisation failure.