What is IVF and ICSI?

If you have been recommended IVF, or ICSI - as part of your fertility treatment, you may be wondering what these involve, and how they differ. This video explains each process, and how we support you at Braetha throughout your treatment. IVF stands for "In Vitro Fertilisation". It involves stimulating the ovaries with hormone medication to produce several eggs - which are then collected and combined with sperm in a laboratory, where they are observed to see if fertilisation occurs. ICSI stands for "Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection". It follows the same process as IVF, but instead of allowing the sperm and egg to combine naturally - a single sperm is selected, and injected directly into the egg. ICSI is often recommended, when there are concerns about sperm quality. Once the egg and sperm are combined - the embryos are then cultured in the lab until they form a blastocyst. At this stage, one may be transferred back into the womb, and the remaining embryos will be frozen for use at a later date. Before treatment begins, you will attend our Harley Street clinic for pre-treatment checks, including viral blood screening, a BMI assessment, and an identity verification. Online treatment consents will also be sent to you, and I will arrange a consultation to explain the full treatment process; your medication; and answer any questions. You will then attend for a baseline ultrasound scan before starting your hormone injections. I will meet with you online to explain your medication protocol, demonstrate how to administer your injections, and confirm your start date. During stimulation, we monitor your response with regular scans and blood tests at our clinic. When your follicles have reached the right size, we coordinate your trigger timing, and egg collection at King's Fertility. The procedure is carried out under deep sedation, and typically takes around fifteen to twenty minutes. The embryology team at King's will then contact you with your results. If a fresh embryo transfer is planned, the embryology team will provide your transfer date and instructions. You will be asked to begin progesterone support which we will support you with, and advise which medication is best for your personal circumstances. In some cases, your consultant may recommend freezing all embryos for transfer in a later cycle. After transfer, we advise you to avoid heavy lifting; strenuous exercise; and swimming until your pregnancy test date. Also, avoid intercourse for forty-eight hours after transfer and use barrier contraception until the outcome of your treatment is known. Continue all prescribed medication, take folic acid daily, and limit caffeine to around two hundred milligrams. It is common to experience period-type discomfort and mild spotting during the two-week wait. These symptoms can occur whether or not the cycle is successful. However, if you experience heavy bleeding or significant pain, please contact the clinic. I will also check in with you regularly, during this stage. On the date we specify, you will carry out a pregnancy test at home using a Clearblue Digital test and your first urine of the day. Please test on the date given, even if you have had bleeding, and contact the clinic with your result. If your result is positive, we will arrange an early pregnancy scan with Mr Braithwaite. If the result is negative, please contact us so we can advise on your next steps, and guide you regarding your medication. We also offer additional services if needed: including PGT-A genetic testing; fertility counselling; and anaesthetic review. Please seek advice from the clinic before taking any additional medication during treatment, to ensure it is safe in early pregnancy. Paracetamol is safe to use if needed. If you have questions about IVF, ICSI, or any aspect of your treatment, please speak to our team. You can reach us at eighty-six Harley Street during clinic hours, and we provide an out-of-hours service for urgent medical concerns.