What is IVF? IVF (Invitro Fertilization) is a medical procedure for conception in which a woman’s egg is fertilized with partner’s sperm outside in the lab and the resulting embryo is transferred to the woman’s uterus. What is the Success Rate of IVF? Although it is one of the advanced fertility treatments, the success rates of IVF all over the world ranges from 30-50%. The success of IVF primarily depends on the age of women, cause of infertility, Sperm quality, oocyte quality and uterine receptivity. Can Pregnancy be Achieved in One Cycle? Although IVF is a well-established process, each step is complex and carries with it a chance of failure. Around 40% couples conceive in their first attempt and rest may require multiple cycles to achieve a pregnancy. How to Improve the Success rate of IVF? Correct evaluation of the couple is important to plan a personalised protocol before starting IVF. All the other associated gynaecological and medical disorders need to be managed. Ensure Healthy Lifestyle, Reducing stress and adequate intake of Vitamins and Minerals atleast 2-3 months prior to starting the cycle. In patients going for their second or third IVF a proper assessment of prior cycles needs to be done to plan the new cycle better. What are the associated Gynecological conditions to be sorted prior to IVF? Uterine fibroids, Adenomyosis, Endometrial polyps, Endometriosis and Hydrosalpinx should be dealt with before going for embryo transfer in IVF cycle as they can affect the pregnancy chances. How is Sperm Quality Determined for Successful IVF? Routine semen parameters like sperm concentration, motility and morphology may not be sufficient to predict pregnancy outcome. Additional tests like semen DFI can help in better selection of Sperms for ICSI with latest techniques like MACS and microfluidics. What is Embryo Freezing and FET? In IVF usually 1 to 2 embryos are transferred back. So any additional embryos can be frozen by a technique called vitrification for upto 5 years for future use. In case of a failure the stored embryos can be warmed and transferred back to a prepared uterus. The success rate is on par with a fresh embryo transfer. In cases where there is a risk of hyper stimulation Freezing embryos is a safer option with higher success rate. How Important is Preimplantation Genetic Testing (PGT)? This is a procedure for genetic testing of IVF embryos by a biopsy prior to transfer and helps in the selection of healthy and chromosomally normal embryo. This improves the chances of conception and avoids abortion and birth defects. With this test you can also eliminate the risk of passing known genetic diseases to your unborn baby. It is recommended for patients with previous recurrent IVF failure or repeated early pregnancy losses. Your fertility specialist would be the best one to judge what would work the best for you. Consult experts to find the right procedure, for successful pregnancy and parenthood.