Thuriah Medical Center provides the full range of the latest technologies of assisted reproduction for the management of infertility.
Ovulation Induction
By means of drugs that stimulate the ovaries to produce and ovulate eggs which could then be fertilized through natural intercourse leading to conception. The drugs could take the form of tablets or injections and will be decided on by the treating consultant. The response is usually followed by ultrasound scanning and sometimes hormone tests.
Intrauterine Insemination (IUI)
This involves the preparation of a semen sample of the husband and injection of the prepared sample into the uterine cavity of the wife using a very thin tube at around the time of ovulation. This can be carried out with or without stimulation of the ovaries. The procedure is simple and is not painful.
In Vitro-Fertilization (IVF)
IVF is the process of external fertilization in the laboratory; eggs are retrieved from the wife at maturity, and are mixed with a prepared sample of the husbands sperm in the IVF laboratory. They are then left in culture media in an incubator over night to fertilize. The fertilized eggs are then allowed to cleave to create embryos. After they develop into embryos the best, usually 2, are selected and returned into the uterus of the wife. The process usually involves stimulation of the ovaries by means of medications (injections) to allow the retrieval of multiple eggs rather than the one naturally ovulated egg as this improves the chances of success.
IVF Related Techniques
Intra-cytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI)
The process of micro insemination (ICSI) is similar to IVF with the only difference in that a single  sperm is injected directly an egg using a special type of microscope (Micromanipulator).  The introduction of this technique back in 1992 marked a breakthrough in the management of male problems and ever since has allowed many couples whose treatment would have been hopeless to father their own genetic children.
In Vitro Maturation (IVM)
With this technique immature eggs are retrieved from the ovaries following either no or minimal stimulation and the eggs are then matured in the IVF laboratory. Once mature the eggs are fertilized using husbands sperm and returned to the uterus, again after cleavage and creation of embryos. This technique is useful in special circumstances e.g. for women with polycystic ovarian syndrome who, when stimulated, are prone to develop unpleasant symptoms of a condition called hyperstimulation syndrome.
Assisted Hatching
This method aims to increase the chance of implantation of the replaced embryos and accordingly improve the chance of a pregnancy as a result of IVF treatment.  It involves making a tiny hole in the wall of the embryo to help the embryo hatch prior to implanting into the uterine wall. It could be done mechanically, chemically  or by using laser technology. The technique of assisted hatching could benefit selected patients and doctors will discuss this and advise when appropriate.
Extended Embryo Culture & Blastocyst Transfer
The success of IVF increases with the transfer of better quality healthy embryos. Extended embryo culture in the IVF laboratory and the delay of the transfer of one or two embryos to five days from egg collection helps the selection of better quality embryos and significantly improves the chances of conception. For this treatment option however a good number of embryos, at least five, is required. Again doctors will discuss this and advise when appropriate.
Pre-Implantation Genetic Diagnosis (PGD)
The most common reason for IVF failure is chromosomal abnormalities in the embryos. Around 70% of embryos are usually lost before birth for this single reason. The technology of Pre-implantation Genetic Diagnosis offers genetic testing of an embryo prior to implantation. It is used in conjunction with IVF and allows only those embryos diagnosed as being free of a specific genetic disorder to be transferred into a woman to try to achieve a pregnancy and the birth of a healthy baby.