We are, at Bnoon Medical Center, delighted to be the FIRST, and currently, the ONLY reproductive medicine center in Saudi Arabia to retain and offer this technology for our patients.

 

IVM is a form assisted reproductive technology in which the eggs are collected from the ovaries before maturation and they will be cultured in special IVM media from 24-48 hours for maturation process to complete. Then, once mature eggs are developed, they will be injected using husband’s sperms and the rest of process is, almost, similar to the standard IVF.

 

The difference between IVF and IVM is that, in IVF, the patient will take daily injections of hormones to produce mature eggs and make the ready for collection, while in IVM the patient will take no or small intermittent medications then the immature eggs will complete the process of maturation outside the body.

 

IVM is ideal for:

 

• Patients with Polycystic Ovaries (PCO) wishing to avoid Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome (OHSS)

• Patients with previous severe OHSS

• Patients with cancer, either recovering or in remission, who cannot use hormones for ovarian stimulation

 

Globally, IVM success rate is a bit lower than IVF success rate. The risks on born babies are similar to IVF.

 

For more information about IVM, you can schedule a consultation appointment with one of our physician.

 

• Embryo Freezing and Frozen Embryo Replacement Cycle

 

At Bnoon Medical Center, we are proud of pregnancy results using frozen-thawed embryos for transfer. We use the most recent freezing method called ‘Vitrification’, which is rapid freezing. Vitrification is known to be far much better than the old method ‘slow freezing’. Its efficiency is measured by the rate of embryo survival after warming and pregnancy rate. We freeze embryos either on day 3 or day 5 after ICSI. The frozen embryos can be stored to few years possessing the same quality and potential to produce pregnancy as fresh embryo transfer.

 

Once you decide to try achieving pregnancy using your stored frozen embryos. You need to see your physician to review your case and discuss any pre-treatment advice before you proceed for frozen embryo replacement cycle in order to get the maximum chance of getting pregnant. This pre-treatment evaluation is similar to that one in fresh IVF.

 

Subsequently, you will be asked to call our center on the first day of your period to schedule a clinic visit with ultrasound evaluation of your ovaries and thickness of the lining of your uterus. Once ultrasound findings are normal, you will be prescribed a medication in the form of oral tablet that contains a hormone. The function of this hormone is to enhance the growth of the lining of the uterus. You need to continue using this medication till next visit of ultrasound which will be around 10 days after. Once the thickness of the lining of uterus reaches ≥ 8 mm, you will be scheduled for embryo transfer on a specific date. Concurrently, you will be instructed to start using vaginal Progesterone before the date of embryo transfer. Please follow the instructions given to you regarding the oral tablets and vaginal Progesterone which should continue till the date of embryo transfer through pregnancy test and extend to 12 weeks of pregnancy. Additional adjuvant medications should be used at any stage of your treatment based on the protocol designed by your physician.

 

After embryo transfer, we encourage you to go back to your normal activity and 2 days after you can resume sexual intercourse, hence, there is no evidence this would jeopardize pregnancy outcome. You will continue taking all medication as prescribed to you including; vaginal Progesterone and any additional adjuvant medications as usual.

 

The earliest pregnancy test can be done is 14 days after the HCG was given. Please call the treatment coordinator to communicate your result of pregnancy test.

 

If pregnancy occurs, you need to continue on the same medications with the same dose and frequency till 12 weeks or otherwise recommended by your physician. Subsequently, a follow-up visit for pregnancy ultrasound will be arranged.

 

If pregnancy test is negative, you need to arrange a follow-up visit to see your physician for further discussion of future plan and recommendation.

 

Informed Consent for the treatment is essential and has to be completed by both husband and wife.