Ovulation and superovulation induction
Since chances of IVF success increase as the number of potential eggs for fertilization increases, superovulation induction using medication helps increase the number of eggs produced from the ovaries in a single cycle. Other medications also help prevent early ovulation (ovulation occurring before oocytes are fully mature).
Micromanipulation
In some cases of male infertility, it is possible to improve the chances of fertilization using micromanipulation: injecting the sperm directly into the egg with the assistance of a microscope. Once the egg is fertilized and the embryo has 4 to 8 cells—usually after 2 to 5 days—it is re-introduced into the uterus. This method works only with a single sperm per egg. It is appropriate for males with low sperm count or poor sperm quality. Each year over 100 babies are born to parents who have undergone this procedure at Lis Maternity Hospital.
Testicular sperm extraction (TESE)
Men experiencing low levels of sperm (azoospermia) can successfully father children by extracting testicular sperm (testicular sperm extraction, or TESE). Eggs are fertilized using ICSI, intracytoplasmic sperm injection, an IVF procedure in which the sperm is injected directly into the egg. The embryo is subsequently re-introduced into the uterus. Lis performs about ICSI 40 procedures a year, with very high success rates.
Fertility preservation
Women undergoing medical treatments that can impact fertility, such as chemotherapy or radiotherapy, can preserve their option to produce children. A number of cryopreservation alternatives available at Lis Maternity Hospital include:
- Egg preservation – Preserving unfertilized eggs for future fertilization and implantation via IVF or surrogacy
- Embryo preservation – Freezing fertilized eggs for future personal IVF procedures or surrogacy
- Ovary preservation – Removing the ovaries via laparoscopic surgery and preserving them in liquid nitrogen for an unlimited period of time
- Egg preservation - Since the number of eggs that a woman creates in her lifetime is finite, women who are not in a position to conceive due to health or personal circumstances can preserve unfertilized eggs for future fertilization and implantation via IVF or surrogacy.
- Embryo preservation - Often, individuals or couples have additional embryos after undergoing fertility treatments. Embryos at different stages of development can be preserved for IVF treatment at a future time.
The Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center has made tremendous progress with experimental procedures related to ovary preservation and re-implantation. Recently, the first pregnancy from reimplanted ovarian tissue of a former cancer patient has been achieved at the Medical Center.
Other fertility procedures for women undergoing cancer treatment include: temporarily repositioning ovaries to a different location in the body to avoid targeted radiotherapy; medication which slows ovarian activity during cancer treatment to minimize impact on ovarian tissue; and superovulation induction for egg extraction, cryopreservation, and future fertilization.
Preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD)
PGD is a broad scientific and medical service designed to assist couples who are carriers of genetic diseases to deliver healthy babies. It involves genetic testing on a single cell that is microsurgically removed from an 8-cell embryo, in order to select genetically sound embryos for re-introduction and avoid re-introduction of embryos carrying pre-existing genetic mutations.
Fertility consulting
PGD is a broad scientific and medical service designed to assist couples who are carriers of genetic diseases to deliver healthy babies. It involves genetic testing on a single cell that is microsurgically removed from an 8-cell embryo, in order to select genetically sound embryos for re-introduction and avoid re-introduction of embryos carrying pre-existing genetic mutations.
