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Utah Center for Reproductive Medicine

IVF Laboratory Procedures

procedure

Preparation for the Procedure

From the time you begin ovarian stimulation to the day of your egg retrieval, our laboratory technicians and embryologists are involved in many diagnostic and preparatory procedures. In particular, we will be drawing your blood to determine the concentration of estradiol (an indicator of oocyte maturation). As a precautionary measure, we will also have the husband schedule an appointment (approximately 1-2 months prior to your procedure) to leave a semen sample which will be frozen and serve as a backup sample in case of an emergency.

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The Day of Your Oocyte Retrieval

The day of the retrieval your physician will aspirate your ovarian follicular fluid containing the oocytes. One of our technicians will be at the side of your physician assisting during the procedure. During this time the follicular fluid will be collected in a test-tube, which is then transferred into the embryo lab where one of our embryologists will transfer the oocytes into a dish with specialized media. The oocytes are then incubated at body temperature until fertilization. During this incubation time, the husband will collect a semen sample, which our technicians will prepare for the fertilization process. After the incubation period, your oocytes are fertilized by one of two methods: microdroplet or ICSI. Microdroplet fertilization involves adding sperm to the media containing the oocyte. ICSI is a technique by which a single sperm is injected into the egg. In general, this procedure is used in cases where severe male factor infertility is involved. After either fertilization technique is employed, the oocytes are incubated overnight.

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Days 1 – 4 of Embryo Growth

The morning after fertilization, our embryologists will transfer your embryos to a special growth media and assess them for fertilization. The embryos will then be cultured and reevaluated on days 2 and 3. Depending on the quantity and quality of the embryos, a day 3 or a day 5 transfer will be selected. The embryos are left in the incubator on day 4. You will receive a call on day 2 with an update then again on day 4 for a second update as well as a transfer time for day 5.

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Day 3: Embryo Transfer

The third day after fertilization some of your embryos should ideally reach the six or eight cell stage. We will provide you and the physician with an assessment of the embryo quality and a picture of the embryos to be transferred. You and the physician will carefully discuss and determine the number of embryos to be transferred (1-3), and the disposition of any remaining embryos. Most couples choose two embryos for transfer. During your embryo transfer, our embryologists will place these embryos in a catheter. The catheter is given to your physician who will then transfer the embryos to the wife’s uterus.

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Day 5: Embryo Transfer

On the fifth day after fertilization, some of your embryos should ideally be at the blastocyst stage. We will provide you and the physician an assessment of the embryos quality and a picture of the embryos to be transferred. You and the physician will carefully discuss and determine the number of embryos to be transferred as well as the cryopreservation or disposition of the remaining embryos. Most couples choose two embryos for transfer. During your embryo transfer, our embryologists will place the embryos in a catheter. The catheter is then given to your physician who will then transfer the embryos to the wife’s uterus.

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What Happens to the Remaining Embryos?

At the time of transfer, you are given choices concerning the fate of your remaining viable embryos:

  • The embryos may be frozen (cryopreserved) for a future IVF embryo transfer.
  • Embryo culture may be continued to see if the embryos develop to the blastocyst stage and then cryopreserved.
  • Culture of the embryos may de discontinued.

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Cryo Preservation

At the completion of an embryo transfer additional embryos may remain unused. Cryopreservation may be used to retain the embryos, alleviating the need to retrieve additional oocytes for future pregnancy attempts. An Embryo Storage Agreement will be signed prior to cryopreservation of embryos.

Payment includes the first year of storage. Thereafter, payment for the current for the current storage period must be paid in advance. A client may terminate a Storage Agreement at any time by requesting and completing a Consent to Discard Pre-Embryos OR a Consent to Donate Pre-Embryos to IRB Approved Research form (contact the Andrology Lab to obtain the correct form). Please carefully read and complete the entire form. Please note: a UUHSC employee or a Notary Public must witness your signature. The original written notice must be received and acknowledged by the University before the agreement is terminated.

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Douglas T. Carrell, Ph.D., H.C.L.D.

Locations
Andrology & IVF Laboratories (801) 581-3740

Specialties: Andrology, In Vitro Fertilization, Reproductive Endocrinology & Infertility

Jessie A. Dorais, M.D.

Locations
Utah Center for Reproductive Medicine (801) 581-3834

Specialties: Reproductive Endocrinology & Infertility

Ahmad O. Hammoud, M.D., M.P.H.

Locations
South Jordan Health Center (801) 581-3834
Utah Center for Reproductive Medicine (801) 581-3834
Utah Valley Regional Medical Center (801) 581-3834

Specialties: In Vitro Fertilization, Obstetrics, Reproductive Endocrinology & Infertility

Erica B. Johnstone, M.D.

Locations
South Jordan Health Center (801) 581-3834
Utah Center for Reproductive Medicine (801) 581-3834

Specialties: In Vitro Fertilization, Menopause, Reproductive Endocrinology & Infertility

William R. Keye, M.D.

Locations
Redstone Health Center (801) 581-3834
South Jordan Health Center (801) 581-3834
Utah Center for Reproductive Medicine (801) 581-3834

Specialties: Reproductive Endocrinology & Infertility

Oumar Kuzbari, M.D.

Locations
Utah Center for Reproductive Medicine (801) 581-3834

Specialties: Reproductive Endocrinology & Infertility

Andrew K. Moore, M.D.

Locations
Parkway Health Center (801) 581-3834
Utah Center for Reproductive Medicine (801) 581-3834

Specialties: Endometriosis, In Vitro Fertilization, Minimally Invasive Pelvic Surgery, Pelvic Pain, Polycystic Ovary Syndrome, Recurrent Miscarriage, Reproductive Endocrinology & Infertility, Robotic Surgery, Tubal Ligation Reversal

C. Matthew Peterson, M.D.

Locations
Centerville Health Center (801) 581-3834
Parkway Health Center (801) 581-3834
South Jordan Health Center (801) 581-3834
University Hospital (801) 581-3834
Utah Center for Reproductive Medicine (801) 581-3834

Specialties: Adolescent Gynecology, Endometriosis, Gynecologic Oncology, Gynecological Surgery, Gynecology, In Vitro Fertilization, Minimally Invasive Pelvic Surgery, Pediatric Gynecology, Polycystic Ovary Syndrome, Reproductive Endocrinology & Infertility, Tubal Ligation Reversal, Women's Genetic Counseling