The shared steps of insemination and IVF, and how they differ in medication dose, egg collection and where fertilisation takes place.
In the video, Prof. Dr. İkbal Kaygusuz explains the similarities and differences between two assisted reproduction methods: insemination (intrauterine insemination) and IVF. In both, ovarian stimulation is started in patients found suitable on an ultrasound done on day 2 or 3 of the period.
In insemination the aim is at most one or two eggs, so stimulation is given as tablets or low-dose injections. In IVF more eggs are aimed for, so the injection doses are higher; in both methods the dose is adjusted to the individual. In IVF, an additional protective injection is started to stop the growing eggs from releasing early. For the trigger injection, a single type is generally used in insemination, while in IVF one or two injections of the same or different types may be used.
In insemination, about 36 hours after the trigger injection, motile sperm prepared in the laboratory are placed in the uterus and fertilisation takes place inside the uterus. In IVF, about 35 hours after the trigger injection the eggs are collected and combined with sperm in the laboratory; the resulting embryos are monitored in culture media that mimic the uterus and are transferred to the uterus with a thin cannula on day 3 or 5. In both methods, whether the embryo implants is then followed up.
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