How do I know if IVF-ET is an appropriate therapy for me?
IVF-ET is the preferred fertility treatment in 3 situations. Firstly, when the fallopian tubes are blocked or badly damaged. Secondly, when the sperm count is very low. Finally, when simpler alternative assisted reproductive techniques have failed repeatedly.

Is there an increased chance of an abnormal child after IVF-ET?
To date, the incidence of birth defects in over thousands of babies produced by IVF-ET is no higher than what is expected in spontaneous pregnancies populations.

Am I more likely to have a boy or girl after IVF-ET?
The sex ratio is almost identical to that seen in the general population following standard IVF treatment. Furthermore, the Government of Singapore forbids sex selection procedures.

How many days am I involved during treatment cycle?
This depends on the treatment protocol that has been planned for you. It seldom exceeds two months, for which your involvement will be more frequent for 2 weeks in the second month.

How long do I need to stay in Singapore?
We recommend you wait till the second or third day of your menstrual flow to come for your first visit. Unless unexpected problems arise, you should be able to return to your country on the same day. You do not need to stay longer than two weeks for your second visit.

What should I bring for my first visit to Thomson Fertility Centre?
Please bring along all medical records for you and your spouse.

What will I go through in the first consultation?
The first consultation can take an hour, during which time our doctor will thoroughly evaluate your fertility status. He will then discuss the relevant treatment options with you. Together with our doctor, we will formulate an IVF treatment plan specifically for you. You are encouraged to bring up any concerns regarding the programme.

We want to allay your fears and help you manage the stress and expectations of your treatment. The doctor will then perform a thorough examination to assess the condition of your womb and ovaries for conditions like fibroids, endometriosis, cysts, etc. A blood test for you and your spouse will also be done to assess your hormones and to comply with prevailing government regulations. A semen test for the husband is also necessary.

For your convenience, you can produce the semen sample at Thomson in a specially-designated private room. Alternatively, you can choose to produce it at home and have it delivered to Thomson within 1 hour.

What happens during the second consultation?
Please come for your second visit on the second or third day of your next menstrual flow. Our doctor will review all your test results with you. If all is as expected, then the previously formulated IVF plan of treatment will continue as planned.

Will I experience any side effects from the drugs used to stimulate my ovaries?
Many of our ladies say that they feel very tired during the 10 to 14 days of ovarian stimulation. We therefore advise you not to schedule too many activities during this time. Abdominal bloatedness is also a frequent complaint.
A simple diet, avoiding oily and spicy often helps to minimise this discomfort. Some women have a condition called polycystic ovary syndrome that puts them at a higher risk of a complication called ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome. It is important to discuss this with your doctor.

Is there any diet or exercise program that will improve my chances of success?
We advocate a healthy lifestyle encompassing a balanced diet, moderate exercise and adequate rest. There is no special diet or vitamins that are known to enhance fertility.

How does my doctor know if my eggs have fertilized in the laboratory?
Our team of embryologists will examine the eggs until they fertilize, where two spots called pronuclei are seen. These disappear after 6-10 hrs and the egg divides into two cells, then four cells and so on.

What is the success rate of IVF?
On the average, 20-30% of patients who have embryos replaced get pregnant. Predicting the chance of success in any one woman is difficult, generally speaking younger women have a higher success rate.

Therefore the sooner you start the programme, the better are your chances. Successful outcome is also related to the quality of the eggs, sperm and embryos.

On average, how many embryos is it safe to place back into the uterine cavity?
In Singapore, not more than 3 embryos are permitted to be replaced. Under exceptional reasons, a maximum of 4 may be replaced. With 3 embryos, the pregnancy rate is between 25-30%. The risk of twins is between 15%-20% and the chance of triplets is 4-5%.

What happens if I produce more than 4 embryos during a treatment cycle?
Embryo freezing is available and the spare embryos could be stored for extended periods of time. However, MOH does not allow embryos to be stored beyond 10 years, although under special circumstances extension beyond 10 years may be allowed.

Will I be on medications after the embryo replacement?
We will give you a combination of oral, intra-vaginal and injectable hormones to keep your womb stable. These drugs will need to be continued to the 12th week of pregnancy.

Is there more of a chance for a miscarriage after IVF-ET?
There appears to be a slightly higher risk of miscarriage after IVF (25% to 30%) compared to spontaneous pregnancies (15-20%). This is probably because the problems causing infertility may also contribute to miscarriage.

IVF may not overcome some of these problems resulting in a slightly higher chance of miscarriage.

Does my age affect my pregnancy chances with IVF-ET?
Up to the age of 35, pregnancy statistics do not change dramatically. Above the age of 40, pregnancy rates decrease and the incidence of miscarriage increases significantly.

What is ICSI?
ICSI stands for intracytoplasmic sperm injection and is an extension of conventional IVF. It is used in cases where sperm is unable to penetrate the shell of the egg and/or fuse with the egg. This can occur when the sperm is abnormal or when the sperm count is very low.

It results in failure of fertilisation of the egg. ICSI overcomes these problems by selecting a single sperm from a prepared sperm sample and injecting it into the egg. This technique requires high technical skill. ICSI allows men to father their own children where previously donor sperm or adoption were the only options.