Drugs Used in IVF Treatment

During IVF treatment, the patient is always at the center of the treatment. The correct use of the patient's medications during the treatment process positively affects the success of the treatment.

In their natural months, women develop and lay an ovo each month. The goal of IVF treatment is to obtain a large number of follicles (ovos). For this purpose, in in vitro fertilization, as in other diseases, patients are not "real patients" but they have to use many drugs during the treatment process. 

One of the issues that patients are most worried about during the treatment process is the use of drugs. Patients may be worried such as "If I miscalibrate the drug doses, apply them to the wrong location, or if my treatment is canceled for these reasons". Because, we want the patients to give them self ovo-growing injections during ovulation induction (ovulation follow-up and treatment) lasting 10-14 days. Of course, this worries them. The most important thing to be done in order to eliminate the concerns is to inform the patient in detail.

• In the light of the fact that "single size will not fit all ”, individualized treatment protocols are applied in our IVF center.
• On the 2nd or 3rd day of the menstrual period, initial ultrasonography is performed and if appropriate, the injections for stimulating the ovaries are started.
•  It is preferable that the drugs used for stimulating the ovaries (Gonal-F, Menogon, Menopur, Merional, Fostimon, Luveris) be stored in the refrigerator (at + 4 ° C in the egg shelf, not in the freezer). However, it can be stored at room temperature for a long time, provided that it is below 25 ° C.
• These injections, which are very important to be applied correctly, should be applied to the half-moon area, which covers 2 fingers sides and 2 fingers down of the navel after the dose is adjusted.
• The nurses provide detailed information about the usage periods, dosages, hours and follow-up days of the next ultrasonography to the patient.
• In addition, all of our patients receiving treatment in our clinic show the use of injections by our nurses.
• The “Drug Description Form", which includes the points that should be taken into consideration about drug use, is given to the patient in writing by our nurses.
• Our patients are warned by their doctor and nurse about the changes made during the treatment. In order to prevent misuse, our patients should always be honest to their physician and nurse in all matters.
• At the end of ovo growth, HCG (Ovo cracking) injection is applied.
• The purpose of applying ovo cracking injections (Ovitrelle, Choriomon, Gonapeptyl) is not to crack the ovos, but to ensure the final maturation of the ovos.
• Before the ovos crack, they must be collected. Generally, the ovo collection process (OPU) is performed 34-36 hours after the HCG injection clock. It is preferable to store the HCG injection in the refrigerator (not in the freezer, in the egg shelf at + 4 ° C).
• The time to apply the HCG injection is extremely important. After a detailed explanation to the patient, the written form is given to patients by our nurses.
• An error in the timing of this injection will cause premature cracking of the ovos or failure to obtain mature ovos.
• Therefore, on the day of the HCG injection, our nurses call our patients to remind them about the time of the injection.
• Following the OPU (ovo collection) process, the collected ovos are fertilized with the sperm of the prospective father and embryos are formed. The best quality embryo is transferred to the mother. During and after all these procedures, oral medications, vitamins, estrogen and progesterone hormones taken orally are given to the mother as a supportive treatment. These hormones are found in the form of injections and vaginal gel.
• In the light of the fact that individualized treatment protocols, our doctors contact the patient and determine the most appropriate treatment by considering the patient's compliance.

Drugs used in IVF treatment have temporary side effects. The ovo injection can cause slight irritation at the injection site. Breast tenderness, inguinal pain and emotional tenderness are rarely seen. These are all spontaneous, transient effects. 

Drugs used in IVF treatment may cause a few pounds of weight gain due to water retention in the body. However, it does not make a permanent weight gain as long as the appetite is paid attention.

In patients with high ovo reserves, a condition called OHSS (overexcitation of ovaries syndrome) may arise due to ovarian overexpression. Today, even in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome who are most prone to overstimulation syndrome, this risk is almost zeroed by treatment by our experienced physicians. In these patients, the appropriate protocol, the use of appropriate stimulant drug dose, the use of appropriate cracking injections and more than 15 ovos are collected, no fresh transfer, all embryos are a preferred way of freezing. After the patient's ovaries are restored, frozen embryos are thawed and transferred to the patient. Thus, the patient is protected from severe OHSS. Since we have a very successful embryo freezing program, we can offer high live birth rates with this approach.