02/11/2024
Thanks to my friends and family for the support great questions! ♥️🙏
I've gotten a few questions about what are follicles? Here is some deeper insight that I will post on the website soon:
..What Are Follicles?
Follicles are small fluid-filled sacs located within the ovaries. Each follicle contains an immature egg (oocyte). During a woman's menstrual cycle, several follicles begin to mature, but typically only one follicle (the dominant one) fully matures and releases an egg during ovulation. The rest of the follicles usually recede.
..Follicles in IVF
In IVF, the goal is to stimulate the ovaries to produce multiple follicles and, consequently, multiple eggs. This is achieved through a process known as ovarian stimulation or superovulation. Here's how it works:
1. Ovarian Stimulation: The woman is given fertility medications that contain hormones such as FSH (follicle-stimulating hormone) and LH (luteinizing hormone) to stimulate the ovaries to produce multiple follicles. This process is closely monitored through ultrasound and blood tests to track the growth and development of the follicles.
2. Monitoring Follicle Development: Ultrasound scans are used to monitor the size and number of developing follicles within the ovaries. Blood tests are also performed to measure hormone levels, which help in assessing how the follicles are responding to the stimulation.
3. Trigger Shot: When the follicles reach a certain size (usually around 17-20 millimeters in diameter), a trigger shot (hCG injection) is administered. This injection mimics the body's natural LH surge and triggers the final maturation and ovulation of the eggs.
4. Egg Retrieval: About 34-36 hours after the trigger shot, the eggs are retrieved through a minor surgical procedure known as follicular aspiration. A thin needle is inserted into each o***y via the va**na under ultrasound guidance to aspirate the fluid and eggs from the follicles.
5. Fertilization: The retrieved eggs are then fertilized with s***m in the laboratory. This can be done by either mixing the eggs with s***m and allowing fertilization to occur naturally within the dish (conventional IVF) or by injecting a single s***m directly into each egg (ICSI - Intracytoplasmic S***m Injection).
6. Embryo Development: Fertilized eggs (now embryos) are cultured in the laboratory for several days. During this time, they are monitored for growth and development.
7. Embryo Transfer: One or more of the best quality embryos are selected and transferred back into the woman's uterus, or in our case transferred to a surrogate, where implantation and pregnancy hopefully occur. The embryos which are viable but will not be transferred will be frozen for future family planning. Fun fact, embryos can be frozen for approximately 22 years!
..The Importance of Follicles in IVF
The number and quality of follicles are vital in IVF because they directly influence the number of eggs available for fertilization. A higher number of mature follicles typically increases the chances of retrieving a good number of healthy eggs, which is crucial for the success of IVF. However, it's also essential to balance the stimulation to avoid ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS), a condition where the ovaries respond too well to the fertility drugs, causing them to swell and become painful.
In conclusion, follicles are at the heart of the IVF process, from stimulation to egg retrieval. Their development is carefully monitored to maximize the chances of a successful pregnancy while minimizing risks.
For even more info check out this article from Johns Hopkins:
https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/gynecology-obstetrics/specialty-areas/fertility-center/infertility-services/ivf
It explains how IVF involves stimulating ovarium follicles to produce healthy mature eggs. The process includes administering injectable hormones to encourage follicle growth.
Respiratory illnesses continue to increase across the nation, resulting in rising hospitalizations. Effective 1/12/2024, mandatory masking will resume for patients, visitors and employees in all Johns Hopkins Medicine locations in the state of Maryland. Masking is required regardless of vaccination....
