IVF is a series of procedures by which the oocytes (eggs) are placed in a dish of nutrient fluid with the sperm and allowed to fertilise and develop for up to six days, creating an embryo.

Intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) is the injection of a single sperm directly into the centre of a mature egg. This procedure is performed by a trained embryologist.

Embryos which have been cultured for five or six days of development often form blastocysts (also known as extended culture). A blastocyst has a pocket of fluid which contributes to the development of the waters around the baby and an inner cell mass which forms the baby.

To ensure the embryo is inserted within the cavity of the uterus, Care Fertility perform all embryo transfers with ultrasound control.

Having embryos stored is an option to preserve fertility whether you are having treatment for cancer or rearing your first child. An embryo is made from the egg and sperm and the egg and sperm cannot be separated.

A frozen embryo transfer (FET) is the process of transferring embryos that have been stored. Using frozen embryos allows you to maximise the chance of achieving an ongoing pregnancy from a single IVF or ICSI cycle.

There are two ways sperm can be collected from a man who has sustained a spinal cord injury. One is by using the a technique called vibrostimulation to induce ejaculation and the other is by collecting the sperm directly from the testis either under local or general anaesthetic.

Hyaluronan, also known as hyaluronic Acid or hyaluronate, is a substance called a glycosaminoglycan which is present within ovarian follicles, the fallopian tube and the uterus. Hyaluronan binds to its receptor, which is present on the lining of the uterus, hence the trade name Embryo Glue™.