의학연구소임상연구활동난자 채취와 체외수정 및 배아이식

Clinical Research
Activities

Introducing clinical research accumulated
through long experience and countless procedures

In Vitro Fertilization

In Vitro Fertilization The subfertility medical research division of Maria Fertility Hospital makes efforts for the best results from the extraction of ovum from the ovaries of women and performance of in vitro fertilization to good embryo transfer.

Ovum Pick-up

This is a process of ovum extraction from the ovaries of women using superovulation inducement or a natural cycle.
The extracted ovum is cultured in medium inside a germ-free room using a special solution until in vitro fertilization.

In vitro fertilization and culture

< In Vitro Fertilization >
< In Vitro Culture >

Conventional insemination of the extracted ovum is induced in a culture medium inside a germ-free room. When conventional insemination is difficult, in vitro fertilization is induced using ICSI and IMSI and PICSI, which are drawing attention from the academic world due to high fertilization and pregnancy rates.

Also, 18~19 hours after in vitro fertilization, normal fertilization is checked to see if it has been made successfully. The normally fertilized embryo is cultured in an optimal environment in a culture medium inside a germ-free room using a special solution before it is transferred to the uterus of the patient.

Embryo Transfer(ET)

Four-Cell-Stage Embryo
Eight-Cell-Stage Embryo
Blastocyst-Stage Embryo

Skilled researchers screen morphologically good embryos 2~5 days after the start of culture in a germ-free room considering the state of the patient after ovum pickup and number and state of embryos. The screened embryo is then transferred to the uterus of the patient.

Intracytoplasmic sperm injection

Intracytoplasmic sperm injection Maria Fertility Hospital always endeavors to perform ICSI in an environment that is close to internal natural fertilization and has good results thanks to accumulated technologies and skilled researchers.

ICSI is a procedure that can be applied to ovum and sperm when there is difficulty in natural fertilization. The procedure of injecting sperm into the cytoplasm of an ovum with a fine glass tube is an innovative and highly advanced technology for overcoming subfertility.

Maria Fertility Hospital makes efforts to improve the quality of embryos and fertilization rate and further increase the pregnancy rate by implementing intracytoplasmic morphologically selected sperm injection (IMSI) and physiological intracytoplasmic sperm injection (PICSI), which are more advanced than ICSI.

Oocyte and embryo cryopreservation

Cryopreservation Vitrification, the cryopreservation of eggs and embryos, is taking center stage. The subfertility medical research division of Maria Fertility Hospital has researched effective vitrification and cryopreserves reproductive cells in all stages from egg to blastocyst-stage embryo.

Thanks to advanced in vitro culture technology, many embryos can be obtained from many ova acquired by superovulation inducement when IVF is performed. However, due to the tendency of reducing multiple pregnancies with minimum embryo transfers or the risk of ovarian hyperstimulation, or when pregnancy is wanted later due to the disease, the fertilized embryos can be cryopreserved and then later thawed and transferred at an appropriate time. That is why the cryopreservation of extra embryos is becoming more important.

Also, one or more procedures are possible by freezing and thawing extra embryos with just one superovulation inducement, and the procedure time can be selected. Therefore, this can reduce the psychological and physical problems of patients and procedure expense.

Vitrification, the cryopreservation of eggs and embryos, is taking center stage. The subfertility medical research division of Maria Fertility Hospital has researched and developed a program that can cryopreserve reproductive cells in all stages from egg to blastocyst-stage embryo using effective vitrification and tools and currently uses it.
We have had a lot of excellent clinic outcomes for our cryopreservation method and published papers in domestic and foreign journals.

Semen analysis

Semen analysis The male subfertility medical research division of Maria Fertility Hospital performs accurate examination with both general semen analysis and special semen analysis.

General semen analysis (Computer-aided sperm analyzer + Strict morphology by Kruger’s criteria)

Analysis of sperm counts and motility
using computer-aided sperm analyzer
Morphological analysis
of stained sperm

The male subfertility medical research division of Maria Fertility Hospital analyzes sperm counts and motility using a computer-aided sperm analyzer (CASA) for accurate examination. In parallel with this, we perform a morphological examination of sperm using a special staining reagent (strict morphology by Kruger’s criteria) to analyze semen to meet the standards of the WHO.

Hyaluronan binding assay

There is mature and immature sperm. Immature sperm is known to have a negative effect on embryo development and pregnancy rate after fertilization due to abnormal chromosomes. Hyaluronan is the main component of the cumulus oophorus which surrounds ova, and only mature sperm that has normal chromosomes can attach to hyaluronan.

Hyaluronan binding assay (HBA) is a special examination method based on this principle and identifies the ratio of mature sperm that have normal chromosomes among extracted sperm.
We combine a general semen examination with this HBA to find and apply the most efficient fertilization method.

Subject of the Assay

· Case of unknown factor among patients for whom intrauterine insemination (IUI) has failed
· Case of problems in embryo development during IVF

Mature sperm under
a microscope
A specially treated chamber
slide that is used in HBA

Sperm Treatment

For successful IUI and IVF, the process of screening good sperm is necessary.

The male subfertility medical research division of Maria Fertility Hospital removes substances that are not necessary for or impede fertilization from extracted sperm and screen for good quality sperm using the safest and most effective method in a clinical setting

TESE: Testicular sperm extraction

TESE: Testicular sperm extraction For patients with aspermia among subfertile male patients, sperm extracted from testicles and epididymis can be used to try fertilization. The urology department and subfertility medical research division of Maria Fertility Hospital make efforts to increase the normal fertilization rate and pregnancy rate in the case of patients with aspermia using TESE.

TESE is a procedure that is performed when patients have no seminal duct or a closed seminal duct or prostate through which sperm move or no sperm due to genetical or endocrine system reasons.

TESE finds sperm in tissues extracted from testicles and epididymis. When sperm are obtained, ICSI is performed to induce fertilization. A minimum amount of extracted sperm is used to reduce the economic and physical burdens of patients, and the remaining sperm are cryopreserved.

Sperm cryopreservation

Sperm cryopreservation The male subfertility medical research division of Maria Fertility Hospital has researched and developed the safest and most effective sperm freezing method and applies it in a clinical setting.

Sperm cryopreservation is the most effective method for preserving male fertility and extra sperm after TESE as well as normal sperm can be stored. Also, in the case of patients who receive anticancer treatments or have severe diseases, it can be selected to preserve undamaged sperm.

Quick-freezing with
liquid nitrogen soak
Slow-freezing with special
computer equipment

The male subfertility medical research division of Maria Fertility Hospital cryopreserves sperm by quick-freezing with a liquid nitrogen soak and slow-freezing with special computer equipment and stores the sperm at an ultralow temperature (-196℃) after freezing.

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Clinical Research
Activities

Introducing clinical research accumulated
through long experience and countless procedures