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ROPA Method
Motherhood can now also be shared.
What does it consist of?
The ROPA Method is a technique that allows a couple of women to build their family, both actively participating in the reproductive process.
The ROPA Method (reception of ovocytes from the couple) consists of in vitro fertilization using the ovocytes of one of the partners and transferring the embryo to the other. This way, it is a partnership in which one contributes their reproductive cell and the other their uterus for the development of gestation, which can be said to be the maximum expression of what we call a “shared maternity”.
For whom is it indicated?
- Female couples who want to share the reproductive process.
- Medical contraindication of pregnancy in one of them.
Ovarian stimulation
Treatment begins with ovarian stimulation of the woman who provides the eggs. To do this, drugs are used to stimulate the development of follicles (the place where future oocytes mature). Normally, a woman only matures one oocyte in each menstrual cycle, whereas this way it is possible to obtain several mature oocytes in a single cycle. The medication is administered subcutaneously, using “self-injection” devices.
Control of folicular development
During the treatment of ovarian stimulation, we will perform regular controls, by vaginal ultrasound and if necessary, hormonal analysis; all this to check follicular maturation and schedule the ideal time for puncture. This phase lasts between 10 and 12 days.
Puncture
The removal of the eggs is a very simple procedure that is performed in the operating room, by means of the vaginal puncture guided by ultrasound and the aspiration of the follicles. The process does not last more than 15 minutes and is performed under sedation for your comfort and well-being.
It does not require hospital admission, only a rest of several hours is prescribed in the room of our clinic. After this time, you can resume your usual activity.
Preparation of the semen sample
The choice of the sperm donor will be made according to the phenotypic criteria of the pregnant woman.
It is necessary to prepare the semen so that it has the ability to fertilize the egg, in addition to achieving an optimal concentration of mobile sperm.
In this case the use of donor semen is indicated, this sample will always be frozen and stored in our semen bank. Our embryologists will treat it in the laboratory with a process known as sperm capacitation, so that we can select the sperm with the best mobility.
Fertilization and culture
Our embryologists perform fertilization through a technique called ICSI (Intracytoplasmic sperm injection). It consists of the selection of a single sperm for each egg that is microinjected into it. It is a very precise technique that favors the fusion of the nuclei of the male gamete with the female. Fertilized embryos must be kept in culture for 5-7 days. And during this time, they will develop until they reach the blastocyst stage.
In Next Fertility, we use time-lapse technology, which allows real-time monitoring of the evolution of embryonic development. In this way, we evaluate in a very exhaustive way the morpho-kinetic changes that are produced and this allows us to select embryos most likely to get pregnant.
Endometrial preparation
The objective of this phase is to prepare the endometrium of the woman who will receive the embryo to maximize the possibilities of implantation. It is performed with the administration of estrogen and progesterone preparations, which contribute to the correct development of the endometrium, which is the layer of the uterus where the embryo will implant and the future baby will develop during its intrauterine life.
During this phase ultrasound checks and hormonal determinations are made to check the correct preparation of the endometrium.
Embryo Transfer
In the embryo transfer we will deposit the embryo inside the uterine cavity of the woman who will carry out the gestation; this can be done in “fresh” or in “deferred”.
The transfer is done with an embryo in blastocyst stage (5-7 days of embryonic life), is called in “fresh” when it is done with a blastocyst without having been frozen previously, during the same cycle of ovarian stimulation and follicular puncture; and in “delayed” when a thawed blastocyst is transferred, in a cycle after the in vitro fertilisation treatment cycle.
The transfer is made “deferred” when: a) there is a risk of “Ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome”, b) endometrial conditions are not adequate for embryonic implantation, c) it is necessary to perform embryonic genetic diagnosis techniques, d) there is some reason why gestation in the same IVF cycle is not advisable. In both cases, the transfer is done with a transfer tube or catheter, using an ultrasound guide. This procedure is completely painless and does not require hospital admission.
Pregnancy Test
A blood pregnancy test will be carried out 14-15 days after insemination. It will look for the presence of the hormone β-hCG (human chorionic gonadotrophin), which is the hormone produced by the embryo after its implantation in the endometrium.
If the test result is positive, an ultrasound will be carried out around 2 weeks later to confirm the presence of the “gestational sac” inside the uterus and to observe the heartbeat of your future baby. From this point on, your regular gynaecologist can monitor the pregnancy.
Any more questions? We will be happy to help you.
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