IVF, or In Vitro Fertilization, when translated, means "in the lab." Experts also refer to it as "lab-aided pregnancy." Simply put, it is a comprehensive set of techniques that aid fertility, genetic abnormalities, and child conception.
IVF works by combining medications and surgical treatments to help sperm fertilize an egg and the fertilized egg implant in the uterus. First, the woman or AFAB (assigned female at birth) takes hormonal drugs to increase the number of eggs produced.
Afterwards, the doctor extracts your eggs from your ovaries using a transvaginal ultrasound-guided needle during minor surgery. Then the eggs are mixed with washed sperm cells from your partner or a donor in a petri dish.
The sperm should fertilize some of the eggs and develop into embryos in the ideal situation. If a fresh transfer is appropriate, the doctors will transfer one or two embryos into the uterus, where they will hopefully implant and grow.
IVF is a lengthy procedure with several steps that can take months to finish. It can work on the first try in some instances, but many people require more than one round of IVF to conceive. If you're having trouble getting pregnant, IVF can help, but it's not a guarantee - everyone's body is different, and IVF isn't for everyone.
IVF is considered a prominent infertility treatment among women aged over 40. IVF is often an option when you have specific health issues. You and your partner can opt for IVF, if you are suffering from
- Low sperm count
- Polycystic ovarian syndrome, for example, might cause complications with ovulation.
- Damaged or blocked fallopian tubes
- If either of you has had your uterus removed
- Endometriosis
- A desire to protect your children from inheriting genetic diseases
- IVF can be costly, physically demanding, and emotionally stressful. IVF Helps can offer you and your partner support as you navigate the ups and downs of infertility therapy.
- You're more likely to have multiple children if you have more than one embryo implanted in your uterus during IVF.
- Various researches have indicated that IVF modestly raises the possibility of a baby being born underweight or prematurely.
- Human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG), an injectable fertility medicine, can cause ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome, which causes enlarged and painful ovaries.
- Miscarriage rates for women who conceive through IVF with fresh embryos are similar to those for women who conceive spontaneously, ranging from 15% to 25%, however, the rate rises with maternal age.
- There are high risks of bleeding, infection, or damage to the intestine, bladder, or blood vessel when collecting eggs with an aspirating needle.
- No matter how the kid is conceived, the mother's age is the greatest risk factor in the development of birth abnormalities.
The potential relationship between reproductive treatments and future cardiovascular disease risk is one source of concern. Higher levels of estrogen used to stimulate ovulation may raise the risk of blood clots in the days following fertility treatment.
Certain cancers may be more likely to develop as a result of the hormonal surges caused by IVF. The initial minor studies on this topic, which were conducted in the 1990s and early 2000s, revealed that women who had IVF were more likely than the general population to be diagnosed with ovarian cancer, breast cancer, and uterine cancer. However, larger research looking into the topic hasn't shown the same link
IVF injections are a crucial component of the IVF procedure. These injections aid in the production of mature eggs, which are then extracted and fertilised by sperm.
In the vast majority of cases, IVF injections are relatively painless. At the same time, it's critical to remember that pain is a subjective experience. It differs from one person to the next. This indicates that someone who is more sensitive might be more uncomfortable than someone who is less sensitive.
Anesthesia is used to keep you comfortable throughout the process. Some women, however, notice cramps in the days following this step of IVF. This cramping is extremely similar to what many women go through during their menstrual cycle.
It's also possible that you'll feel a little painful and see some spotting. All of these symptoms should go away in 5-7 days.
Contact your doctor and reproductive team right away if you notice rapid weight gain, trouble breathing, or an increase in stomach circumference. While these symptoms are uncommon, they may suggest Ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS).
The ovaries of a woman contain hundreds of potential eggs. The ovary picks one egg from a pool of 100-1,000 eggs each month during the natural ovulation cycle. Those eggs that aren't chosen go through a natural cell death process known as atresia.
Thus, when a woman uses fertility medication during IVF, she is not only not using up all of her eggs, but she is also rescuing eggs that would otherwise have undergone atresia.
The success of frozen-thawed embryo transfer methods is mostly determined by three factors:
The frozen-thawed embryos' quality and survivability. We exclusively freeze high-quality embryos in general, thus the current survival rate is around 90%.
.The age of the egg producer. Pregnancy rates with frozen-thawed embryos are comparable to those with fresh embryos in individuals under the age of 37.
Pregnancy rates with frozen-thawed embryos fall with age, but they can still be pretty high in individuals 37 years and older.
The uterine state of the lady who will receive the embryos. Endometrial lining that is devoid of infections.
The best conditions for embryo implantation are provided by a healthy uterine lining devoid of any interfering fibroids or polyps.
Thousands of women have been able to become pregnant thanks to the possibility to use a donor egg when they otherwise would not have been able to. Even if a woman's eggs aren't viable, her uterus is often perfectly healthy and capable of supporting a pregnancy.
In these situations, egg donation combined with IVF has a high likelihood of success. This method is similar to IVF, only the intended parents choose a donor and generate the embryo with the donor's egg.
A woman's ability to carry a pregnancy may be hampered by a variety of medical issues. Reproductive medicine allows another woman, known as a gestational carrier (previously known as a surrogate), to carry the child of a woman who is unable to bring a pregnancy to term.
There are two sorts of gestational carriers: females and males.
A conventional gestational carrier is artificially inseminated with the intended father's sperm and fertilizes the embryo with her own eggs. Traditional surrogacy is not available at many fertility clinics.
IVF does not allow a gestational carrier to contribute any of her own genetic material. In this situation, the egg and sperm from the prospective parents are retrieved, fertilized in the laboratory through IVF, and then put into the surrogate's uterus.