Test Tube Babies And More: Do You Think You Need IVF?

A number of couples are increasingly moving towards in vitro fertilisation to conceive babies. Here is everything you need to know about IVF.

After being married for a certain amount of time, most couples feel the need to have children. However, not being able to conceive a child can be a rather frustrating and stressful for the people trying.

Women who have issues in getting pregnant need a doctor’s consultation. If one wants to conceive and have issues with the same, In Vitro Fertilisation is usually the best option for them. Babies born from In Vitro Fertilisation or IVF are also known as test-tube babies.

Why In Vitro Fertilisation?

IVF is often the option chosen when women have tried all the treatments and still have issues getting pregnant. The IVF procedure is not complicated, however, it does require a set of certain steps that need to be followed.

But the main thing that we need to focus on is to ascertain if IVF is the last option in getting pregnant. In certain cases, it usually is. Especially if there are some issues with your reproductive system and organs.

For example, some women don’t have fallopian tubes which decreases the chances of them having a natural pregnancy. However, with IVF, pregnancy is a possibility for people with damaged fallopian tubes or blocked fallopian tubes.

In Vitro Fertilisation can be used in several other cases as well. Such as if they have any ovulation disorders or even endometriosis.

What is the IVF procedure?

In Vitro Fertilisation (IVF) is series of procedures to help people with fertility or to prevent genetic issues while also assisting them with the conception of a child.

During the process, mature eggs are retrieved from a woman’s ovaries and fertilised using a sperm, in a lab. The fertilised egg, is then transferred to the uterus.

Women can go through this procedure by using their own eggs and their partner’s sperm. If this is not possible, the process can have eggs, sperms or embryos from a known or even an anonymous donor.

Here are the steps that are taken while going through an IVF procedure.

Ovulation induction

Before going for an IVF treatment, a fertility expert will monitor a woman’s ovaries and the time when they release the eggs. They also check to see if the ovaries are producing eggs. Tests to check the concentration of the follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), estrogen and the anti-mullerian hormone in the woman’s blood are also done during the first few days of her period.

These tests along with an ultrasound of the ovaries help the doctors predict how the body will respond to the fertility medication. The doctors prescribe some fertility medication in order to stimulate the ovaries to produce more eggs. Having several eggs present during this treatment will improve the woman’s chances of conceiving.

Egg retrieval

Egg retrieval is the process when the doctor sedates the woman and gives her pain medication to reduce her pain or discomfort.

During the egg retrieval process, a trans-vaginal ultrasound is what is usually used in this method. The probe is inserted into the vagina to identify follicles. A thin needle, is then inserted into the upper vaginal wall and used to retrieve the eggs from the follicles.

After immediate aspiration, the eggs are isolated from the fluid and placed in a culture dish. Later, they are transferred in an incubator.

Fertilisation

Moving further with the procedure, the eggs are fertilised with the sperm and the doctor collects the sperm sample from the partner or the donor.

To fertilise the sperm with the egg, the most active sperm is taken and the both the egg and the sperm are mixed in a special chamber. There are times, when the sperm is directly injected into the woman’s eggs.

The eggs and sperm are transferred into an incubator after this.

Embryo transfer

Embryo transfer is the last step in the IVF process where the embryos are transferred to the woman’s uterus.

The doctors examine the healthiest embryo and with the help of a small plastic tube, it is placed in the uterine cavity.

Patients are advised bed rest after this process.

In Vitro Fertilisation is a very safe and easy process to go through. It is generally used by people to treat infertility issues like blocked or damaged fallopian tubes, ovulation disorders, uterine fibroids and premature ovarian failure. IVF can also be used in case of male factor infertility.

It is one of the most used treatments to conceive by several couples. And due to the technological advancements, the success rate of in vitro fertility has also increased.

While people are concerned about the amount they spend on this, there a number of IVF centres that offer good quality treatment with great success rates. All you need to do is go to good IVF centre and increase your chances of having a baby.

Picture credits: Pexels

Dipti Sharma

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