In Vitro Fertilization has proved to be a boon for many who have given it a chance. Over 5 million babies have been conceived with the help of this Assisted Reproductive Technology since its inception in 1978.

However, there’s still a long way to go before people start seeing it for what it is – a potentially beneficial surgical procedure with plausible risks involved.

Having been around for only four decades, IVF is still a relatively new procedure. However, many of the fears and concerns have remained since that era. Like any technology, IVF continues to evolve as scientists through further study reduce the risks and side-effects involved every year.

How Likely Is IVF To Help You Have A Child?

The rate of successful pregnancies from IVFs resulting in live births (according to the 2014 report from the Society for Assisted Reproductive Technology) was 18{ed162fdde9fdc472551df9f31f04601345edf7e4eff6ea93114402690d8fa616} for women aged 41 and 42. And although an IVF success rate of 5{ed162fdde9fdc472551df9f31f04601345edf7e4eff6ea93114402690d8fa616} doesn’t seem like a big number, it still provides a chance for a woman beyond her menopause to experience pregnancy.

It is natural for women to experience decreased fertility rates with age. From ages 30 and 40, a woman’s chances of conception fall to half her peak. A woman of 40 is four times less likely to conceive each month than she would have been a decade earlier.

Out of all ART techniques, IVF is the most successful. Even if a pregnancy is not achieved in the first cycle, the process can be repeated. Your doctor can find out how your body specifically responds to treatment to ensure things go better the next time around.

Other Advantages Of IVF

With IVF, your doctor can examine a few cells of your embryo to check for genetic diseases before implantation, through the process of pre-implantation genetic diagnosis (PGD). Although the ethics of this practice is debated, with it, you can have peace of mind knowing that your baby will be healthy and won’t have to deal with a life-altering debility.

In case your first cycle of IVF doesn’t go as planned, healthy embryos from a PGD can be cryogenically preserved, so you have the option of attempting again.

The Controversy Over IVF

Ethical issues with IVF are widely prevalent. Many debate that making in vitro fertilization mainstream will put more pressure on women to become pregnant. Some religious bodies believe it is morally wrong, including the Church, which believes any method of conception other than intercourse between a man and a woman prevents reciprocal and responsible love.

Becoming pregnant is a mutual decision between two partners which should only be influenced by their desire to create life and experience it together. Any question of coercion is a sign of an unhealthy relationship. IVF is only a means to procreate.

A couple unable to have children naturally have as much a right to be called parents, whatever their orientation or sexuality may be.

The stigma against IVF continues to decrease as it is accepted by more and more couples wishing to get pregnant. On average, one couple out of every six face problems with fertility around the world. With IVF, one day every couple will be able to experience the wonders of childbirth.

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Conceiving a baby is the ultimate dream come true for every couple wanting to step into the shoes of a parent. But what stand as a barrier in the path to that dream are medical conditions that render a couple to be without a child.

New Generation:

Medical science intervention over time to solve this problem has resulted in various methods and ways of treatment. And one of the most popular ways that was once quite famous across the world by being known to produce ‘test-tube babies’ is in vitro fertilization or IVF in the abbreviated form. A whole new generation of babies was born to this treatment.

Breaking Barriers:

More modern techniques have later on developed over the years, like the process of artificial insemination involving the human sperm to be placed in the uterus for natural conception to take place. But can IVF be entirely ruled out, and is it just a myth of being branded as an unsafe option is the topic of this piece.

Surely IVF does involve some complexities and along comes its very expensive nature. No wonder in the modern context, going by reports, only 5{ed162fdde9fdc472551df9f31f04601345edf7e4eff6ea93114402690d8fa616} of couples take to treatment through IVF. However, records suggest a staggering statistics where close to more than 200,000 babies have seen the light of the day and been born through IVF.

Where is the Process Effective?

Medical conditions leading to infertility for both men and women can be various. If we are to name a few, then the list may run as:

• Endometriosis where the uterine lining tissue is outside the uterus instead of inside causing severe pain amongst other symptoms.
• Men can have low sperm counts. Along with inability of sperms to penetrate the cervical mucus.
• Other problems are underlining the areas of the uterus and fallopian tubes such as blocked tube passage and more.

Keeping it All Alive:

IVF’s success remains in the fact it never got shunted away as a medical practice. It is a revered technique that is due for consideration when all other treatment measures like artificial insemination, fertility drugs amongst others take a back seat. However, it must not be mistaken to be a last ditch effort.

What Goes on?

To draw a picture which would help readers understand the IVF procedure,

• It is here where a woman gets her first treatment in the form of fertility drugs. These drugs act by stimulating the production of mature eggs manifold.
• After the eggs are matured, a needle is then placed into the vagina to have the eggs removed.
• The retracted eggs are placed in a laboratory dish to be treated by the method of sperm washing. Or to understand more clearly, with the help of a very fine needle-like apparatus, sperm is injected into the nucleus of one egg.
• Fertlization is detected in no time as soon as the injected egg begins to show the symptom of cleave or break up into multiple cells.
• The embryos are then needed to be placed back in the uterus after about 72 hours of fertilization.

Such a treatment measure helps infertile couples to achieve their dream of having a baby of their own that too with their eggs and sperm. This is possible as unlike other more modern and advanced pregnancy-related treatment options, no donor sperm or eggs are used.

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The lifestyle hazards of the modern age are among the many factors contributing to the global rise in fertility and health problems. In Vitro Fertilization or IVF offers an effective solution to the problem of infertility.

The first IVF baby in the world was born in England, in the year 1978. Since then IVF has helped millions all over the world achieve their dreams of having a child. IVF is a highly feasible option that can help you to have a child of your own.

In vitro refers to a process that is performed or that takes place in a test tube, culture dish or outside a living organism and in an artificial setting. IVF at the most simplistic level involves egg fertilization in a test tube and then embryo transfer to the uterus. IVF has a much higher success rate as compared to other fertility treatments like Artificial Insemination and IUI or Intrauterine Insemination procedures.

When is IVF an Option?

IVF is recommended for couples who suffer from the following issues:

• Anatomical problems like blocked fallopian tubes or pelvic adhesions with a distorted pelvic structure.
• In a case of severe male infertility due to a low sperm count or low motility.
• In a case of failure after 2-4 cycles of ovarian stimulation with intrauterine insemination.
• In case the mother-to-be is over 38 years of age.
• In the case of a low ovarian reserve or low egg supply.
• In a case of severe endometriosis.

Procedure and Stages

• Stage 1- is ovulation induction, during which the fertility specialist monitors your ovulation and the time of egg release. Fertility medicines or hormones are given at this stage to stimulate egg production. The more eggs you have, the higher the chances of success. If you are unable to produce any eggs, you can use donor eggs for IVF.
• Stage 2- involves the extraction of eggs for fertilization. Pain medication is given to reduce any discomfort during the extraction process.
• Stage 3- is fertilization. The sperm sample whether from your partner or a donor is secured, and the most active sperm is mixed with the egg in a special chamber, or sometimes the sperm is injected directly into the egg. They are then put into an incubator and are monitored to ensure that a healthy embryo develops.
• Stage 4- consists of embryo transfer and implantation. The healthiest embryos are selected for transfer and are then carefully placed into your uterine cavity. Bed rest for 24 hours is often recommended after the IVF process has been completed.

Wrapping It Up

You may have to go through 2 to 3 IVF attempts before you achieve success. However, once you are pregnant, it is not very different from a pregnancy established naturally. Additionally, IVF pregnancies are not considered to be high risk.

So, if you thought earlier that IVF was not an option for you, after going through the information provided above, you can revisit your previous position. You can also visit your local fertility specialist for more information. With a higher rate of success, IVF can prove to be more cost-effective than IUI or AI which may require multiple attempts for successful fertilization.

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