In vitro fertilization (IVF) is a form of assisted reproductive technology in which sperm and eggs are fertilized outside of the human body. IVF is a sophisticated procedure that involves extracting eggs from the ovaries and manually mixing them with sperm in a lab for conception. Several days after fertilization, a fertilized egg is put in the uterus. Pregnancy occurs when the embryo implants into the uterus walls.
It is performed for couples who cannot have children naturally (sexual intercourse). Besides, people choose IVF for a variety of reasons, including infertility or a partner’s pre-existing health condition. Some people are considering IVF if other reproductive treatments have failed or if they are of advanced maternal age. IVF is also a reproductive option for couples of the same sex or persons who prefer to conceive a baby without a spouse.
IVF can help if a patient has these:
IVF should be available to women under the age of 45 who have been attempting to conceive through frequent unprotected sex for two years. Or who have undergone twelve sessions of artificial insemination, at least 6 of which use intrauterine insemination (IUI).
IVF’s success rate is determined by the woman’s age and the cause of her infertility. Younger women are more likely to achieve a successful pregnancy. IVF is normally not suggested for women over the age of 42 since the odds of a successful pregnancy are regarded to be extremely slim.
An IVF cycle usually takes 6-8 weeks. The procedure consists of an initial consultation, ovarian stimulation lasting 8-14 days, egg harvesting, fertilization, embryo transfer, and the pregnancy check.
It is quite common. IVF was initially utilized in 1978, and it has now resulted in the birth of over ten million babies globally. Approximately 5% of infertile couples will undergo IVF.
Before you begin IVF therapy, your doctor may prescribe pills for birth control or estrogen. This is used to prevent the formation of ovarian cysts and regulate the time of the menstrual cycle. It enables your healthcare professional to manage your therapy and maximize the number of mature eggs obtained throughout the egg retrieval process. Some people are provided with combination birth control pills while others are only given estrogen.
Every month throughout a healthy person of reproductive age’s natural cycle, a batch of eggs begins to mature. Usually, only one egg matures enough to ovulate. The other immature eggs in the group disintegrate.
During your IVF round, you will take injectable hormone drugs to encourage all of the eggs to mature at the same time and fully. This means that instead of having one egg, you could have several eggs. The type, amount, and frequency of drugs provided will be tailored to your specific needs based on your medical history, age, AMH level, and response to ovarian stimulation in prior IVF cycles.
Your doctor uses an ultrasound to guide a small needle into each of your ovaries via your vagina. The needle connects to a suction device that pulls your eggs out of each follicle. Your eggs are set in a dish with a specialized solution. The dish is subsequently placed in an incubator (a controlled environment).
Medications and light anesthesia are utilized to alleviate discomfort during this surgery. Egg retrieval occurs 36 hours after your last hormone injection.
Following your egg retrieval surgery, the doctor will attempt to fertilize all mature eggs with intracytoplasmic testosterone injection, or ICSI. This indicates that sperm will be injected into each developed egg. ICSI cannot be conducted on immature eggs. The undeveloped eggs will be placed in a dish containing sperm and nutrition. Immature eggs seldom complete the maturation process in the dish. If an immature egg matures, the sperm in the dish can attempt to fertilize it.
Your embryos’ progress will be carefully watched over the next five to six days. Your embryo will face substantial challenges before it can be transferred to your uterus. On day five or six of fertilization, any embryos that are appropriate for transfer will be preserved and used in future embryo transfers.
There are two types of embryo transfers: These are fresh and frozen. The doctor can advise you on whether to use fresh or frozen embryos and which is ideal for you based on your specific circumstances. The transfer method is the same for both frozen and fresh embryos. The name implies the fundamental difference.
A fresh embryo transfer occurs three to seven days following egg retrieval. This embryo has not been frozen and is fresh.
A frozen embryo transfer is when frozen embryos are thawed and placed into your uterus. This is a more usual practice because of logistical concerns and the higher likelihood of a live birth.
Pregnancy happens when the embryo inserts into the uterine lining. Approximately 9 to 14 days following embryo transfer, a doctor will do a blood test to identify whether or not you are pregnant.
If donor eggs are used, the same procedures are followed. The egg donor will complete both stimulation of the ovaries and egg retrieval. Following fertilization, the embryo is transferred to the woman who plans to carry the pregnancy.
Following in vitro fertilization (IVF), a pregnant woman should pay special attention to several factors to guarantee a healthy and successful pregnancy. Regular prenatal checkups are essential for tracking the pregnancy’s growth and resolving any potential issues.
It is critical to follow the healthcare provider’s suggestions for food, exercise, and medication, which are tailored to the specific conditions of IVF-conceived pregnancies. Monitoring hormonal levels and using suitable supplements, as indicated by the medical team, can help support the early stages of pregnancy. Emotional well-being is also crucial, and women can seek help in counselling or support groups to deal with the emotional problems of fertility treatments and motherhood.
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